Discover the power of small changes

Everyone with a learning disability, autism, or both, deserves to live longer, healthier and more independent lives. The ICB have launched a ‘Small Changes’ campaign to support people in making small changes that will ultimately make a positive difference to the experience of those with a learning disability and/or autism. 

In Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, people with a learning disability and, or, autism, have told us they want to feel listened to, supported, and understood, when using health services. There are some excellent examples of when this already happens, but there is more we can do.

To start the campaign, we are looking at the small changes that we can make in the NHS. This might be adjusting appointments, communication styles or the environments people visit. However, the long-term ambition is to extend the campaign into social care, other public sector services and the wider community where people with a learning disability and/or autism live and work.  

What small changes can you make today to improve the experiences of people who use your service

Below are some examples of the small changes you can make today. If you have further examples you would like to share, please email: ssotics.comms@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk

Communication:

• Ask about preferred methods of communication and to read a Health Passport if there is one.
• Be clear and direct in the language that you use; talk in the “here and now”; avoid jargon, abbreviations and “figures of speech”.
• Use silences and allow greater gaps in conversation to allow more time for information processing.

Appointments:

• Introduce easy read format letters.
• Consider arranging appointments when it is quieter.
• Extend appointment times to give more time during appointments.

A longer list of suggestions that people have told us could make a real difference, can be found on our website. We are asking people to pledge to make a small change in their own area of work. As the campaign develops, we will continue to add to the resources and are asking partners across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to get involved. 

Your pledge

We are asking everyone in the health service to pledge to make a small change in their professional life to support those with a Learning Disability and Autism. You can download the pledge cards at the bottom of the small changes page. Once you have filled it out, please email it to ssotics.comms@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk.

Supporting materials

You will find a range of communication materials that you can share in support of the campaign on the small changes webpage.