We are working with Public Health Scotland and partners to explore the development of guidance for adult social care providers. This guidance would promote good practice by improving knowledge and helping organisations to support people with learning disabilities to have healthy relationships. It would also help staff to identify and respond to those who are experiencing gender-based violence.
People with learning disabilities often reach adulthood without having had cognitively appropriate opportunities to learn about relationships and sexual health. Wider society routinely considers and treats people with learning disabilities as asexual. This impinges on their rights to positive relationships and sexual health and can leave them vulnerable to experiencing or perpetrating abuse or other adverse outcomes such as unintended pregnancy. Scots law and government policy is framed in ways designed to ensure adults with learning disabilities are supported to learn about and safely conduct fulfilling relationships including sexual relationships within the limits of their capacity to do so.
To develop meaningful guidance, we need to understand what is already in place to support care staff across the country. We would like to see current policies, where they exist, how they are being used, any barriers experienced and what needs included, to give you the support you need. To help us with this, please complete our short survey here. The closing date has been extended to Friday 28 July 2023.