Invisible, Not Inconsequential
The Scottish Government has just launched its free FASD eLearning resource on the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) website. QNIS welcomes this essential online learning resource. It could have significant benefits for professionals and the individuals/families affected if widely used and shared.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is both the most common and the most overlooked neurodevelopmental condition in Scotland. The Scottish Government estimates that approximately 172,000 children, young people and adults across the country have their lives and life chances adversely affected by FASD. And yet, only a small proportion of people with FASD have been diagnosed, actively assisted or effectively supported.
To help overcome the longstanding misdiagnosis, misunderstanding and mistreatment of people with this life-altering condition, the Scottish Government has launched a free FASD eLearning resource on the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) website.
The module has four sections: Understanding, Preventing, Identifying, and Intervening/Supporting. The completion time is estimated at 1 hour 40 minutes. More detailed resources on each section are available or referenced.
Community nurses across Scotland – and the individuals, families, and communities they support – can benefit from this new source of accurate information and insights for improving practice. There are few community nurses who do not encounter people affected by FASD. All the nursing specialities have an important, but largely unrecognised, role to play in raising awareness, prevention, identification and/or better supporting these children, young people, and adults.
This eLearning resource was created by a Scottish Government Expert Group. Among its five members is Dr Jonathan Sher, QNIS Deputy Director. Back in 2012 (while still at Children in Scotland), Jonathan was commissioned to write the first NHS online course/resource on FASD in the UK. The resource launched today updates and revises that earlier version. For further information, please contact Dr Sher at jonathan.sher@qnis.org.uk or on 0744 333 1953.
Please note that anyone In Scotland (or beyond) can access this FASD eLearning resource free of charge. However, it does require registering with NES/Turas, which can be done here: NES/TURAS Dashboard (to register from outside of Scotland, please select ‘International’ in the Sectors drop down menu).
Please share this information and link with others to raise awareness of FASD and to encourage them to use this new eLearning resource.
Hi I wish to register for this course I am currently a residential worker based at St Philips school in airdrie. I feel this course would benefit myself when working with children and young people I look forward to your response. Thank you
Hi Donna, you can sign up for the course by clicking through to the TURAS sign-up at the bottom of the post. If you would like any assistance with this then please email: comms@qnis.org.uk and we can link you up with further information.
Thank you very much. I have been trying to spread the awareness of fasd for years this is so exciting that we can signpost here.
Thank you Maryelen, we want to encourage the sharing of this article so that we can do more to promote awareness of FASD.
I work within a residential childcare setting and have worked with yp who are affected by FASD therefore i am interested in learning more about the condition .
Hi Karen, thanks for your comment. If you would like more details about the course please email: comms@qnis.org.uk and we can provide you with more information.