Our learning disability service, part of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), is holding an open afternoon on Wednesday 13 November 2019 to celebrate 100 years of learning disability nursing.
The CAMHS learning disability team, based on London Road in Leicester, supports young people with a moderate to profound learning disability who are also experiencing mental health difficulties and/or associated behaviours. The team offers specialist outpatient workshops for parents and carers, and also works on an individual basis with families.
This support sometimes includes short-term intensive work within the home, helping parents and carers to implement strategies to help their child or young person.
As well as nurses and nursing assistants, the team comprises specialist behavioural therapists, systemic practitioners, cognitive behaviour therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and administrators.
Learning disability nursing has come a long way over the past century – the first designated training course for nurses working in the specialty was launched in 1919 – and the service wanted to mark the anniversary by showcasing its work with children, young people and families.
The ‘drop-in’ event will run from 1pm until 6pm at Rothesay, 352 London Road, Leicester, LE2 2PL. Members of the public, alongside service users past and present, are warmly invited to attend to find out more about learning disability services. There will also be a recruitment stand at the event, providing an opportunity to learn more about careers in this specialist and highly rewarding branch of nursing.
Teresa Norris, clinical team lead, said: “Working in learning disability nursing is such an honour, as you have the opportunity to build special relationships with children, young people and families, helping them to achieve to their potential. We wanted to hold this celebration event as an opportunity to welcome our service users past and present, and also to build awareness with the wider public of the nature of the care that the team provides.”
