Category: Autism

Evaluation of the National HOPES Programme to end long term segregation

A new evaluation by Manchester Metropolitan University looks at the National HOPES Programme, which aims to bring an end to long term segregation in inpatient settings for autistic people, people with a learning disability, and children and young people.

Long term segregation is a highly restrictive practice that can have a profound impact on wellbeing. The HOPES Programme offers a rights based and trauma informed approach focused on reducing restrictive environments, supporting recovery, and improving experiences for individuals, families, and staff.

This is the first national evaluation of the programme and provides valuable insight into its impact and future development.

Read the full report: e-space

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities and Autism bulletin from the Evidently Better team at Mersey Care NHS FT is now available.

In this edition:

  • Reducing incidents of violence and aggression and self-harm on a secure mental health inpatient ward for women with learning disabilities
  • Identifying challenges in meeting the unmet health care needs of children with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review
  • Unseen and Invisible? Issues of Recognition for Parents With Intellectual Disabilities Accessing Social Work and Social Care Services for Adults in England
  • The dynamic trajectory of autistic life and its changing challenges: a scoping review
  • Share for Better Care: What we learnt
  • Upcoming webinar – Book Clubs: An Innovative and Powerful Approach to Conversations

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

LD_12Aug25Download

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities and Autism bulletin from the Evidently Better team at Mersey Care NHS FT is now available.

In this edition:

  • An Ongoing Process: The Implementation of an Intervention for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Over Time
  • Sleep problems and sensory features in children with low-average cognitive abilities and autism spectrum disorder
  • Bereaved families demand answers on LeDeR report delay
  • Updated guidance on dementia and learning disabilities
  • Neurodivergent adolescents experience twice the emotional burden at school compared to their neurotypical peers
  • Study now recruiting: Improving Care Education and Treatment Reviews for people who are autistic or have learning disabilities

If you are unable to access any of the included articles please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.

LD_30Jul25Download

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities & Autism bulletin is ready for you to view at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/learning-disability-autism/2025/07/16-july-2025/


In this edition:

  • Developing and testing of an assessment tool for appropriate psychotropic drug prescribing in people with intellectual disabilities
  • Understanding the child and adolescent eating disorder treatment experiences of autistic people and parents
  • The Phenomenon of Pain in Adults With Intellectual Disability: A Qualitative Systematic Review
  • “There is just too much going on there”: Nonverbal communication experiences of autistic adults
  • 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future (easy read)
  • Understanding Brief Guides: Clear, accessible information for adults and carers
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if you think there are other people who would benefit from receiving this and I will add them to the mailing list.

Thank you

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities & Autism bulletin is ready for you to view at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/learning-disability-autism/2025/07/1-july-2025-2/


In this edition:

  • Living Through the COVID‐19 Pandemic: The Experiences of People With Profound and Multiple Intellectual Disabilities Through a Family Carer Lens
  • Re-imagining connection: the role of late autism diagnosis in eating disorder recovery and social support
  • Oliver McGowan code of practice
  • Webinar recording – Love and relationships for people with learning disabilities
  • Community feedback leads to better care for people with learning disabilities
  • ‘I love my fans, but also dread meeting them’ – life as an autistic elite footballer
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if you think there are other people who would benefit from receiving this and I will add them to the mailing list.

Thank you

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities & Autism bulletin is ready for you to view at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/learning-disability-autism/2025/06/18-june-2025/


In this edition:

  • Exploring good mental health for people with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative interview study with mental health experts
  • Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Among Self-Medicating Autistic Adults
  • Autism, Diagnostics, and Dementia: A Consensus Report From the 2nd International Summit on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia
  • Do you see me? Improving health for people with learning disabilities
  • Ofsted criticised over training manual linking autistic children to extremism
  • Championing parental support for people with learning disabilities
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if you think there are other people who would benefit from receiving this and I will add them to the mailing list.

Thank you

Learning Disabilities & Autism Bulletin

The latest Learning Disabilities & Autism bulletin is ready for you to view at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/learning-disability-autism/2025/06/4-june-2025-2/


In this edition:

  • The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and resting‐state functional connectivity in adults with Down syndrome
  • The influence of indoor temperature and noise on autistic individuals
  • Atypical antipsychotics for autism spectrum disorder: a network meta‐analysis
  • Cast no shadow: how common are psychiatric conditions among people with intellectual disability?
  • Get me to hospital: When and how to use the Mental Capacity Act to convey a person to hospital for physical health treatment
  • New report on commercial sexual exploitation of women with learning disabilities
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if you think there are other people who would benefit from receiving this and I will add them to the mailing list.

Thank you

Mental Health

Current Awareness Bulletins

With thanks to our colleagues at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trusts, new current awareness bulletins are avaialble to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account. Please get in touch for additional support: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

Suicide Prevention and Self Harm

Suicide-prevention-April-2024Download

Dementia

Dementia-April-24Download

Depression and Anxiety

April-24Download

Learning Disabilities and Autism

April-2024-5Download

Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Bulletin

The latest edition of the Mental Health, Learning Disability, and Autism Bulletin is now available! Stay updated with the latest insights and developments in these vital areas.

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Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Source: KnowledgeShare

All you need to know about Households Below Average Income (HBAI).
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG); 2024.

(There are several different measures of poverty in the statistics as there is no perfect way to measure poverty. This briefing explains what poverty is, how it can be measured, the different measures in HBAI, recent trends in poverty and additional statistics that can further our understanding of poverty.)

‘Always at the bottom of the pile’: the Homeless and Inclusion Health Barometer 2024.
Pathway and Crisis; 2024.

(This report reveals how the national crisis facing both the UK’s health and housing systems leads to worsening health for people in inclusion health groups. Drawing on 85 pieces of published literature from the past two years, and a survey of frontline medical and health care professionals, the findings reveal how those who are most excluded in our society struggle to access health services due to inflexibility, discrimination and stigma.)

Autism and Homelessness Toolkit.
Homeless Link; 2024.

(The toolkit is designed for homelessness service providers who engage with and support autistic individuals experiencing homelessness. It is particularly valuable for those seeking to enhance their understanding and effectiveness in working with autistic individuals and it provides essential information and practical guidance to improve support within homelessness services.)

Drug and alcohol treatment for victims and suspects of homicide.
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID); 2024.

(A Better Outcomes through Linked Data (BOLD) report looking at the use of substance misuse treatment services by victims and suspects of homicide in England. The report includes information and findings on treatment characteristics of victims and suspects, such as their sociodemographic, accommodation and employment status; and characteristics of the homicide and the relationships between victims and suspects and whether the homicide was drug-related.)

For personalised research sent straight to your inbox, join KnowledgeShare. Simply compelte the form and send it back to: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

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