Learning Disability Week

Nurses are often the first point of contact within health services. They are well placed to lead change, advocate for reasonable adjustments and ensure care is accessible, compassionate and person centred.

One example of this leadership in action is the Learning Disability Champion Scheme, delivered by the Community Learning Disability Team at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, with funding from the Burdett Trust for Nursing. The programme supported nurses and wider health and social care staff to build confidence, knowledge and skills to better meet the needs of people with a learning disability.

More than 330 staff received enhanced learning disability awareness training, with champions embedded across services to improve access, challenge unconscious bias and influence everyday practice.

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Nurse‑led leadership reducing restrictive practices

A Burdett Trust for Nursing funded nurse‑led project in Cheshire and Wirral strengthened care for people with learning disabilities by reducing restrictive practices.

Led by a senior community learning disability nurse, the project focused on building the confidence and skills of care provider managers to embed Positive Behaviour Support and active support in everyday practice. Our funding enabled the nurse to step away from clinical duties to lead the work full‑time, while maintaining continuity of care within community services.

Working in partnership with providers, families and carers the programme supported managers to better understand the impact of restrictive practices and identify less restrictive alternatives within support plans. Practical tools, mentoring and training helped staff make meaningful changes that promoted greater choice, independence and quality of life for people with learning disabilities.

The project shows how nursing leadership can drive lasting, person‑centred change across care services.

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Nurse improving hospital care for children with learning disabilities

A Burdett‑funded project led by Edge Hill University helped transform hospital experiences for autistic children and children with learning disabilities.

Autistic children and those with learning disabilities are more likely to experience anxiety, sensory overload and restrictive practices during routine hospital procedures. This research addressed those challenges by co‑producing an evidence‑based, child‑centred “Visit to Hospital” toolkit with children, parents and health professionals.

Nurses were central to the project sharing frontline insights, helping shape practical resources and championing approaches such as sensory environment assessments and implementing reasonable adjustments. The toolkit supports nurses to better understand each child’s needs, prepare families in advance, and create calmer, more supportive clinical environments.

By reducing reliance on restrictive practices and strengthening communication, the project demonstrates how nurse‑led research conducted with children and families can make positive impacts on practice.

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How nurses are tackling respiratory health inequalities

For people with learning disabilities, respiratory illness remains one of the leading causes of avoidable poor health and premature death, particularly for those from minoritised ethnic communities. During Learning Disability Week, we’re highlighting the impact of the Healthy Lungs project in Lancashire, led by learning disability nurses working at the heart of their communities.

The project delivered 26 co‑produced workshops, reaching hundreds of people with learning disabilities, families and carers. Nurses worked alongside community organisations, faith groups and carers’ networks to provide culturally relevant, easy‑read education on respiratory health, early warning signs and prevention. Importantly, the sessions created trusted spaces where families felt listened to and empowered to act.

As a result, people with learning disabilities accessed new multidisciplinary respiratory clinics, families reported increased confidence in managing health concerns, and inclusive respiratory pathways are now being embedded across the region.

This project demonstrates the vital role nurses play in reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities.

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Celebrating the role of nurses in inclusive care

Learning Disability Nursing Week is an important opportunity to celebrate the expertise, commitment and leadership of learning disability nurses, and the difference they make every day.

Nurses working in learning disability and adult social care settings play a vital role in delivering person‑centred, inclusive care. They support individuals with complex needs, advocate for dignity and choice, and work closely with families, carers and wider services to improve health outcomes. Their work requires not only clinical skill, but empathy, communication and a deep understanding of the social factors that shape people’s lives.

The project led by Buckinghamshire New University in collaboration with Buckinghamshire Health & Social Care Academy and the Royal Society for Public Health identified clear benefits from embedding a culture of continuous learning, supported by mentoring, reflective practice and flexible training design. A pilot public health training pathway, delivered across three cohorts, helped nurses and adult social care staff build key skills, improve confidence, and better understand career pathways. Findings also emphasised the importance of staff support, recognition and access to learning to improve retention and job satisfaction.

This week, we thank learning disability nurses for their leadership, compassion and lasting impact.

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