It’s officially the hottest day of the year in England, with temperatures surpassing 30C and amber heat health alerts in place as we enter an early summer heatwave. Climbing temperatures have brought warnings for schools, businesses and communities to protect people’s health, safety and welfare, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to the...
Tips for Supporting Autistic People with Heat Sensitivity
With the UK in the middle of a heatwave, many autistic people are facing extra difficulties, including hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to heat. If you're working with autistic people, remember: Check in gently and often Provide cool spaces, fans, and water Watch for non-verbal signs like fatigue, zoning out, or agitation Respect everyone’s needs, visible...
“Do You See Me?” Learning Disability Week 2025
This Learning Disability Week (16–22 June 2025), First Response Training supports the theme “Do You See Me?” by promoting inclusion, empathy, and understanding through our Neurodiversity training courses. Co-delivered by Experts with Lived Experience, including people with learning disabilities and autistic individuals, our training challenges stereotypes and sparks real change. Join us in recognising...
How We Created Our New Learning Disability and Autism Course
In response to the Health and Care Act 2022, First Response Training has developed a comprehensive Learning Disability and Autism training course, fully aligned with Section 181 and Regulation 18. Designed for health and social care professionals, our blended course combines evidence-based content with powerful contributions from people with lived experience. Co-created with autistic...
Quick Guide to the NHS Patient Safety Healthcare Inequalities Reduction Framework
NHS England published the Patient Safety Healthcare Inequalities Reduction Framework on 15 May 2025. This acknowledges and addresses the fact that patient safety incidents do not affect everyone equally. We see poorer care, worse outcomes, and even avoidable harm for specific individuals and communities. This includes those facing social, economic or cultural disadvantages. First...
Childline sees rise in children seeking help for anger issues
New data from Childline reveals that nearly 3,000 children contacted them to seek help for anger issues last year, representing a 6% increase from the previous year. The NSPCC says this rise reflects the “growing emotional challenges” young people face in society today. The national children’s charity, which operates Childline, is speaking out during...
New report helps identify harmful cultures in care
A “powerful” new research report has identified the ‘red flags’ that indicate harmful cultures in care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) commissioned the Patient Experience Library to analyse early warning signs and harmful patterns of behaviour from 10 years of avoidable harm inquiries in the health and social care sector. The resulting report, Responding...
CQC finds too many people wait too long for mental health care
The latest community mental health survey from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found that 4 in 10 people are waiting too long for mental health care. The annual survey of more than 14,000 people who accessed community mental health services from 1st April to 31st May 2024 “lays bare the devastating reality,” that...
Celebrate the power of community this Mental Health Awareness Week
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, and this year the vital campaign is focused on the power and importance of community. Led by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (12th-18th May) aims to bring the UK together to boost mental health for all and highlight how being part of...
First Response Training delivers empowering training for local community group, The Monday Night Club
National training provider First Response Training has delivered “engaging, accessible” first aid training for members of a local social club for adults with a learning disability and autistic people. The Monday Night Club is a fantastic Worcester-based social club run by members, for members. They organise social get-togethers, discos, karaoke evenings, parties, talent shows,...
Three key things to know for Allergy Awareness Week 2025
It’s Allergy Awareness Week in the UK this week (21st-27th April), with Allergy UK aiming to “highlight the experiences of people living with allergies and raise awareness of allergy and its impact.” The leading allergy charity is using Allergy Awareness Week 2025 as a springboard to launch its new campaign, ‘I Wish I Knew...
Many firms not prepared to make adjustments for neurodivergent staff
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has raised concerns that many employers are not “fully prepared” to make reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent employees. IOSH conducted an online poll to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week last month. It asked it’s followers on LinkedIn about the ability and willingness of businesses to make reasonable adjustments...
April is World Autism Acceptance Month
April is World Autism Acceptance Month, with Wednesday 2nd April kickstarting a month of celebration and awareness-raising with World Autism Awareness Day. The global campaign aims to “raise awareness, foster acceptance and create a society where autistic people are supported, understood and empowered.” In the UK, the National Autistic Society wants to change attitudes...
How to Lead With Love this Stress Awareness Month
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the impact of stress, its causes, and ways to manage it. This year, the theme is #LeadWithLove, focusing on combating stress through kindness, compassion, and acceptance. By embracing unconditional positive regard, we can create a more stress-resilient world, both at work and in...
Join Skills for Care in Celebrating Social Care this April
This April Skills for Care are Celebrating Social Care and recognising the dedication, compassion and hard work of the sector. The #CelebratingSocialCare campaign is now in its fourth year, after being launched for the first time by Skills for Care in April 2022. The workforce development charity says the annual campaign celebrates the amazing...