Learning Disability and Autism Awareness Education
Summary
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has transformed Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) training for the ambulance sector, achieving 99% compliance and significantly improving staff confidence in delivering person-centred care.
Co-produced with people with lived experience, families, and system partners, the programme was designed to address gaps in nationally mandated training that did not meet the needs of pre-hospital clinicians. It combines real ambulance scenarios, patient stories, and immersive learning to create a clinically relevant and engaging experience.
Over 2,000 staff have completed the programme. Early evaluation shows improved understanding of patient needs, enhanced clinical confidence, and stronger delivery of safe, personalised care. The model provides a sustainable and transferable approach for improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autism.
The Challenge
National Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) training presented significant delivery challenges across ambulance services. Existing Tier 2 training was often not fully aligned to the needs of urgent and emergency pre-hospital care, making it difficult for staff to apply learning consistently in frontline settings. Nationally, compliance remained low, with no Trust achieving more than 15% completion.
At NEAS, local evaluation confirmed that traditional approaches were not equipping staff with the practical skills or confidence required to effectively support autistic patients and people with learning disabilities. Training lacked sufficient operational relevance and did not fully reflect the realities of ambulance environments.
This had the potential to impact patient experience and consistency of care, particularly in areas such as communication, clinical assessment, safeguarding, and recognising deterioration. NEAS identified the need for a more clinically grounded, engaging, and context-specific approach that would better support staff to deliver safe, personalised care.
The Solution
NEAS designed and implemented the first ambulance-specific Learning Disability and Autism education model through a collaborative, multi-agency approach.
Co-production was central throughout. Patients, carers, and families helped shape the programme’s content, design principles, and learning approach, ensuring it reflected real experiences and practical challenges in urgent and emergency care.
The training integrates:
- Co-produced videos and patient stories to embed lived experience
- Ambulance-specific scenarios and simulation exercises
- Immersive sensory learning experiences to build empathy
- Practical communication techniques, including Makaton
- Clinically relevant guidance, aligned to JRCALC standards
These elements create an engaging and operationally realistic programme tailored to frontline clinicians.
Key partners included the North East and North Cumbria Learning Disability Network, Integrated Care Board, specialist Trusts, and voluntary sector organisations. The NEAS Education Team led development, ensuring alignment with national frameworks while maintaining clinical relevance.
The programme is supported by continuous evaluation and has achieved Diamond Standard Accreditation, providing a sustainable and scalable model for sector-wide adoption.
Results & Next Steps
The programme has delivered measurable improvements in workforce capability and patient care:
- 2,000+ staff trained
- 99% compliance achieved (vs <15% nationally)
- Increased staff confidence and competence
- Improved delivery of safe, person-centred care
Staff feedback highlights the value of training that is directly relevant to ambulance practice, with clinicians reporting immediate application in patient care.
The programme has also strengthened system-wide learning. Insights and evaluation findings have been shared through NENAS, the ICB Learning Disability Network, CQC engagement, and clinical leadership forums, with NEAS supporting wider adoption across ambulance services.
Next steps include:
- Expanding adoption across the ambulance sector
- Embedding the programme within workforce development pathways
- Continuing evaluation and refinement
- Strengthening impact on patient safety and experience
This work demonstrates how co-produced, sector-specific education can deliver safer care, stronger workforce capability, and a sustainable route to national improvement.
