If you support a young adult with learning disabilities or are an unpaid carer of young people with learning disabilities then you may be able to help.

In 2021 the Learning Disability co-production board asked Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) to find out about the experiences of adults with learning disabilities and their carers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HCC have commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to carry out an independent review into people’s experiences during the pandemic.

The review will be conducted by Sam Callanan who has extensive experience in doing research with people with learning disabilities (LD).

HCC will use this research to help plan future services and to support people when we start to recover from the pandemic. The research will also be shared with the NHS and other partners.

HCC need to find people to interview. They want to speak to:

  • Young people and adults with learning disabilities (who may also have autism). They must be aged 18 or over and live in Hertfordshire.
  • Unpaid carers of young people or adults with learning disabilities. This could be anyone who provides significant unpaid help and support to a young person or adult with learning disabilities who is over 18. They may be a family member, friend or neighbour of the person with learning disabilities.

There are 3 information sheets that provide more information about the project and explain what taking part would mean:

» Click here for an easy read information sheet for young people and adults with LD
» Click here for an information sheet for supporters and professionals to help support someone with LD who may want to take part in the review
» Click here for an information sheet for unpaid carers who may want to be interviewed themselves

The more people who take part in the review, the better HCC can plan for the future.