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The present questionnaire based study examined the beliefs about and confidence in supporting bereaved individuals with a learning disability in health ( n =35) and social care staff ( n = 71). The study found that the knowledge of both health and social care staff about the grieving process in individuals with a learning disability was good, with staff recognizing the emotional and behavioural impact this could have on clients. No significant results were found in relation to knowledge about the grieving process in respect of occupational group, gender, experience of working in learning disability services or experience of supporting a client with a learning disability who had been bereaved. Significant results were found in relation to the confidence of staff in both providing support to people with a learning disability who were bereaved and in teaching people with a learning disability about death. Males, social care staff, those who had had experience of supporting a bereaved client and those who had had more experience of working in learning disability services rated themselves as significantly more confident in supporting bereaved people with a learning disability. In addition the two latter groups also rated themselves as significantly more confident in teaching individuals with a learning disability about death. The implications of the study are discussed.

The Child and Adolescent Intellectual Disability Screening Questionnaire showed good psychometric properties. It identified all participating children who met the criteria for intellectual disability. Between 83% and 94% of children without intellectual disability were also correctly identified.