Occupational Therapy News OTnews November 2019 | Page 26

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FEATURE LEARNING DISABILITIES
Audrey Yong, Stuart Heaton and Diane Chandler,
describe work to support a capable environment for
people with learning disabilities and behaviours that
challenge within Sussex
T
he home environment is considered to have powerful physical, psychological,
emotional, and spiritual significances in our lives (Nagib and Williams 2017).
Sanchez et al (2011) suggests that individuals with autism are more sensitive
to their environment than others, and when they are unable to understand their
environment, then negative behaviours may occur.
Behaviours that challenge may serve a person with a learning disability or autism to
communicate, avoid demands or to express sensory stimulation overload (NICE 2015). They may
present with aggression, self-injury, destructive behaviour or withdrawal.
NICE (2015) concludes that the environment may be a factor in triggering behaviours that
challenge and adjustments or adaptations to the physical environment may need to be considered
as part of an overall strategy to manage behaviour.
To support localised care for people with learning disabilities, the transforming care agenda
(NHS England 2017) recommended the need to develop workforce competencies in the
assessment of behaviour, treatment and support; and the co-ordination of transitions from
inpatient to more ‘capable ‘environments.
The conception of the Safe Home Environment Assessment
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPfT) Community Learning Disability Teams (CLDT)
26 OTnews November 2019