Complex Care in Learning Disabilities

There are approximately 1.5 million people with learning disabilities in the UK (Mencap, 2021), which is approximately 2.16 per cent of the population. The causes of learning disabilities are many and varied, and each person with a diagnosis of a learning disability has a different lived experience of their condition. Additionally, there is wide variation in the complexity of the needs of those individuals, with some people living full, healthy and independent lives, to others with complex co-morbid health needs, mental health conditions, or complex behaviours who require 24-hour care and support. In your practice you will be required to work with people with learning disabilities, and the idea of this chapter is to help you consider some effective ways of doing this. Learning disabilities nurses aim to champion the cause of people with learning disabilities, and we would want you to do the same