Course Overview

This two-day Introduction to Mental Health and Learning Disability course is designed for healthcare professionals working in Primary Care who wish to develop their knowledge and confidence in supporting patients with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

Primary Care clinicians play a key role in recognising mental health concerns, supporting ongoing care, and delivering structured annual reviews for individuals with long-term mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

The course provides a practical overview of common mental health presentations, approaches to assessment, and communication strategies that support compassionate and effective care. Participants will also develop an understanding of the health needs of individuals with learning disabilities and the importance of accessible, patient-centred healthcare.

Teaching is interactive and designed to support clinicians in applying learning directly within Primary Care consultations.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for:

Practice Nurses
Nurse Associates
Nurse Practitioners
Emergency Nurse Practitioners
Paramedics working in Primary Care
Pharmacists involved in patient care

What This Course Covers

Day One – Mental Health in Primary Care

Understanding mental health and wellbeing
Common mental health conditions seen in Primary Care
Recognising signs, symptoms and risk factors
Approaches to mental health assessment
Evidence-based interventions and management approaches
Effective communication with patients experiencing mental health difficulties
Introduction to mental health annual reviews
Assessment tools and structured review frameworks

Day Two – Learning Disabilities in Primary Care

Understanding learning disabilities and their impact on health
Recognising common types of learning disabilities
Early identification and screening considerations
Supporting individuals with learning disabilities in Primary Care consultations
Communication strategies and reasonable adjustments
Rights and legislation relating to individuals with learning disabilities
Introduction to learning disability annual health checks
Assessment tools and structured review processes

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Recognise common mental health conditions encountered in Primary Care
Understand approaches to mental health assessment and management
Communicate effectively with patients experiencing mental health difficulties
Describe the health needs of individuals with learning disabilities
Understand legal and ethical considerations in learning disability care
Contribute to structured annual reviews for mental health and learning disability patients
Support holistic, patient-centred care within Primary Care consultations

Course Format

Duration: Two full days

Delivery: Virtual (Zoom)

Format includes:

Structured teaching
Case-based discussion
Interactive learning
Reflection and action planning

Certification

Certificate of attendance provided for CPD and revalidation purposes.