15-06-2026 Better Health Outcomes for young people with Learning Disabilities -Cuppa and Chat at Ponders End Family Hub
This drop-in coffee afternoon session will be from 12.30 - 2 pm on Monday, 15th June.
This is one of our regular drop-in sessions, which take place in the Clement Medford Room (1st Floor) at the Ponders End Youth and Family Hub, 129, South Street, Enfield, EN3 4PX. See our Family Hub Flyer for more information.
In this session, we will explore the support provided by Learning Disability Nurses and how they can help children and young people with learning disabilities achieve better health outcomes and improved quality of life. We'll look at:
- Health Action plans and Annual Health checks and how these support all aspects of improved health
- How Learning Disability Nurses can advocate for your child/young person and work with your family and professionals
- What is a Hospital Passport and how can it improve healthcare experiences when hospital care is needed?
More information:
Learning disability nurses play a vital and specialised role in supporting individuals with learning disabilities to achieve better health outcomes and improved quality of life. Working across community, hospital, and specialist settings, they focus on reducing health inequalities, promoting independence, and ensuring that individuals receive person-centred, accessible care. They are trained to understand the complex physical, mental, and social needs that people with learning disabilities may experience, including communication difficulties, co-occurring health conditions, and barriers to accessing mainstream healthcare services.
A key aspect of the learning disability nurse’s role is advocacy. They act as a voice for individuals who may struggle to express their needs or preferences, ensuring that care is delivered with dignity, respect, and informed consent. This includes working collaboratively with families, carers, and multidisciplinary teams to tailor care plans that reflect the individual’s wishes and goals.
Health Action Plans (HAPs) are an important tool used by learning disability nurses to support proactive and preventative healthcare. A Health Action Plan is a personalised document that identifies an individual’s health needs, sets out actions to maintain or improve health, and clarifies who is responsible for each aspect of care. These plans are often developed during annual health checks and include areas such as medication, diet, exercise, mental health, and screening appointments. The aim is to empower individuals to take an active role in managing their health while ensuring continuity and coordination of care across services.
Hospital passports are another essential resource designed to improve the healthcare experience for people with learning disabilities when they need hospital care. A hospital passport is a concise document that provides healthcare professionals with key information about the person, including communication methods, medical history, allergies, behavioural needs, and preferences. It may also include details about how the individual expresses pain, any reasonable adjustments required, and important routines.
Learning disability nurses often support individuals and their families to complete and update hospital passports, ensuring the information is accurate and meaningful. In hospital settings, these passports can help reduce anxiety, prevent misunderstandings, and promote safer, more personalised care. They also support staff who may be unfamiliar with the individual’s needs, enabling quicker understanding and more effective treatment.
Together, the work of learning disability nurses, along with tools such as Health Action Plans and hospital passports, contributes to reducing health inequalities and improving access to equitable healthcare. These approaches promote person-centred care, enhance communication, and ensure that individuals with learning disabilities receive the support they need to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Members of the Our Voice team will be on hand at every session to listen to your questions and issues and point you in the right direction to resolve the issues you are facing. Or you can just take the opportunity to offload a bit and have a chat with other parents who experience some of the same challenges as you, over a cup of tea or coffee.
Practical information:
The hub is located at 129, South Street, Enfield, EN3 4 PX.
Some people have reported problems with getting to the hub using SatNav. It is best to look out for the Oasis Academy School which is opposite the hub. You may find that once parked you are by the side entrance of the hub – you will probably need to go to the South Street entrance to get admittance to the building – please walk around the building until you get to the front.
These events are aimed at parents and carers rather than children. If you do need to bring children with you, please note that you will be responsible for supervising your children throughout the session – we do not provide childcare or activities for children during these sessions.
