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?
Learning disability nurses are trained from the start of their nursing career to work with people of all ages who have a learning disability. With a focus on empowerment, they allow individuals with learning disabilities to have greater control over their lives, lead healthier lifestyles and enjoy greater independence.
They support people with learning disabilities to lead meaningful lives and promote knowledge and awareness in the wider healthcare community.
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
- Chemistry
- 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 will get training, increase your knowledge, and learn new skills. This could help you when applying to college, university, or a new job with NHSScotland. Contact your local health board to find out about the work placements or volunteering opportunities available to you.
Education and training pathway
There are many different pathways to becoming a registered learning disability nurse. Find out the best way for you below.
Scottish Widening Access Programme (SWAP)
SWAP is for adult learners who have been out of education for 3 years or more.
The SWAP pathway offers a supportive route that you can take to re-enter education and pursue a career in nursing. The one-year course will help to bridge gaps in your education.
Completing this pathway will prepare you for entry into a SWAP partnered university undergraduate nursing degree programme. Tuition fees and a bursary may be available.
Open university
If you are an existing healthcare support workers who wants to pursue a nursing degree while remaining employed the Open University pathway may be right for you.
The Open University offers flexibility with a 4-year part-time course. You will combine working in your existing healthcare support worker role with online study. The distance learning approach includes local placements to provide hands-on experience and training. The Scottish Government covers all tuition fees.
HNC healthcare practice
Apply for an HNC in healthcare practice if you are an existing healthcare support worker or you do not have the necessary qualifications for direct entry into a university nursing course.
This pathway starts with studying for a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Healthcare Practice, which serves as a stepping stone towards a nursing degree.
Successful completion of the HNC program may grant you direct entry into the 2nd year of a university nursing course, accelerating your progress towards becoming a registered nurse within NHSScotland.
Taking one year to complete, many colleges in Scotland provide the HNC Healthcare practice qualification. Colleges that offer the course include:
- North East Scotland College
- Glasgow Clyde College
- Forth Valley College
- Edinburgh College
Search for college courses on My World of Work.
Pre-registration undergraduate learning disability nursing degree
If you have the required qualifications, you can apply for a nursing degree, regardless of age. You could be a school pupil, college student, career changer, or a nursing assistant practitioner.
This pathway involves pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree at an NMC accredited university. Bursaries are available to support students throughout their studies. Upon completion, graduates will become registered nurses within NHSScotland and can register with the NMC. The course takes 3-4 years to complete.
There are 3 universities in Scotland that offer undergraduate programmes in learning disability nursing, approved by the NMC:
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- The Open University
Search for pre-registration undergraduate nursing degree programmes on My World of Work.
Return to nursing practice
If you were previously registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the return to practice pathway is right for you. You’ll need an NMC statement of entry confirming your previous registration.
You'll also need to meet the NMC's practice hours requirements before you start your readmission application.
If you're unable to meet the practice hours requirement, you can complete one of the following to update your knowledge and skills:
- A return to practice course combines theoretical and practical application to update your nursing skills. It covers a full range of topics so that you'll be up-to-date with healthcare standards and protocols. Depending on practice hours and pace of study, it takes 14 to 26 weeks.
- The Test of Competence will evaluate your knowledge and skills against NMC standards.
Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary
The Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary (PNMSB) scheme is managed by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) on behalf of the Scottish Government.
It includes a non-repayable bursary of £10,000 that’s not income assessed. Other bursaries or grants may be available depending on your circumstances.
You must meet the eligibility criteria:
- you ordinarily reside in Scotland
- your course leads to a degree or diploma of higher education in Scotland
Find out more about SASS funding for nursing and midwifery students
Get to know the role
As an NHS learning disability nurse, you will work to improve the health and social inclusion of people in your care. Using a diverse range of skills and communication techniques, you will work with individuals to help them express their needs.
Advocacy plays a crucial role in addressing health inequalities and ensuring access to healthcare services. You will work to reduce barriers to individuals living full and independent lives. As a learning disability nurse, you might also help people gain the skills needed for employment.
You might already have the right experience to start a career as a learning disability nurse. You might have cared for a relative or worked in a caregiving role. This experience will help you to support people with learning disabilities to be more independent.
You will build long-lasting relationships with patients and their families, one of the most rewarding aspects of the role.
As a learning disability nurse you are a highly skilled professional who has responsibility for the decisions you make within your role.
Your role might include:
- advocating for people with learning disabilities
- assessing a person’s health and social care needs
- supporting people who have a learning disability with communication
- helping people to learn and retain abilities, such as sustaining independence in daily life
- supporting access to healthcare and other therapies
- supporting development of everyday practical and personal skills
- supporting people to lead a fulfilling life
- reducing barriers to health and wellbeing opportunities
- challenging stigma and discrimination
- supporting initiatives and projects that improve outcomes for people with learning disability
- working with wider health or social care colleagues to develop and enhance their knowledge of learning disabilities
You’ll need these skills:
- self-advocacy
- relationship building
- leadership
- problem-solving
- communication
- teamworking
- empathy
- critical thinking
Learning disability nurses usually work in a team with other health and social care professionals, including:
- people with learning disabilities
- family members
- carers
- midwives
- doctors
- healthcare support workers
- speech and language therapists
- occupational therapists
- social workers
As a learning disability nurse the NHS, you could work in:
- hospitals
- community centres
- people’s homes
- care homes
- prisons
Learning disability nurses also work with colleagues and partners in the care sector, independent healthcare sector, 3rd sector and in education.
Registering with the NMC
When you become a qualified nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to practice. The NMC are the independent regulator for all registered nurses and midwives in the UK.
This video from the NMC explains what makes you a registered professional.
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 as a registered learning disability nurse, there are lots of specialisms to choose from, including:
- community nursing
- sensory disabilities
- autism
- epilepsy
- special needs education
- profound and multiple disability nursing
- hospice nursing
- ambulance services
- NHS 24
- health visiting
Once you have gained experience as a registered learning disability nurse you could progress to:
- specialist team lead
- learning disability lecturer
- clinical educator
- specialist assessor
- advanced practitioner
You could also combine your nursing training with social care work. There are opportunities to move into:
- service delivery and management
- public health
- voluntary or private sector organisations
- research and education
- prison and police services
Revalidation
Revalidation is a process that all 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
Professional bodies
When you become a qualified children’s nurse, you must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to work in the NHS. You can also join the Royal College of Nursing.
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