A Career in Learning Disability Nursing

Learning Disability Nurses

Learning Disability (LD) Nurses work with people who have a learning disability and often also alongside their support network. LD Nurses listen and support the person to make their own, or to have supported decisions. Their role is to improve or maintain the person’s physical or mental health, reduce barriers to receiving healthcare and utilise reasonable adjustments to promote equity and access and to support the person to live a fulfilling life.

We utilise a variety of skills and resources such as signs, pictures, symbols, and easy read to make sure the people we support can understand and be understood. We are educators, advocates, and leaders, empowering people with learning disabilities to reach their full potential and lead healthy, independent fulfilling lives.

Learning disability nurses are creative communicators. As an LD Nurse we collaborate as part of a broader team that may include GPs, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Dieticians, Teachers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, and Physiotherapists.

Where we work and what we earn

LD nurses work in multi-agency partnership which includes Integrated Care Boards, GPs, acute hospitals, community health services, social care, advocacy, residential and care homes.

LD nurses work in variety of settings including community and inpatient. We work as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside psychiatry, psychology and allied health professionals.

£32,073 (band 5) to £56,515 (band 7), and in senior roles from £64,750 (band 8a) which may involve specialist, teaching or clinical research, operational management, leadership, and director roles.

How to get started

You need GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A to C) in Maths and English, or equivalent qualifications such as Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English,
To become a Learning Disability Nurse the main route is through a degree course at university. Entry requirements for these courses can vary depending on where and how you’d like to study so it’s important to check with universities. If taking the university route: you’ll need two A levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications, such as a T level or BTEC for an undergraduate degree. Some universities may ask for three A levels or equivalent. If you already have a degree, you might be able to study for a postgraduate qualification.
You can also take the nursing degree apprenticeship or Nursing Associate route, Student nursing associate places are usually advertised on NHS Jobs but some places are available through direct application to universities.