Chloe Richardson Learning Disability Community Charge Nurse NHS Forth Valley What difference has the programme made to how you practice? I feel very lucky and privileged to be a part of the Queen’s Nurse journey. The programme has not only made me a confident practitioner, it has allowed me to also enable others to also…
Learning Disability Nurse
Jena Davies
Jena Davies Lead Nurse Mental Health and Learning Disability NHS Dumfries and Galloway What inspired you to work in the community? I qualified in 2003 where my nursing journey began working in Secure Mental Health Services. I absolutely loved my job however often those I worked with had missed opportunities for earlier intervention that may…
Laura McCann
Laura McCann Community Learning Disability Senior Charge Nurse Falkirk Learning Disability Team – NHS Forth Valley What difference do you hope to have on the health and wellbeing of those you care for? Learning Disability Nursing is one of the smallest branches of nursing there is, but by goodness what a fantastic field of nursing to be trained…
Catriona Jamieson
Catriona Jamieson Projects Lead PAMIS (Promoting a More Inclusive Society) Catriona got into nursing later in life, overcoming challenges with education to make a difference for others. “I was previously a family carer but always really interested in becoming a learning disability nurse. Working alongside people with learning disabilities, I could see the incredible difference…
Karen Laing
Karen Laing Community Learning Disability Nurse NHS Tayside Both of Karen’s parents are learning disabilities nurses, and she likes to say that she grew up in the business. “When I was younger, I spent most of my time in Starthmartine Hospital where my parents worked. There were always discos, pantomimes, and summer fetes. I grew…
Heather Duff
Heather Duff Community Learning Disability Nurse NHS Lothian Heather left school and worked in a GP practice as a shorthand typist where she watched the work of an admirable district nurse. It planted the seed of an idea that nursing might be the future career for her. “I wanted to be a learning disability nurse.…
Carole Morrow
Carole Morrow Community Learning Disability Nurse NHS Lanarkshire It is almost 20 years since Carole first qualified as a learning disability nurse and she has been working in the community within adult services across north and south Lanarkshire since 2008. “You get a feel for how people are living, you get to know the person,…
Kerry Anderson
Kerry Anderson Nurse Consultant Learning Disabilities NHS Grampian Kerry always knew she wanted a career in a caring profession, but it was by chance that she discovered the inspiration for her future. “I’m sure everyone says this, but even at a young age I knew I wanted to make a difference. I had placements at…
Craig Bell
Craig Bell Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse NHS Forth Valley Craig first heard about the Queen’s Nurse programme through his manager a few years earlier, but it was the shared development project of the learning disability cohort that encouraged him to apply. “Our group project is about forensic need, a topic that’s relevant to what…
Rachel Gardiner
Rachel Gardiner Forensic Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse NHS Borders When Rachel left school, she studied Applied Social Science at university and following a summer working in supported accommodation she started to rethink her future. “The government were in the process of closing learning disability hospitals and investing more heavily in supported accommodation for the…
