Nurse - Learning Disabilities

Also known as:

Learning Disability Nurse
Nurse (Learning Disability)

Introduction

Learning disability nurses care for people with learning disabilities who may also have special physical needs. They are involved in planning programmes of care and skills development, and teaching basic skills. They provide nursing care in a variety of settings, and offer support and counselling to families and carers.

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Work Activities

Learning disability nurses care for people with learning disabilities. A learning disability may result from slow or incomplete development of a person's brain, leading to difficulties in learning and carrying out basic social activities.

Learning disability nurses work to give people more self-esteem and control over their own lives, and to develop their skills and independence.

Many people with learning disabilities live at home with their families. Others live in community homes run by the National Health Service (NHS), the local authority or other organisations.

There are a few remaining hospitals for people with learning disabilities but most nurses work in the community. They visit patients at home or in special schools and day centres, to provide nursing care and to support and counsel the families and other carers.

Learning disability nurses instruct people with severe learning disabilities in very basic skills such as washing, toilet training, clothing and feeding themselves. They also help the people in their care to socialise, by teaching communication skills and appropriate social behaviour.

They may also assist in independence training involving travelling on public transport, shopping, simple budgeting or recreational activities such as playing instruments and games, singing, dancing and drawing.

Learning disability nurses may also care for mental or physical illness. Some clients, for example, will suffer from recurrent fits or clinical depression. Some people with learning disabilities display anti-social or challenging behaviour.

People with learning disabilities have various levels of ability. A major role of the nurse is to plan and implement programmes of care to suit the individual. This involves discussions with a nursing team and close liaison with other professionals such as doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers and teachers.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You need patience to cope with what can seem to be very slow progress. You must be able to cope with stressful aspects of the job. However, job satisfaction can be gained in helping someone make a seemingly minor improvement.

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Pay and Opportunities

National Health Service (NHS) employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities.

On the Agenda for Change pay scales a newly qualified nurse is on Band 5. From April 1, 2008 this has been £20,225 - £26,123 a year. A nurse team leader is on Band 6 (£24,103 - £32,653), while a nurse team manager is on Band 7 (£29,091 - £38,352 a year).

At the highest levels, matrons and nurse consultants can earn up to £64,118, depending on responsibilities.

Nurses work a basic 37.5-hour week. Hours of work vary and may include day, evening and weekend work. Some employers offer flexi-time working. Overtime is common.

Most nurses work in the NHS (in hospitals and in the community). However, learning disability nurses work in a variety of settings: in people's homes, residential care, schools and workplaces, and with voluntary organisations.

There may also be opportunities to work in other countries. (Some countries require additional qualifications).

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Adult Opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. To start training as a nurse, you must be aged at least 17 in Scotland (17 and a half in England) on the day the course starts.

If you don't have the qualifications that are usually needed to enter a degree or DipHE in nursing course, you might be able to start one after completing a college or university Access course, eg, Access to Nursing. You don't usually need any formal qualifications to start an Access course, but you should check individual course details.

Other routes into nursing training for mature entrants can be a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 3 in a relevant subject (e.g. care), Access to Nursing course, modular course credits from the Open University, or Return to Practice courses.

Shortened or accelerated training courses are available for some graduates. For example, a two-year nursing diploma can be taken if you have a degree in a relevant subject area, such as life sciences, social sciences or in health-related topics.

Students on a pre-registration nursing or midwifery diploma or degree course are eligible for a bursary .

Other sources of funding include health authority trust funds and charities.

The Royal College of Nursing also administers a number of post-registration scholarships and awards for experienced and qualified nurses.

The Government is keen to welcome qualified and experienced people back into the NHS. If you have not practised for five years and want to return to the NHS, you will need to join a Return to Practice programme (approved by the NMC). The courses refresh clinical skills and there are classroom sessions to discuss theory.

Many Return to Practice courses are part time. Funding may be available from the Scottish Executive or your employer.

Financial support may include a bursary while taking the course, payment for the clinical placement periods, and help with travel and childcare costs.

For more information contact your local NHS Trust.

• 31% of nurses work part-time.
• 6% have flexible hours.
• 4% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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