A note from the editor

Welcome to the Winter 2024 newsletter from Manchester Metropolitan
University's Social Care and Social Work team!

In this issue, we talk about:

• Research projects that include and listen to people with learning disabilities.
• Work to improve how autistic adults are supported in their relationships.

We are also proud of Dawn Cavanagh’s Stolen Lives Campaign, which is working
to help people with learning disabilities and autistic people move out of long-
stay hospitals.

Our team has been busy sharing ideas at big conferences, winning awards, and
tackling important issues like welfare support and helping people access the
internet and digital tools.

We hope you enjoy reading about our work and celebrating the positive changes
we are creating together.

Our Digital Health Project Update

Charlotte Hardacre and Sue Caton are working on the Our
Digital Health project.

This research looks at how people with learning disabilities
use the internet and technology for health.

So far, we have run focus groups with people with learning
disabilities and their carers to develop a Digital Health
Participation Survey.

We have also reviewed research on digital health to ensure
our work includes all important ideas.

In August, we shared our progress at a conference in
Chicago.

In November, we hosted a workshop with Manchester
People First to discuss digital inclusion with policy makers.

Next, we will be collecting data. We hope about 100 people
with learning disabilities, from Manchester, will fill in our
survey.

Digital Lifeline Project Update

We have just started the Digital Lifeline project. Sue Caton
is leading the work, with Chris Hatton, Katie Heard (Good
Things Foundation), and Rod Landman (Association for
Real Change) as collaborators. Adele Swingewood has
joined the team as a full-time Research Associate.

Some people with learning disabilities received tablets,
data and support during the Covid-19 pandemic through
the Government’s Digital Lifeline Fund. This project follows
up with these people to find out how things went.

We will learn about their experiences in two steps:

1. An easy-read online survey, with support available if
   needed. Adele will also meet some participants face-to-
   face.
2. Workshops to explore the best ways to support people
   with learning disabilities to use digital technology, co-
   led by people with learning disabilities.

We are excited to begin and are creating accessible
materials to help people join the research. Like the video on
this page!

Supporting Autistic Adults’ Intimate Lives (SAAIL)

The SAAIL team has reviewed all publicly available local autism strategies in England. This builds on our earlier work that showed national policies
often overlook support for autistic adults’ intimate lives.

Our latest findings show that many local autism strategies are out of date, and most do not address intimate relationships for autistic people.

We created a Policy Brief with 9 recommendations to help local councils include this important topic in their plans. You can read our study in
Autism in Adulthood and explore our new Local Autism Strategy Database. This database provides easy access to autism strategies and
partnership boards for every council in England.

Please share these resources widely to support change.

– Monique and Bethany

Medications and My Mental Health

The Medications and My Mental Health project officially ended in
September, but we still have work to do!

Why did we do this project?

People with learning disabilities are more likely to take mental
health medications, but they are often not involved in decisions
about them. We wanted to understand how to change this.

What did we do?

We worked with self-advocacy groups and co-researchers with
learning disabilities. Together, we interviewed people with learning
disabilities, carers, and prescribers and ran a survey.

What did we find?

• Many people with learning disabilities did not know why they
  were taking their medications.
• Paid carers understood the medications but did not always feel
  confident managing them.
• Decisions were often made by doctors or nurses, with little input
  from the person taking the medication.
• Information about medications was not always easy to
  understand, even though prescribers believed it was accessible.

What needs to change?

People with learning disabilities need clear, accessible information
about their medications to help them take part in decisions about
their care. Making decisions together is key

New Article in Qualitative Social Work

Margaret Struthers and Claire Bellamy have published a review
of the BBC drama ‘Time’ in the journal Qualitative Social Work.

The article explores how the series has been used to support
teaching and learning in social work courses.

The drama, which focuses on the lives of women in prison, has
been a valuable teaching tool. Students have used the story of
the main character, Orla, to learn about social justice, social
action, and how policies and politics affect social work.

Themes such as trauma, grief, and loss in prison have helped
students understand the theory behind these issues and how
they impact real people.

Using ‘Time’ as an interactive case study has made learning
more engaging and helped students connect theory to
practice.

Margaret and Claire both have experience in criminal justice
and found the series insightful and relevant to their teaching.

You can read the article here: Struthers & Bellamy (2024).

Recognition for Dawn Cavanagh's Stolen Lives Campaign

Dawn Cavanagh was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to
Restraint Reduction (Lived Experience) Award at the Restraint Reduction
Network Conference for her work on the Stolen Lives Campaign.

On 4th December, the Welsh Parliament (Senedd) debated and
unanimously supported the Stolen Lives Manifesto. This marked a key
step, as the Welsh Government recognised the detention of people with
learning disabilities and autistic people as a human rights issue, urging
urgent action.

Next steps focus on the Homes Not Hospitals Task Group, which will
advise the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing on solutions to
address these concerns.

Laughing Boy Play

Sara Ryan was part of the creative team for Laughing Boy, a
stage play based on her book Justice for Laughing Boy.

The play, adapted and directed by Stephen Unwin, ran for five
weeks at Jermyn Street Theatre in London before moving to
the Theatre Royal, Bath, for four days.

The production is connected to the Justice for LB campaign,
which raises awareness about the rights of people with learning
disabilities.

You can learn more about the play and campaign below:

• Review in the International Journal of Disability and Social
  Justice: Read here

• Laughing Boy play text by Stephen Unwin and Sara Ryan,
  published by Nick Hern Books: Find here

• Justice for LB article in Byline Times: Read here

• Community Living Magazine: Read here

The British Academy of Management Conference

Hannah Louse Smee

I attended the British Academy of Management
Conference at Nottingham Business School in
September. I presented three papers: one I wrote on my
own and two co-authored with colleagues.

One of my papers, Pathways of Stigma: Navigating
Perinatal Mental Illness in UK Police Employment, won
the Gender in Management Best Developmental Paper
Award. This paper explored the stigma faced by police
officers who experience mental health challenges
during or after pregnancy.

The conference lasted three days and included a gala
dinner, which was a great chance to relax and meet
other researchers.

My co-authors were Dr. Krystal Wilkinson (MMU), Dr.
Sarah-Jane Lennie (OU), and Dr. Keely Duddin (Open
University).

In May 2024 I was lucky enough to travel to Melbourne to present my
research.

I was part of a panel entitled Supporting Sexual Wellbeing in Autistic Adults:
Healing from Trauma, Navigating Consent, and Seeking Pleasure.

I got to present alongside some of the best researchers working in my area
from across the globe.

I also made some new furry friends.

International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting

Monique Huysamen

Adele is passionate about understanding the experiences of people with
disabilities, particularly how power, space, and social norms shape their lives.
She enjoys using creative research methods, like walking interviews and video
mapping, to make research more accessible and challenge ideas of "normal."

For her PhD, Adele explored how disabled young people feel about belonging
and being outsiders at school. Her work led to new and unexpected insights.

Now a Research Associate, Adele is excited to share her findings with academic
and community partners, and to learn more about learning disability research at
the university.

Living near the Peak District, Adele enjoys hiking with her family and dog. She
also loves arts and crafts, reading, and visiting exhibitions, gigs, and the theatre.

• Adele
  Swingewood

Chris is a registered social worker with 16 years of experience working with
children and families, including 6 years as a child and family social worker in
Stockport.

For the past 2 years, Chris has been a teaching consultant at Manchester
Metropolitan University, helping student social workers develop their skills. This
year, Chris joined the university as a full-time lecturer.

Chris holds a master’s degree in social work from Manchester Metropolitan and
is excited to return as a teacher.

While new to research, Chris is interested in social work education, supporting
social workers’ recruitment and wellbeing, and exploring how social policies
affect children, families, and social work practice.

Chris

• King

Lizzie teaches on the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship. Her
research interests are still developing, but she is curious about how systems
thinking and complexity can help solve difficult problems. Lizzie is also interested
in compassion in the workplace and how leaders can use their authority in
positive ways.

Lizzie has noticed how kind and supportive the culture is in the department, for
both students and staff, and feels lucky to be part of it.

Outside work, Lizzie enjoys spending time with family and friends, running, and
walking. She loves working in her garden, adapting it each year to the changing
weather.

Recently, Lizzie has also been exploring meditation and non-duality through Loch
Kelly’s teachings.

• Lizzie
  Twelves

A new show hosted by Kingston University. It features Richard, a
man with a learning disability, having honest and inspiring
conversations about important topics.

Guests so far include palliative care doctor Kathryn Mannix, NHS
psychologist Emily Handley-Cole, and activist, author and social
care professer at MMU Sara Ryan.

• The show has already released 12 episodes, full of warmth and
  insight.

Cuppa Tea with Richard

Connor Sparrowhawk was a funny, bus-loving 18-year-old. He was autistic
and had epilepsy and learning disabilities. Connor died in NHS care
because staff failed to keep him safe.

In this podcast, Lucy and Lee talk with Connor’s mum, Sara Ryan, about
who Connor was and her family’s fight for justice.

Sara and Lee also share their experiences of caring for their loved ones,
continuing that care through campaigning, and finding strength in the
supportive communities around them.

Unlawful Killing - Series 2, Episode 3

In a recent episode of Access All, the BBC's weekly podcast on disability
and mental health, host Emma Tracey speaks with Professor Sara Ryan.

Sara discusses a study showing that people with learning disabilities often
face a drop in fulfillment after turning 40. This is linked to fewer social
opportunities and limited access to meaningful activities.

Emma also talks with Pam, who has learning disabilities, to hear her
personal perspective on the issue.

The 40-year-olds who are in bed by 5pm

Every year, NHS England (formerly NHS Digital) shares data about social
care for adults with learning disabilities in England. The latest update for
2023/24 was released on 31st October.

In this blog Chris Hatton considers eight key points from the data,
highlighting trends like changes in the number of people receiving
support, differences in living arrangements, and council spending on
social care.

• It also looks at gaps in care, employment rates, and how much people
  are contributing to their own support.

Social Care Statistics: 2023/24 Update

Please fill in our survey

• We would love to know your thoughts about this shorter and
  more accessible version of the newsletter.

• Do share your thoughts using the form on this page.

Thanks for Reading

• You can read a longer and more detailed version of this newsletter here.