Overview

As a learning disabilities nurse you can make a real difference to the lives of patients and their families. It’s a challenging and rewarding career.

You play a central role in understanding the health needs of people with learning disabilities supporting them in issues which affect their lives, their individual needs, rights and opportunities in society. You empower the person with a learning disability to have a fulfilling life, to live as independently as possible, and support their family.

You gain specialist knowledge and skills in autism, effective communication skills, and creative and solution focused problem-solving experiences. You play a key role to educate, empower and support the wider team, which may include psychiatrists, physiotherapists, psychologists and occupational therapists, working alongside people with a learning disability.

A large part of your role is in the community setting, including visiting people in their own homes, or within a supported living environment. You also work in respite services, inpatient settings, clinics, or in forensic hospitals supporting people who are detained under the Mental Health Act. You may assist people with a variety of learning disabilities, autism spectrum conditions, complex physical health needs and mental health needs which may be described as challenging.

Your work also involves managing medicines, giving injections and undertaking clinical tasks. 100% attendance is expected during this course.

All new and continuing students on this course will receive a £5,000 maintenance grant each year if they’re eligible, which you do not need to pay back.
Find out more

Course details

Course content includes an emphasis on mental health and cognitive issues impacting on health, reflects the changing and challenging role of healthcare and the diverse role of the registered nurse. Leadership studies is embedded throughout the course to enable you to play a crucial role in moving practice forward. The quality of our partnerships with placement providers and service users means you gain sector-standard practice and experiences.

This module involves shared learning and teaching across all fields of nursing, to develop an understanding of the holistic issues that may influence and impact on the care and experience of people within different health care settings. You develop a broad understanding of the theoretical frameworks underpinning the discipline of nursing and identify and explore patterns and determinants of health, wellbeing and illness at a local, national and global level.

You identify and explore the knowledge base required to meet the fundamental mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural needs of people within their care. Research-informed teaching and learning will introduce you to the concept and process of evidence-based practice, which will enable you to take a critical approach towards nursing care.

Bio-psychosocial Development Across Lifespan

You develop an understanding of human systems and the patterns and determinants of health, wellbeing and illness. This will include consideration of the altered and normal human biopsychosocial development. You develop an awareness of genomics, sociological, psychological development and their impact upon physical health, mental health, and intellectual impairments across the lifespan.

You will have an awareness of routine investigations which will then contribute to the development of your knowledge of commonly encountered physical and behavioural health conditions. You will understand the principles of pathogenesis, immunology, and evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity, and establish an understanding of the principles of infection prevention and control.

Experts by Experience the Person's voice

You develop an understanding of the centrality of the person receiving care and valuing and promoting reciprocity in every interaction. You will explore the philosophical basis and key concepts underpinning approaches to working with different people and service user groups. The biopsychosocial experience and impact of altered health and wellbeing, physical illness, cognition and/or treatment upon the person and family will be examined from the service user perspective.

You explore the balance of power within health and social care provision and relationships, and empowerment and the concepts of therapeutic alliances will be examined. The concepts of meaning, empathy, compassion, trust, connectedness and hope will be analysed and applied to practice.

Foundation of Nursing Proficiency: the Professional basis of Care and Caring

This module will facilitate the development of fundamental knowledge and skills that pre-registration nurses must demonstrate when caring for people of all ages across care settings. The module content is linked to the Nursing and Midwifery Council platforms and proficiency statements combining theory and practice elements.

The module combines theory, practical skills and placement experience and incorporates the four fields of nursing across three semesters with students in mixed theory groups.Technology-enhanced learning is a key feature. Understanding the foundations of nursing proficiency and professional nursing practice will be developed through pre-reading, seminars and supporting of direct care through simulated workshops including role play, clinical skills development, simulation and the use of scenarios.

Introduction to Personal and Professional Effectiveness in Nursing practice

This module will provide the foundations from which students from all fields of nursing will examine the role of the nurse as a leader and champion of high-quality, person-centred nursing care, professional practice and innovation. It enables you to explore the knowledge, values and skills required to develop your personal effectiveness and reflective practice. This exploration will be used as a professional platform to inform their leadership development.

You will be introduced to the theoretical concepts underpinning leadership and personal effectiveness including self-awareness, resilience and self-management, as well as the core professional values of nursing.

How you learn

50% of your learning time is spent in University or self-managed learning activities (theory) and 50% in placement allocations (practice).

The teaching week is Monday to Friday and may involve some evening sessions. During placements you complete allocated shift patterns, for example a typical shift is 7.00am - 8.00pm, night duty and weekends. Holidays are fixed and it is not possible to take holidays outside of the set dates.

During University-based learning you engage in teacher-led and student-led activities, including include lectures, discussions, group activities, seminar presentations, tutorials, skills workshops, experiential learning / simulations, service user-focused activities and e-learning. Digital competency and learning through digital based platforms are an important component of the course.

Practice placements are in a range of settings which may include the service user’s home, short stay and hospital environments, schools and day services across a range of age groups. The people with learning disabilities that you support may need help with communication, daily livings skills, challenging behaviour and mental health issues; preventative, acute and long-term healthcare provision. There are opportunities for you to gain experience in other fields of nursing (mental health, adult and children’s nursing) for you to develop an understanding of the health and nursing needs of all fields of practice.

How you are assessed

Assessments are varied and include written assignments, examinations, case studies and presentations. You are also assessed in practice through a Practice Assessment Documentation which is linked to the Nursing and Midwifery Council requirement of communication and relationship management skills and nursing procedures skills which must be met for this course. These platforms are:

• being an accountable professional
• promoting health and preventing ill health
• assessing needs and planning care
• providing and evaluating care
• leading and managing nursing care and working in teams
• improving safety and quality of care
• co-ordinating care.

Career opportunities

A diverse range of career opportunities are available within the NHS and private sectors in the UK and overseas. This course provides a stepping stone from which you can develop your expertise in the fields of nursing practice, leadership, research, education and consultancy.