This provides a good introduction and overview to supporting people with Down’s syndrome for Health and Social care Professionals.

This session will give you:

• Information on the health issues & characteristics associated with Down’s syndrome
• A greater understanding of the unique learning profile
• The support we can offer to families
• Insights from a parent speaker about how families are central to decision making
• Some examples of good practice

This teaching session has been designed to help Health Visitors and Allied Health Professionals to care for and support individuals with Down’s syndrome and their families.

This session will give you:

• Increased knowledge about Down’s syndrome and associated health issues, characteristics and learning profile of someone with Down’s syndrome.
• Improved awareness of the information, services and support Down’s Syndrome Scotland offer to families.
• Greater insight of Down’s syndrome from a parent of a child with Down’s syndrome and lived experience of a young person with Down’s syndrome.

This session will help you increase your understanding about Down’s syndrome and support and services that are available for families.

After this teaching session, you will have:

• Increased knowledge about Down’s syndrome and associated health issues, characteristics and learning profile of someone with Down’s syndrome
• Increased knowledge of caring for infant at birth and in the immediate neonatal period
• Increased knowledge and understanding around supporting families with an unexpected diagnosis during pregnancy and in the postnatal period particularly the importance of your language and the environment along with providing accurate and balanced information
• Improved awareness of the information, services and support Down’s Syndrome Scotland offer to families
• Gained a greater insight into the lived experience of having Down’s syndrome from a parent of a child with Down’s syndrome and lived experience of a young person with Down’s syndrome

This comprehensive teaching session is designed for health and social care professionals who want to enhance their understanding and skills in supporting adults with Down’s syndrome. Participants will explore key topics related to health, communication, and independence. The course covers:

• Understanding the Learning Profile: Learn how the unique learning profile of individuals with Down’s syndrome can inform effective support strategies.
• Health Needs and Inequalities: Gain insights into the specific health needs of adults with Down’s syndrome and discover strategies to address potential health inequalities.
• Decision-Making and Independence: Explore ways to support decision-making and maximize opportunities for independence in adulthood.

We host a regular series of lunchtime talks; these sessions are aimed at supporting healthcare professionals to increase their awareness of specific health conditions that can potentially affect people with Down’s syndrome.

Each talk takes place on the last Tuesday of every month between 12.30pm – 1pm.

Examples of some of the topics these sessions cover:

• Respiratory-Airways and OSA in children with Down’s syndrome
• Dual Diagnosis in children – Autism and Down’s syndrome
• Thyroid (Endocrine  (children and adults )
• Bowel and Bladder issues in children
• Musculoskeletal – (children and adults)
• Heart Health in children with Down’s syndrome
• Mental and Physical Health of family and carers of people with Down’s syndrome
• Annual Health Checks in adults with Down’s syndrome
• Dental management
• Regression in adults with Down’s syndrome (pre-recorded)