What does a learning disability nurse do?

Learning disability nurses are registered nurses who specialise in caring for people with learning disabilities. They play an important role in providing person-centred care to help individuals improve their quality of life.

In this article, we look at what a learning disability nurse does, the purpose of their role, responsibilities, key skills they need and more.

Select from the list below to learn more about learning disability nurses.

• The role of a learning disability nurse
• What care settings can a learning disability nurse work in?
• Responsibilities of a learning disability nurse
• Skills and qualities of a learning disability nurse
• How much do learning disability nurses earn?
• Learning disability nurse jobs
• Career development opportunities for learning disability nurses
• Learning disability nurse FAQs

The role of a learning disability nurse

The role of a learning disability nurse is to provide support that meets the bespoke needs of those receiving their care. Focusing on physical, emotional and social needs, a learning disability nurse advocates for the person with learning disabilities and helps improve their quality of life.

What care settings can a learning disability nurse work in?

A learning disability nurse can work in multiple care settings, which include:

• In people’s homes (community care)
• Residential or nursing homes
• Educational institutions
• Specials units
• Hospital settings

Depending on the type of care you would like to deliver and the number of people you want to support, certain care settings may be better suited for your learning disability nurse career.

If you’re looking to support one to a few individuals and deliver care to them in their own homes, enabling them to build their social skills, develop their own routines and visit their community, a community learning disability nurse job would be the perfect role for you.

Responsibilities of a learning disability nurse

The job responsibilities of a learning disability nurse can be determined by the care setting you work in, the person or people you care for and their bespoke needs.

When you work as a learning disability nurse at Thornbury Community Services (TCS), you will ensure our clients receive highly tailored care, centred around their clinical, social and environmental needs. Your responsibilities may include:

• Creating and developing structured and bespoke routines and activities for the client
• Regularly communicating with the RNLD clinical lead nurse to provide updates and changes regarding the client
• Completing forms including incident, fluid and diet, and handovers
• Enabling therapeutic relationships and engagement in hobbies, tasks and activities
• Using a body map and other communication tools with the client
• Monitoring behaviours in line with the PBS plan
• Implementing physical intervention techniques when required to ensure safety
• Carrying out personal care if required

Skills and qualities of a learning disability nurse

Learning disability nurses need to demonstrate a range of skills and qualities to ensure the people they support receive person-centred care tailored to their bespoke needs.

We asked our Clinical Service Lead, Olivia, and Clinical Lead Nurse, Arianwen, what they believe are the key skills and qualities learning disability nurses should possess.

To learn more about what to expect working in a community setting as an RNLD, read our blog about working as a learning disability nurse at TCS.

How much do learning disability nurses earn?

Learning disability nurses can receive a salary or hourly pay rates for their shifts. Depending on your role, care setting, the person or people you’re supporting and your employer can determine whether you receive an annual salary or are paid by the hour.

At TCS, we pay our learning disability nurses exceptional hourly rates of pay that match some of the highest-paying nursing agencies. To find out how much you could earn working as a learning disability nurse at TCS, click the button below.

Career development opportunities for learning disability nurses

At TCS, we support our nurses to progress in their roles by offering a range of career development opportunities, such as new roles, working shifts with different clients, and CPD training courses.

Progress to a clinical lead nurse role

At TCS, we give our learning disability nurses the opportunity to develop in their careers and take the next step up to a managerial role working as a clinical lead nurse.

As a TCS clinical lead nurse, you will manage several client care packages and their care plans. You will visit clients in their homes and regularly check in with them, their families, and our team of nurses and support workers. This ensures that the client’s needs, wishes, and requirements are at the centre of their care and that they continue progressing with their goals and aspirations.

Develop your nursing skills

To further expand your skillset in learning disability nursing, we can offer you more shifts working with different individuals with learning disabilities and autism to enable you to upskill or refresh your current nursing expertise. 

This also allows you to collaborate with more RNLD and RMN nurses and support workers whilst providing highly bespoke care to adults and children with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions.

CPD training courses

Joining TCS as a community learning disability nurse means you will gain access to our online portal, Compass which contains an extensive library of continual professional development (CPD) training courses to book relating to your CPD and professional development.

Learning disability nurse FAQs

To learn more about the role of a learning disability nurse, their duties and responsibilities and how you can join Thornbury Community Services, read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below.