New toolkit launched to help people with learning disabilities live well after leaving hospital

06 Jul 26

A new toolkit designed to help people with learning disabilities build a positive life in their community after leaving hospital is now available.

The Making Positive Moves Toolkit supports people to live well in their own home after discharge from a mental health or forensic hospital setting.

The HPFT research team spoke to adults with learning disabilities about their experiences of moving out of hospital and returning to community life. These findings were then used to co-produce the toolkit through a series of workshops involving people with learning disabilities, family members, carers and professionals.

The toolkit provides a practical and accessible way for individuals and those supporting them to reflect on what is working well in their lives and identify areas where additional support may be needed. It is built around four key foundations that the research identified as being important for living well in the community following discharge from hospital. These are: ‘feeling safe in my relationships’, ‘making my own choices’, ‘belonging and keeping busy’ and ‘feeling happy with who I am’.

Through a series of easy-read questions, activities and action plans, the toolkit helps people consider the strength of each foundation and identify any changes they would like to make.

The final section,’ living my best life’, encourages people to think about their hopes, ambitions and future goals, helping them define what a good life looks like for them and who can support them to achieve it.

The toolkit was developed as a result of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme.

For more information about the Making Positive Moves project and toolkit, visit: Making Positive Moves Toolkit – Making Positive Moves

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New toolkit launched to help people with learning disabilities live well after leaving hospital