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Working with people with learning disabilities who self-injure

One day training course

This training day is based on the findings of the Hidden Pain? Project, the first UK wide research study looking at the experiences of people with learning disabilities who self-injure. The research was carried out by Bristol Crisis Service for Women and the Norah Fry Research Centre, University of Bristol. The researchers asked people with learning disabilities who injure themselves about their own experiences of self-injury. The training is designed to enable you to understand self-injury and people with learning disabilities and to develop helpful, supportive responses.

Self-injury includes actions that cover ‘a wide range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way that are damaging’ (Camelot Foundation/ Mental Health Foundation 2006).  Within this are recognised the typographies of self-injury more commonly presenting in people with learning disabilities (Emerson et al, 1997) such as hitting one’s body, biting, scratching, self-pinching, inserting objects and eye poking.

Course aims

  • To define self-injury
  • Understand self-injury within the context of people’s lives
  • Identify circumstances that may contribute to a person self-injuring
  • Develop practical skills in supporting someone who self-injures
  • Understand some of the feelings which are experienced before self-injury
  • Identify helpful responses to a person feeling like self-injuring
  • Review our own responses to people who self-injure

The training involves watching film clips from the Hidden Pain? DVD giving accounts of the experiences of people with learning disabilities who took part in the research.

Time
Length
Activity TitleAims of the session
10.00-10.30
30 mins
1. Introductions, ice breaker, ground rules
2. Personal story - Spencer

For participants to understand the course and feel comfortable working together
To consider self-injury in the context of a person’s life

30-11.0030 mins3. Defining self-injury  
To enable participants to define self-injury
11.00-11.30
30 mins
4. Looking at our own responses to self-injury   
To review our own responses to people with learning disabilities who self-injure
11.30-11.45
15 mins  
Break 

11.45-12.45


60 mins    
5. Why might people with learning disabilities self-injure
To understand why people with learning disabilities might self-injure
To develop practical skills in working with people with learning disabilities
who self-injure
12.45-1.30
45 mins   
Lunch 
1.30-2.45
75 mins
6. Difficult feelings and helpful responses


   
To increase understanding of feelings associated with self-injury
To further develop skills in supporting someone who self-injures
2.45-3.00
15 mins 
Break 
3.00-4.00
60 mins
7. The importance of communication
   
To develop skills in supporting a person who self-injures, including people with limited or no speech
To improve active listening skills
4.00-4.3030 mins

Questions
Evaluation
Finish


To find out more

If you would like more information about our training, or to discuss your training needs, please contact Sarah Whitfield on:

Telephone: 0117 927 9600
Email: sarah.bcsw@btconnect.com