On 1st November 2023, various NHS employees gathered at a Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury for Learning Disability Nurse’s Day, a national event that ELFT are delighted to be involved with for the first time. The conference also virtually welcomed David Harling BEM, National Deputy Director for Learning Disability Learning, NHS England.
Claire McKenna, Interim Chief Nurse for ELFT gave the opening remarks. She said, “I would like to see Learning Disability Nurse’s Everywhere.”
Claire impressed upon the attendees the importance of Learning Disability Nurse's within the NHS and emphasised that Learning Disability Nurse's should “Get out of your lane and be brave.”
The conference discussed the lack of visibility for Learning Disability Nurse's and touched on the fact that they are often overlooked. The keynote speaker David Harling said that after more than thirty years of experience, he was, “Still as proud as ever to be a Learning Disability Nurse.”
“We are here to celebrate; our uniqueness, our resilience, our impact and our compassion,” added David Harling, keynote speaker.
The conference also focused on Advanced Clinical Practice in Learning Disability and Autism Services. With Janet Farrelly-Ward, the project lead, remarking that, “If we don’t have the awareness, how can we develop these roles?”
Shabnam Boodhoo, who is a Lead Nurse and trainee in Advanced Clinical Practice said that she “Really enjoys her course.”
Michelle Bradley, Director of Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, reflected on her career in Learning disability Nursing. She said of the profession, “Learning Disability Nursing isn’t about sitting quietly. We can make a difference to all kinds of worlds, there isn’t anything that we can’t be doing.”
The attendees were treated to a performance by The Lawnmowers Theatre Ensemble. The Lawnmowers are a unique company and registered charity that is run by and for people with learning disabilities. They performed their show ‘Retake Remake’. It was a fun and sometimes profoundly moving show, where the actors take back films made about learning disabled people but without learning disabled actors. When asked about the performance Tim Buck, Consultant Nurse Learning Disabilities said, “It was an absolute joy to have The Lawnmowers join us at the end of the Learning Disability Nurse's Day celebrations. Their performance challenges societies perception of disability through performing arts. Their playful performance takes you through a full range of emotions and is a reminder why it's so important to have a specialist profession to support with empowerment and advocacy for this group of people.”
Accompanied by an enjoyable lunch, the conference highlighted the inspiring work undertaken by Learning Disability Nurse’s and the barriers that are still left to be broken.