‘It takes 15 minutes to watch but should lead to a lifetime of changed social care practice’

Social workers praise 'Tale of laughing boy', a film tribute to man who died preventable death at learning disability unit

By Andy McNicoll on July 6, 2015 in Adults, Disability

18-year-old Connor Sparrowhawk died in July 2013 at a Southern Health unit

Last week a social work and human rights conference featured a screening of ‘The tale of laughing boy’ – a film tribute to 18-year-old Connor Sparrowhawk. Connor died in July 2013 while he was a patient at a learning disability unit. An independent review found that his death was preventable.

You can view the film below and read some of the reaction to it from social workers at the conference and others.

[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/130521001[/vimeo]

Reaction

For SWs Just 15 minutes of your time to watch but a lifetime of changed practice should & must come from it https://t.co/mRBxbLRlbd

— Mark Harvey (@Mwharvey) July 4, 2015

Harrowing because its painful & true. Inspiring because it is the catalyst to change a system that can lead to death https://t.co/iOIM0vDcBl

— Social Work Ops (@RobMitch92) July 4, 2015

#SWisHumanRights watching “The Tale of Laughing Boy”. The room stunned to silence

— Liz (@jesslinworld) July 3, 2015

Laughter & tears in the room as delegates watch Laughing Boy #SWisHumanRights #JusticeforLB

— ADASS conference (@SWishumanrights) July 3, 2015

A small film of extraordinary power. To behave less like ‘not Connors’-what a legacy @JusticeforLB @mylifemychoice1 https://t.co/iPNdxuGfKp

— Bill Love (@billrlove) July 4, 2015