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How to become a learning disability nurse

To become a learning disability nurse in the NHS you'll need to complete a pre-registration degree programme accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

What is a Learning disability nurse?

By providing care and support, learning disability nurses empower people with learning disabilities to take control of their lives, lead healthier lifestyles, and enjoy greater independence. Regardless of age, they can benefit from the specialised care and expertise of learning disability nurses, who are dedicated to helping them achieve their potential.

Starting your career as Learning disability nurse

Choosing subjects at school

To get on a course that could lead to a career in nursing, useful subjects include:

  • Biology
  • Human Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Care
  • Psychology
  • English
  • Maths

Speak to your guidance teacher about subjects offered at your school.

Work placements and volunteering

You may find it helpful to get some healthcare experience by doing a work placement or volunteering. You’ll get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to university, college or a new job with NHSScotland. 

Education and training pathway

You could take many different routes to become a registered learning disability nurse. You could apply directly to do a university learning disability nursing degree programme.

If you choose to go to college first, you could do an HNC in Healthcare Practice. You could then apply for an undergraduate pre-registration learning disability nursing degree at university.

Some nurses start their careers as nursing support workers. They can follow an established education pathway leading to a new career as a registered nurse.

Widening access

Widening participation supports adult learners who want to go to university. If you’re an adult with few or no qualifications, you can get into higher education through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP). Many universities also provide access programmes to help learners get the degree entry qualifications they need. 

Pre-registration learning disability nursing undergraduate degree programme

In Scotland, the following universities offer undergraduate programmes in learning disability nursing, approved by the NMC:

  • Edinburgh Napier University
  • Glasgow Caledonian University
  • The Open University

Pre-registration undergraduate programmes usually take 3 years full-time study. Part-time options and distance learning opportunities may also be available.

Fully-funded degree-level nursing programmes through the Open University are available if you’re an experienced nursing support worker who wants to become a registered nurse.

Course search

Search for college or university programmes on My World of Work.

Get to know the role

As a learning disability nurse, you would work to improve the wellbeing and social inclusion of people in your care.

You’ll use a variety of skills and techniques to communicate with individuals in your care. Helping people express their needs, integrate and engage with the wider world is also part of the job.

Tasks include:

  • assessing a person’s health and social care needs
  • providing access to healthcare and other therapies
  • teaching people everyday practical and personal skills
  • supporting people to lead a fulfilling life
  • reducing barriers and challenging negative attitudes

You’ll need these skills:

  • caring
  • listening
  • problem-solving
  • communication
  • teamworking
  • critical thinking

Learning disability nurses usually work in a team with other health and social care professionals, including:

  • doctors
  • healthcare support workers
  • speech and language therapists
  • occupational therapists
  • social workers

As a learning disability nurse the NHS, you could work in:

  • hospitals
  • residential homes
  • community centres
  • people’s homes
  • education
  • prisons

Learning and development

Once registered as a learning disability nurse, there are ongoing requirements for education and skills development. You’ll also have lots of opportunities to go further and learn more.

In your first year as a newly qualified nurse, you’ll get extra support and guidance through the Flying Start programme.

Career progression

In the NHS, you may choose to be a staff nurse throughout your nursing career, keeping up to date through continuing professional development. Taking extra courses and workplace learning could lead to progression through the career pathway to senior, advanced or consultant level.

When you’ve qualified and gained experience as a registered learning disability nurse, there are lots of specialisms to choose from, including:

  • sensory disabilities
  • autism
  • epilepsy
  • special needs education

You could also combine your nursing training with social care work. There are also opportunities to move into:

  • service management
  • public health
  • voluntary or private sector organisations
  • research and education

You could combine these roles with ongoing clinical practice.

Revalidation

Revalidation is a process that nurses need to follow to maintain their registration with the NMC every 3 years.

It is an ongoing process throughout your career as a nurse and aims to:

  • promote good practice
  • maintain and strengthen public confidence in the profession

Find out more about revalidation on the NMC website.

Professional bodies

When you become a qualified learning disability nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work in the NHS.

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