Monday 15 – Sunday 21 June marked Learning Disability Week and this year’s theme was the importance of friendships during lockdown. 

We had a number of things that took place throughout the week, from showcasing the fantastic work and care the Learning Disability Division has delivered during lockdown, to looking after learning disability staff and carers during these challenging times with our virtual activity workshop!

The ZOOM virtual activity workshop focused on 'Supporting the wellbeing of learning disability staff and carers during and after COVID-19'. Led by our psychologists, the workshops explored the following:

• how the different stages of COVID-19 can impact on the self as well as on your team

• the importance of maintaining self-care for health care workers

• the difficulties and adversities you may have experienced whilst caring for someone during the pandemic, including fatigue, stress and anxiety

• the challenges for staff and carers working in learning disabilities

• maintaining self-care at work and at home

The workshop is split into two parts, both of which you can view below.

The virtual workshop videos are suited not only to the LD Division, but to all staff, carers, any other NHS colleague or member of the public who have been caring for someone with learning disabilities, therefore we encourage you to share these videos sessions so that a variety of people can access helpful advice, top tips and support.

Part One

Part Two

For more information or any queries on the above videos, please contact Assistant Psychologist Maggie Rose at maggie.rose1@nhs.net or Trainee Clinical Psychologist Rachel James at r.james2@nhs.net.