The Together Project: supporting the delivery of good practice in maternity services for parents with learning disabilities

Four NHS sites in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and Wessex used the Together Project resources within their maternity systems. Midwives and people with learning disabilities who were pregnant used these resources and took part in interviews with the research team to share their views of the impact the Together Project resources had on their experience of delivering/receiving maternity care. Feedback on these resources was very positive and has informed an updated version of the Together Project Toolkit (for professionals in maternity services) and the Maternity Passport (for parents). Download the Together Project resources.

Testimonials

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Developing an accessible outcome scale to evaluate parenting programmes for people with learning disabilities

To our knowledge, no accessible tools exist to evaluate parenting initiatives specifically aimed to support people with learning disabilities. An accessible outcome measure is necessary to ensure that the support delivered to people with learning disabilities when they are expecting a baby, continues to be evaluated and improved. In response, we have conducted cognitive interviews with parents with learning disabilities to adapt an existing tool to measure self-efficacy in the antenatal period. Through interviews with parents with learning disabilities and discussion groups with key stakeholders in improving antenatal care for this population, we have created an accessible version of the TOPSE-AN (Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy - Ante-Natal) measure. An article reporting the development of this scale and scale itself is currently under review. This study was funded by Health Education England. Please get in touch if you would like more information.

Recognising when a parent-to-be may have learning disabilities: an educational film based on learning from the Together Project to facilitate engagement in research

Research conducted as part of the Together Project has highlighted that a significant barrier to the recruitment of parents with learning disabilities to research studies, is recognising which parents may have a learning disability and having the confidence to approach them.  Recognising who has a learning disability is the essential first step to making reasonable adjustments to ensure equitable care.  In response, we are developing and piloting an educational film, based on learning from the Together Project and filmed interviews with key stakeholders, to support professionals working in maternity services to recognise when a parent may have learning disabilities and facilitate their engagement in research. This study is funded by National Institute for Health and Care Research. Please get in touch if you would like more information.

Co-producing, co-delivering and evaluating learning disability awareness training for midwifery students (informed by findings from the Together Project)

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism (Department of Health & Social Care, 2019) is a celebrated step forward in supporting improved learning disability awareness in health and social care staff.  However, research conducted as part of the Together Project, highlighted that midwives require learning disability awareness training that is specific to maternity care as part of their pre-registration education, to equip them with the skills and confidence to support people with learning disabilities to be the best parents they can be from the very start of their professional careers. In response, we are co-producing, co-delivering and evaluating learning disability awareness training for midwifery students (informed by findings from the Together Project) at the University of Surrey. This study is funded by Health Education England. Please get in touch if you would like more information.