LEARNING DISABILITY FRIENDLY BADGE ACCREDITATION ENTERS ITS SECOND YEAR
6 February 2025
Applications are now open for a second year for GP practices in Coventry and Warwickshire to apply for a Learning Disability Friendly Badge.
The Learning Disability Friendly Badge has been developed alongside GPs and local charity Grapevine and highlights and awards the fantastic work already happening within primary care to make practices a welcoming place for people with a learning disability.
The initiative has been very successful so far, with 13 practices gaining the accreditation and two local GPs winning two Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) awards for their work on the Learning Disability Friendly Badge last year.
Submissions for the first round of applications in 2025 are now open and must be completed by 28th February 2025. Practices will need to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:
1. The GP practice has an identified Learning Disability Champion
2. People with a learning disability receive personalised care
3. People with a learning disability receive high quality Learning Disability Annual Health Checks that improve their health outcomes
4. The GP practice makes reasonable adjustments to enable easier access and improve patients’ experience of their care.
Practices already accredited have reported the overwhelmingly positive impact having the Learning Disability Friendly Badge has had. The Atherstone Surgery (accredited in April 2024) said:
“Having the Learning Disability Friendly Badge has meant that patients are aware that we are a Learning Disability Friendly environment and has given some patients, who are new to the practice or don't know the practice very well, the confidence that they will be welcomed in a warm and friendly environment.
“Relatives of our Learning Disability patients have also commented with regards to how nice it is to see the effort we have gone to, to ensure that our patients feel included.”
GP practices wishing to showcase how their practice is improving experiences should submit their application by clicking here, no later than 28th February 2025.