36 Learning disabilities
Preparation and inquisitiveness are two of the essential ingredients for a successful placement. Of course you will be anxious – it is new after all; you will have to make new relationships, plan new journeys to placement, work with (and probably be assessed by) new mentors and most importantly, you will meet new children, their carers and families! However, as a student nurse, your practice placement is an integral and invaluable component in your nursing degree. Some of the advice below is for all placements and repeated in the top tips section above, but think about the advice specifically in relation to placements with children with learning disabilities.
- Firstly, do your homework. Look at:
- The placement profile and specific learning opportunities.
- Look at your practice placement on the trust/organisation website. What insights can you gain?
- Review online information such as the most recent Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) and/or Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports. How did they rate?
- You may wish to search for news items about your placement – what does the media say?
- Is there any pre-reading or induction booklet to read/complete?
- What are your personal strengths and areas for development? Will you have any challenges to overcome in this placement?
- What support is available, e.g. link lecturer?
- Plan your pre-visit. This not only gives you a good idea of how to get to your placement, you will have an opportunity to meet the team, your mentor (hopefully), start to look at expectations and opportunities, ask questions (i.e. shifts, dress code etc.) and draft out a plan for your placement. You may get a ‘Welcome Pack’ outlining your placement and professionals that you will be working with and potential outreach opportunities. Most importantly, you will gain a valuable insight into the uniqueness of the children (and families) and professionals you will be working with.
- Ask about the children’s unique needs, requirements and how to meet these; what formal plans are in place and how these link to the child’s education, health and care (EHC) plan (see www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help). What are the children’s diagnosis? Gaining an understanding before your placement and researching these will help you to understand some issues and challenges that the child with a learning disability and their family (could) face.
- Working with children who have learning disabilities and their families is extremely rewarding. Effective communication is crucial. Try to gain an understanding of the systems of communication that the children may use. Could Makaton (www.makaton.org) or Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) (www.nationalautismresources.com/the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs) be used? Do any of the children have autism? These children may have a unique communication system; best to check this out beforehand.
- As your placement progresses, review your learning and experiences. Reflect on your progression and discuss this honestly with your mentor. Offer to do (and present) some research on aspects of learning disability practice, specific plans that the children with learning disabilities may have, feedback on your outreach or on new national initiatives or research. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm and leadership and will take forward practice in your placement.
- Just get involved!! That is how you will learn, show your enthusiasm and get to know and understand the uniqueness of the children with learning disabilities. You may have had anxieties before you commenced your placement but these will be allayed. Make sure that you leave a footprint behind – what have you done to enhance the lives of the children with learning disabilities and their families that you have worked with; what will make you and the children sparkle!