Can You Understand It? Team

The 'Can You Understand It?' team was set up in 2009 as an editorial team. It was developed to ensure information produced for people with learning disabilities was in a format that was easy to understand and informative.

The team comprises ten paid member, which are made up of seven 'expert by experience' staff, a Patient Information Lead, a Specialist Support Worker from Speech and Language Therapy and a Practice Development Nurse. The team meets once a month.

Any information produced by the Adult Learning Disability Service of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust that is aimed at service users and patients has to be reviewed by the team. The team use an accessible checklist to assess the quality of the information to be reviewed. Feedback  is sent to the author in an accessible report with recommendations to make it easy read with appropriate symbols, photograhs, drawings and wording.

If you like any further information please email Sharon Rodrigues 

Oxleas Easy Read Resources

Accessible invitation letter

Easy Read Leaflets on Oxleas Intranet

External Easy Read Resources

Easy Health

 

Examples of our work!


Easy read information about your medication

Information about visiting the Keep Healthy Clinic

Members of the team:

Jessica Burman works for Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust as a Speech and Language Therapy Specialist Support Worker, in an Adult Learning Disability and Mental Health inpatient unit. She is also a member of the Can You Understand it? Team. Jessica assists the Speech and Language Therapist to assess service users’ communication and develop interventions to maximise their understanding and their ability to express themselves. Jessica supports the inpatient service to provide information to service users which is accessible and to create an Inclusive Communication environment.

Sarah Casey, Can you understand it? Team, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Sarah  has been part of the Can you understand it? team for the last 3 years and is also part of the ‘Respect’ group for Bexley Mencap. Sarah has helped with Learning Disability presentations and taken part in the a video about the ‘Hospital Passport’. Sarah enjoys taking part in swimming competitions as well as teaching people with learning disabilities to swim.

John Clarke, Can you understand it? Team, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. John is one of the founder members of the Can you understand it? team established 8 years ago. John has been an Assistant MP for Health for the People’s Parliament in Greenwich, a Health Quality Checker and an Employment Ambassador ensuring that people with learning disabilities who are in employment are treated fairly. John has lots of experience being on interview panels and has given presentations to Governors and managers in Oxleas. John loves art and music.

Steve Hardy is Practice Development Nurse in the Adult Learning Disability Service of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and a member of the Can You Understand It? Team. He is also Associate Editor of Advances in Autism journal and a member of LDNurse.com. He is well published around the mental health need of people with learning disabilities and mental capacity. He has a passion in developing and sharing resources and work in co-production with people with learning disabilities to give them a platform to be heard.


Dennis Hayward, Can you understand it? Team. Dennis joined the team 4 years ago. He enjoys coming to the team meetings and finds it interesting being part of the team. He has been part of Olxeas service user interview panel and taken part in a video about 'Hospital Passport'. Dennis likes arts and crafts, reading, music (60's & 80's). going shopping and holidays.


James Holmes, Can you understand it? Team. James has been part of the team for the last 5 years. He has taken part in a number of projects like looking at signage in hospitals and being part of the Oxleas interview panel. He has also been a Learning Support Assistant at college, helping people with learning disabilities to use computers. He enjoys playing tennis and football, going out and gardening.


Sarah Leatherdale, Can you understand it? Team. Sarah joined the team 3 years ago and has also been on the service user interview panel for Oxleas. Sarah is also part of the 'Respect' group for Bexley Mencap and has taken part in videos about the 'Hospital Passport'. Sarah enjoys going out.


Sharon Rodrigues is the Patient Information Lead for Oxleas Learning Disability Directorate. Her main role is facilitating the Can you understand it? team ensuring information for people with learning disabilities is accessible and provides easy read training for staff. She previously worked in an in-patient unit for people with learning disabilities focussing on person centred approaches and being a voice for patients. She has recently been part of the Accessible Information Standards Working Party ensuring the standards are being implemented in the trust.


Chris Saxton, Can you understand it? Team. Chris has been part of the team for 2 years and enjoys being part of the team. Chris attends Astley Day Centre and also has a job cleaning windows supported by Mencap. Chris enjoys going to football matches and supports Arsenal.


Sunny Sokhal, Can you understand it? Team. Sunny has been part of the team for 7 years and taken part in a number of learning disability events, been part of service user interview panels and looked at signage round hospitals. Sunny is part of the 'Speaking up' group for Advocacy for All and is very committed to ensuring people with learning disabilities have a voice. Sunny enjoys playing football and going to the cinema.