ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the Joint Service's attempt to begin to address the complex issue of people's emotional needs in this context. It attempts a definition of sexual abuse and explored the complexity of consent and the quality of the power relationship. The chapter demonstrates how vulnerable people with a learning disability can be, because of their functional abilities, the environment in which they live, their dependence on others for support, and the myths and misconceptions about their sexuality and feelings. It explains the impact of sexual abuse on learning-disabled people to that experienced by anyone, but often compounded by poor comprehension, poor communication and chronic low self-esteem. The chapter describes an approach to training which will provide the opportunity for the healing to begin from the point of disclosure. It provides a structured initiative which equips direct care staff with basic counselling skills. The chapter concludes with the experience of clinicians who have tried to develop more specialised skills.