The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has introduced best practice guidance to help the adult social care workforce address inequalities faced by individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people. The project explores key challenges such as delays in diagnosis, lack of reasonable adjustments, and the issue of ‘diagnostic overshadowing,’ where physical or mental health concerns are overlooked due to the focus on a person’s disability.
This guidance provides practical advice for social care workers to enhance the care experience for people with learning disabilities and autism. It aims to build confidence among workers and commissioners in delivering services, while increasing understanding of the legal frameworks that underpin effective and inclusive care.
The initiative draws on insights from the SCIE Fliers, a group of individuals with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism. Their experiences, including lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighted the longstanding challenges in care provision, such as a lack of awareness and skills within the health and social care workforce to address health risks for this group. The guidance incorporates feedback from service users, commissioners, and existing resources to promote co-production in service design.
Kathryn Smith OBE, SCIE’s Chief Executive, emphasised the importance of breaking down systemic barriers and ensuring high-quality, accessible care that empowers individuals. A co-created video featuring the SCIE Fliers has been developed to complement the guidance, further amplifying the voices of those with lived experience.
