Date published: 28 May 2025
Mersey Care is committed to improving services for people with learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity. To support this, we recently held a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Special Interest Stakeholder Day at Maghull Health Park.
The event, held on 30 April, was a chance to showcase a range of research projects and opportunities across Mersey Care whilst also building relationships between Mersey Care staff and stakeholders.
Facilitated by Michaela Thomson, Mersey Care’s Research Practitioner, the day welcomed over 50 delegates, both internal and external. The overall aim of the day was achieved in continuing to build the foundations of developing a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Special Interest Group.
It was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together and provide a forum for sharing research opportunities, any current findings of such and offer opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
The day started with a presentation from Professor Alina Haines-Delmont, Associate Professor in Mental Health and Coercion, Manchester Metropolitan University, Michaela Thomson, Research Practitioner and Sahrish Ali, Research Assistant and Assistant Psychologist at Mersey Care. They detailed their project on learning from lived experience in forensic learning disabilities services and how this can inform discharge pathways and clinical care models.
Other presentations on the day explored the use of artificial intelligence in learning disability care, Mersey Care’s new research system Count Me In and the role of student nursing associate learning disabilities mentors. There was also a representation from a virtual reality company.
This all made for lively discussion and invaluable research connections and collaborations.
