For Carers of Adults with Learning Disabilities
Who are you?
A Care Provider for adults with a learning disability – where the client(s) in your care is/are experiencing unwanted weight gain, without a medical reason for this.
You know that your Carers:
- play a vital role in supporting each client to eat well and manage their weight and
- need to work together to provide a consistent dietary approach for each client but
- they receive minimal mandatory nutritional training to help them in their role.
Despite each Carer’s best efforts, there is no consistency with regards to:
- what does healthy eating really look like
- how to increase variety – especially of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains
- what are appropriate portion sizes
- incorporating sensory requirements around mealtimes
- understanding their role when a client does or does not have capacity
You will also know that your local NHS specialist Dietetic weight management provision is significantly underfunded or non-existent and as a result, there are few places to find the training and support you need.
How can I help?
I can work with you to develop and deliver a tailor-made training programme for the Carers in your organization. This would be delivered remotely and can be via videos/webinars so that those working shifts can still receive the training.
Why choose me?
I bring many years of NHS experience as a Specialist Learning Disabilities Dietitian, and a Tier 3 Weight Management Specialist Dietitian. I am very aware that carers often support several clients with a variety of needs (dietary, medical, sensory) and abilities. I am also aware that any dietary change can result in behaviour that used to be described as "challenging", but our developing understanding of neurodiversity can bring an empathetic and empowering insight for all involved.
I am currently the Education Officer for the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Learning Disabilities Specialist Subgroup.
In 2024 I co-facilitated the BDA’s virtual classroom courses “Advancing Dietetics in Learning Disabilities” and “Assessing Capacity regarding Diet, Weight and Health”.
I will be co-delivering a workshop From Awareness to Practical Solutions: Nutrition and Healthy Living for Better Health at the upcoming British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) annual Growing Older with Learning Disabilities (GOLD) conference taking place on 12 March 2025.
