Inspired by the Books Beyond Words picture book series, A New Kind of Trainer tells the story of a service user (with a learning disability) through each stage of obtaining his job as a training adviser at a Medical School, what the job involves, and shows how he continues to develop in the role. It is liberally illustrated with black and white photographs by Paul Stuart.

 

There is an increasing expectation that service users will be involved in preparing health and social care professionals to work with people with learning disabilities, following a recommendation in the Valuing People Government White Paper.

 

This book provides an introduction and guide for both service users and employers. It is based on more than 10 years experience of employing people with learning disabilities as training advisors in a medical school to train staff and students. It will assist service users with both how to find a job initially, providing accessible materials which are easy to understand, and in developing their role as trainers. It will also assist organisations (particularly universities and colleges) by providing good practice guidance together with many pointers about preparing a disability friendly environment that will help them to employ users with learning disabilities as trainers.