What is this project?
We are working with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria to improve support and health care for people with a learning disability.
What are psychotropic medicines?
Psychotropic medicines are medicines that affect how people think, feel or behave.
Some people take these medicines to help with their mental health or behaviour.
What will we look at?
Together, we will talk about things like:
- Understanding medicines.
- Medicine reviews.
- Easy Read information.
- Getting the right support.
- Making health services easier to use.
- How people can be more involved in decisions about their care
Psychotropics in Learning Disability Programme
Co-producing safer, more person-centred use of psychotropic medication
Inclusion North is working in partnership with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria to embed lived experience within the Psychotropics in Learning Disability Programme. The project will ensure that people with lived experience, family carers and professionals work together to inform the development and implementation of the programme, helping to shape improvements that are meaningful, practical and person centred.
The programme focuses on improving the experiences of people with a learning disability who are prescribed psychotropic medication. Through a structured programme of co-production, we will explore the priorities identified within the draft action plan and ensure these are informed by the experiences of people who access services.
Key areas of discussion will include:
- Understanding psychotropic medication and supporting informed decision making.
- Improving medication reviews and shared decision making.
- Accessible information and communication, including Easy Read resources.
- Reasonable adjustments within healthcare services.
- Improving people’s understanding of their health and treatment.
- Access to appropriate support and information.
- Identifying opportunities to improve safety, quality and people’s experiences of care.
The project will bring together people with lived experience through a series of facilitated co-production workshops. Insights gathered throughout the programme will be analysed and used to develop recommendations that will inform the ongoing implementation of the Psychotropics in Learning Disability Programme and support future service improvement.
By embedding lived experience at the heart of the programme, the project aims to strengthen collaboration between people who use services, families and system partners, ensuring future developments are informed by evidence, experience and co-produced solutions.
