Caring for People with Learning Disabilities is a practice-based handbook with an up-to-date evidence base that challenges and encourages carers to develop a questioning approach to care provision. It emphasises the important relationship between theory and practice and helps those who care for people with a learning disability to understand fundamental aspects of clinical practice, in order to provide safe and effective learning disability care.

Care in a range of primary and secondary care settings is discussed throughout, with chapters on working with adults with learning disabilities, effective communication with health and social care teams, the importance of managing behaviours which pose challenges, mental health issues and adults with learning disabilities, health promotion and ethical, moral and legal issues. Each chapter opens with key points to enhance and encourage learning opportunities.

Contributors to this book come from both clinical practice backgrounds and the academic world. One key government publication, Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disabilities for the 21^st Century (DH, 2001), is central explicitly or implicitly to deliberations.

This book aims to help readers to provide health care and support for adults with learning disabilities build a foundation for their interventions, and enhance their personal and professional growth in relation to learning disability care

Ian Peate, Associate Head of School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Herfordshire

Debra Fearnes, Senior Lecturer, Learning Disability Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Herfordshire.

Dedication.

About the Editors.

List of Contributors.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Chapter 1: Working with adults with a learning disability (Jackie Kelly).

Chapter 2: Communication and adults with learning disabilities (Alan Randle).

Chapter 3: The importance of managing behaviours which pose challenges (Costas Joannides).

Chapter 4: Protecting vulnerable adults with learning disabilities (Debra Fearns).

Chapter 5: Mental health issues and adults with learning disabilities (Paul Maloret).

Chapter 6: Epilepsy and adults with learning disability (Debra Fearns).

Chapter 7: Health promotion perspectives for adults with learning disabilities (Debra Fearns, Jackie Kelly, Paul Maloret, Malcolm McIver and Tracey-Jo Simpson).

Chapter 8: Bio-physical aspects of learning disability and Down's syndrome (Frank Garvey and Jacky Vincent).

Chapter 9: Legislation and learning disabilities (Malcolm McIver).

Chapter 10: Parents with learning disabilities (April Hammond).

Index.