Peter Woodward

Peter Woodward RNLD, DipN, CertFE(teach), Dip App Psych, PGDipHE, MSc, PhD

Programme Lead Learning Disabilities

Peter Woodward is the Programme Lead for Learning Disabilities in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Greenwich.

Peter joined the university in 2006 as senior lecturer mainly on pre-registration BSc Hons Learning Disability Nursing programme and the BSc Intellectual Disabilities programmes. He is also a certified Moving and Handling, and Breakaway Skills instructor.

He graduated as a registered nurse in 1998 specialising in challenging and forensic behaviours and the mental health of learning disabilities. He worked as a nurse in forensic and challenging behaviour services with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust prior to working as the training officer for the Estia Centre (Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust), that supports adults with learning disabilities and their mental health needs.

He has over thirty publications in his field, including providing guidance for the Royal College of Nursing.

He has interests in mental health promotion and mental health literacy of people with learning disabilities and the deescalation of violence and aggression in healthcare

Previous  Job  Held

  • 2003-06, Training Officer, Estia Centre
  • 2000-03, Deputy Nurse Manager, Oxleas NHS Trust
  • 1999-2000, Lead Nurse, Oxleas NHS Trust1995-98, Student Nurse, University Greenwich
  • 1994-95, Support Worker, Greenwich Health Care
  • 1986-94, Engineer, Ministry of Defence

Responsibilities within the university
  • Programme lead for learning disabilities nursing.
  • Lead for the BSc(hons) and MSc learning disabilities nursing programme
  • Breakaway skills coordinator
  • Lead on the design, teaching and evaluation of breakaway skills form violence and aggression

Recognition

Peer reviewer for:

  • Learning Disabilities Practice
  • Advances in Mental Health in Intellectual Disabilities
  • Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities

Research / Scholarly interests

Currently:

  • Evaluating the student nurse’s experience of breakaway skills training
  • Research on cancer screening in people with intellectual disabilities

Previous research involved:

  • The evaluation of psychoeducational mental health promotion groups for people with intellectual disabilities
  • Examining the attitudes of mental health nurses towards people with learning disabilities

Recent publications
  • Kupara, D. and Woodward, P (2023) Conducting mental health assessments of people with learning disabilities.  Learning Disabilities Practice.  doi: 10.7748/ldp.2023.e2218
  • Abreu, P., Concannon, G and Woodward, P. (2018) Communication.  In E. Chaplin, J. Delree, R. Francis, M. Jennings, G. Concannon, and L. Bedford (eds) Learning Disability Today (4th edition) Brighton: Pavilion

  • Woodward, P. (2018) Physical health. In E. Chaplin, J. Delree, R. Francis, M. Jennings, G. Concannon, and L. Bedford (eds)

  • Woodward, P. (2014). Positive risk taking for individuals with disabilities: A care quality guide for health and social care staff and carers. Brighton: Pavilion.
  • Hardy, S., Woodward, P., Woolard, P. and Tait, T. (2013). Meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities: Guidance for nursing staff. 3rd ed. London: Royal College of Nursing.
  • Woodward, P. (2013). Principles of positive risk taking for individuals with disabilities. [LD205 Trainer pack] Brighton: Pavilion.
  • Woodward, P. (2013). Understand positive risk taking for individuals with disabilities. [LD305 Trainer pack] Brighton: Pavilion.
  • Woodward, P. (2011). Challenging behaviour. In: S. Hardy, S and T. Joyce, eds., Challenging behaviour and people with learning disabilities: A handbook. Brighton: Pavilion.
  • Woodward, P. and Hardy, S. (2011). Staff support and training. In: G. Holt., S. Hardy, and N. Bouras, eds., Mental health in Intellectual disabilities: A reader. 4th ed. Brighton: Pavilion.
  • Woodward, P. (2011). Opinion piece on the regulation of support workers. Nursing Times, 107(23), p. 7.
  • Hardy, S., Woodward, P., Woolard, P. and Tait, T. (2011). Meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities: Guidance for nursing staff (Second edition). London, Royal College of Nursing.
  • Hardy, S., Chaplin, E. and Woodward, P. (2010). Mental health nursing of adults with learning disabilities. Royal College of Nursing: RCN guidance [online].
  • Woodward, P. (2010). What do people with learning disabilities think about challenging behaviour? In: S. Hardy, and T. Joyce, eds., Challenging Behaviour: a Training Pack. OLM Pavilion: Brighton.
  • Woodward, P. and Hardy, S. (2010). Values, principles, definitions and approaches. In: S. Hardy, and T. Joyce, eds., Challenging Behaviour: a Training Pack. OLM Pavilion: Brighton.
  • Woodward, P. and Halls, S. (2009). Staff training in the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities in the UK. Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 3(2).
  • Hardy, S., Woodward, P., Halls, S. and Creet, B. (2009). Mental Health Promotion for People with Learning Disabilities. Brighton: OLM Pavilion Publishing.

  • Learning Disability Today (4th edition) Brighton: Pavilion

Presentations

Conference presentations in the last five years:

  • Woodward, P. (2019) ‘Evaluation of the use of psychoeducational mental health promotion groups’ Learning disability multi-professional forum.  Dartford, Kent, 12th September 2019
  • Woodward, P. (2018) ‘Evaluation of the use of psychoeducational mental health promotion groups’ KCH Learning Disabilities Academic Session on Contemporary Issues in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities. Ashford, Kent, 26th September 2018
  • Woodward, P. (2018) ‘Evaluation of the use of mental health promotion groups’ – British Institute of Learning Disabilities KSS Learning Disability Community of Practice Conference, Charis Centre, Crawley 21st June 2018