An exploration of the Personal Relationship Advisory Group in a community learning disability service: A service development project

Abstract

Accessible summary The project aimed to explore discussions from the Personal Relationship Advisory Group (PRAG) meetings in a community adult learning disability team to influence the development of new relationship resources. All meeting minutes within a 12‐month period were analysed to find themes. The themes suggest the importance of the service looking at the whole person, such as their physical, emotional and social well‐being, when there are relationship concerns. New resources that focus on personal sexuality, different types of relationships and Internet safety may be of benefit to the service. Resources for carers may also be useful, such as helping carers to support people with learning disabilities to safely access relationships online. AbstractBackgroundAdults with learning disabilities often face barriers when accessing relationships and can require additional support. The Personal Relationship Advisory Group (PRAG) is a provision in a community learning disability service in North England, which offers multidisciplinary advice regarding relationship concerns. The current project aimed to identify common themes within PRAG to influence the development of new resources in the service.Materials and MethodsAll meeting minutes within a 12‐month period were analysed using thematic analysis. There were a total of 16 minutes, which discussed 11 people with learning disabilities. This included six females and five males with a mean age of 30 (SD = 14.97).ResultsIndividuals often had limited opportunity to develop relationships. There was a lack of understanding of sex and of how to behave appropriately in different types of relationships, with a need for individualised, accessible education. The Internet was commonly used to seek relationships, with many concerns regarding safety from carers or family. There were some unhelpful responses from others, such as the implementing of restrictions. Factors that may have an impact on the person's overall well‐being, such as their health, social issues and trauma, were often discussed.ConclusionsThe identified themes suggest the need for the service to take a holistic, biopsychosocial and individualised approach when supporting individuals with any relationship concerns. A multidisciplinary approach and collaboration with the individual and family/carers is key. It may be useful for the service to develop resources on topics such as personal sexuality, different types of relationships and Internet safety. Carer‐specific resources would also be beneficial, such as advice on how to safely support individuals to seek relationships on the Internet.