Nurse - Learning Disability

You would support people with learning disabilities and their families to enjoy good health and get the best out of life.

You’d help your clients with everyday tasks whilst encouraging and helping them to live as independently as they can. You might also counsel and advise clients' families and carers.

You would often begin with an assessment of a person’s health and social care needs, which will probably be complex. Their needs may be linked to:

• Physical disabilities

• Epilepsy

• Mental health problems

• Difficulties with speech

• Hearing or vision issues

You would provide them with specialist healthcare and make sure the person has access to the right health services, treatment or therapy.

You would teach skills and give people practical help and encouragement with:

• Personal hygiene

• Dressing

• Using public transport

• Going on shopping trips

• Pursuing leisure interests or community activities

• Making and attending appointments

• Finding a job

You’d work with people of all ages. You could work with clients in their workplace, in adult education, in school, residential or community centres, and in their home, for example helping them bring up a family.

You would need to be sensitive to the needs of your clients, have patience and stay calm and in control of sometimes difficult situations.

You might also mentor and supervise support workers, and provide specialist advice to the wider healthcare team including doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers and teachers.

You can see more about this role in the National Health Service on the learning disability nurse page on the NHS Scotland Careers website. See the Learning and development section for information about career structure, progression and rates of pay.

• Nursing and Midwifery Council – details of the standards for nursing training set by the NMC

• NHS Education for Scotland – Training for the healthcare workforce including higher education and professional development

• Disclosure Scotland – more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme