This award aims to recognise those who have succeeded in raising standards of care for their patients and clients and have made an outstanding contribution to the care of service users.
The QNIS Think COULD animation project aims to raise awareness about the need for better support for individuals with learning disabilities in the justice system. Funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, the project involved eight learning disabilities nurses from Scotland completing the Queen’s Nurse development programme and creating an evidence-based project focused on adults with learning disabilities and the justice system.
The key aims of the project were to co-design and produce an outcome to reduce inequalities, develop an accessible resource for practitioners about learning disabilities and reasonable adjustments, and highlight the unique contribution learning disabilities nurses make in reducing inequalities.
The team developed an animation called Think COULD, emphasising Communication, Observe, Understand, and Learning Disability, as an educational tool. The animation was designed to be accessible, educational, and inclusive, with representation from diverse perspectives. It was launched in May 2023 and has had a significant impact, being embedded in Police Scotland training resources, shared with relevant organisations, and informing policy and practice.
Praising the team for their award win, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director said: “Learning disability nurses are vital in ensuring people with learning disabilities are supported to maintain their health and wellbeing, and are supported to be able to live their lives as fully and independently as possible. The team has gone above and beyond to reduce health inequalities and their success is well deserved”.
Congratulations also to runners up, the NHS Tayside CAMHS Intellectual Disability Outpatient Team, and highly commended Strathaird team based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, NHS Lothian.
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