Tizard News and Events

A positive behavioural support framework has been launched today which can be downloaded for free.   The PBS coalition, a subgroup of the Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group, has developed a competence framework with the help of funding from Skills from Care.  The framework sets out what people need to know and the skills they need in order to implement PBS with people with learning disabilities whose behaviour is described as challenging.  The framework has been endorsed by Mencap, Ambitious about Autism, Skills for Health, Skills for Care, UK-SBA as well as a number of other organisations.

Dr Peter Baker, Dr Nick Gore & Professor Peter McGill from Tizard have all been heavily involved in the development of the Framework.

To download a free copy:  pbscoalition.blogspot.com

We are delighted to announce that Tony Osgood and Jill Bradshaw have  both won Kent Union Teaching Awards voted by the students themselves; the ultimate accolade in teaching. Students nominate and then vote on those who they feel have excelled in their roles.

Tony Osgood
“Tony is an outstanding tutor, he explains theory and social policy in a manner that is both interesting and real, giving examples from his own experience for clarity.  His feedback is generous and to the point and he values what the students bring to also enrich the learning process.  Tony adds a humorous twist to his teaching that keeps students alert.  He is an all round asset.”

Jill Bradshaw
“Jill is always on hand inside and outside of the University.  As a blended learner, I feel she is always there for support.  Even if she is not your assigned tutor she will give support and advice.  I don’t think I could do my degree without her”

“She works tirelessly: marking, answering emails, posting useful and interesting links on the Tizard facebook group and Twitter. She is very modest and all thanks are deflected with the phrase ‘I am just doing my job’ but she goes far beyond the call of duty and as a result improves our academic (and related psychological) well-being.”

Our Year 2 Autism students attended their final workshop this week presenting their portfolio work and describing how they had been working to improve the quality of life of the people with autism they are currently working with.  

Prof Glynis Murphy gave an invited keynote address  on ‘Sex and Sexuality: Are We Nearly There Yet?’  to the British Psychological Society’s annual Faculty of Intellectual Disabilities conference in Oxford. The keynote formed part of a whole day on sexuality issues for people with intellectual disabilities.

The day included a second keynote address, this one from Kate Brackley, a young woman with Down Syndrome and a star from TV’s Undateables programme. Her talk was entitled ‘Undateable? – Not Me’.

Also included were workshops on capacity issues, gender identity issues, LGBT support groups and intervention groups for people with ID.

Prof Glynis Murphy, Dr Rowena Rossiter and Aida Malovic provided the second 2-day training event for facilitators of a CBT- based group treatment, ‘Keep Safe’, for young people with learning disabilities who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour.  The project is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and involves the development of a manualised treatment programme with experience from trial sites, one in Bristol (led by Dr Stephen Barry), another in St Andrews (led by Emma Marks) and a third in NCATS (led by Oliver Eastman) informing the intervention.

Kent & Medway NHS are holding a Learning Disability Practice Forum on Thursday 28th May 2015 1400 – 1600hrs.  The speaker for the event is Prof Peter McGill, Tizard Centre, “Preventing challenging behaviour of adults with complex needs in supported accommodation”.

The talk will begin with a brief presentation about the relationship between challenging behaviour and the quality of social care.  This will be followed with some group work to enable participants to consider this relationship and identify examples from their own experience.  After which Prof McGill will present data from recent research focusing on preventing challenging behaviour by improving the quality of social care.

The event is being held at the Education Centre, St Martin’s Hospital, Littlebourne Road, Canterbury CT1 1TD and is free.  If you wish to attend please contact Irene Walton on irene.walton@kmpt.nhs.uk or tel: 01227 597123

‘File on Four’, Radio 4, May 5th at 2000 hrs will focus on people with learning disabilities and their access to justice following alleged assaults.  The programme will be looking at the roles of lawyers, families and experts and includes an interview with Prof Murphy in her capacity as an expert witness in such cases, giving evidence on the capacity to consent to sexual relationships and other matters.  Professors of Law will be debating the Court of Protection and Court of Appeal rulings on capacity to consent to sex and views will be heard from Cambridgeshire Police and a London safe house for victims..

Prof Glynis Murphy and Viv Cooper, CEO of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, both attended a recent meeting in Manchester along with other members of the NICE Guideline Development Group for people with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges.  The purpose of the meeting was to meet NICE’s standing Quality Standards Committee in order to discuss the Quality Standards from the new learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges guidelines.  The standards have now been drafted and will go out to stakeholders shortly with the deadline for comments set as June 2015.

Students, staff and colleagues from PSSRU completed their certified talking mats training under the leadership of accredited trainer,  Jill Bradshaw, Tizard Centre.

Taking Mats is a communication symbols tool.  It is based on extensive research and designed by Speech and Language Therapists. It uses unique, specially designed picture communication symbols that are attractive to all ages and communication abilities and is used by clinical practitioners, carers and support workers in a wide range of health, social work, residential and education settings. http://www.talkingmats.com/about-talking-mats/

Diversity and disabilities: improving health outcomes for young people and adults with intellectual disabilities from black and minority ethnic communtities.

The Intellectual Disability Forum will be hosting this event at the Royal Society of Medicine on the 26th May 2015.

This meeting aims to:

• Improve the cultural sensitivity of all health and social care professionals working with patients with Intellectual disabilities from black and minority ethnic communities
• Improve the accessibility of United Kingdom health services for black and minority ethnic young people and adults with intellectual disabilities
• Share good practice models for mental health interventions for people from black and minority ethnic communities with intellectual disabilities

For registration and full details:   www.rsm.ac.uk/events/idf02