The Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland

Promoting excellence in community nursing across Scotland

Zoe Lightbody

Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Zoe describes herself as lucky to have spent many of her student placements working in the community and just one year after graduating in 2016, she found herself in The Community Learning Disability Team in South Ayrshire before securing a permanent Charge Nurse post in the East Community Learning Disability Team.

“I knew community nursing was for me. During my placements, I built relationships with so many inspiring nurses that had extensive experience and enthusiasm in relation to supporting and caring for people with learning disabilities.”

“Seeing individuals thriving independently in the community is really what lies at the heart of my passion for community nursing.”

Throughout Zoe’s career, she has shown great interest in relation to developing her knowledge and skills in relation to Criminal Justice and Forensics and supporting the development of Sexual Health Education for people with a Learning Disability. Zoe has worked alongside Sexual Health and Learning Disability colleagues to review update and deliver ‘Sex, Sexuality and Learning Disabilities’ Training Resource which is aimed at Parents, Carers, Service Providers and Schools to enhance the inclusion of the education that people with Learning Disabilities receive.

“People with learning disabilities have additional health and social inequalities compared to the general population, and I am completely driven by working to reduce these to the best of my ability.”

“Since qualifying, soon to be, 6 years ago, I believe my enthusiasm for learning disability nursing has grown stronger and stronger.”

“As a young leader, I hope to encourage modernization, influence change in attitudes and promote equality our patient groups.”

Zoe says she likes to bring fun into her role. She believes being open and approachable is key to building relationships with patients, family and carers.

“Of course, there is so much more to building good relationships. To work as a community learning disability nurse, I would say you need a repertoire of great communication skills that you are able to change and adapt. You need to be able to recognise what each individual’s communication needs are.”

“I need to utilise a wide range of nursing skills including mental and physical health knowledge when carrying out assessments. I also need to be assertive and confident and use critical and logical thinking when making decisions and to have the confidence to speak out and ensure our patients are appropriately advocated for”

Zoe said that knowing the importance of making time for self-care and her own wellness is also central to her role.

“I strongly believe in the importance of self-care however, what self-care meant to me, was different to what The Queens Nurse programme taught me. In all honesty, when I first started the programme, I genuinely thought it wasn’t for me. I had never been to a coaching session in my life – but the more I have taken on board, I have learned to trust the process.”

“I have seen a massive difference. For example, I had not thought too much about mindfulness practice beforehand but the programme has allowed me to realise that mindfulness can be shaped by me to meet my needs. I now incorporate mindfulness into my daily practice and provide myself the time to reflect effectively.”

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