Meet Emily, Learning Disability Nurse at Active Care Group
When Emily tells people she’s a learning disability nurse, the reaction is often one of surprise. “Historically, not a lot of people know that we exist,” she explains. “A big part of the role for me is simply letting people know this is a career option.”
Now working as part of Active Care Group’s central team, Emily is on a mission to raise the profile of learning disability nursing and the patients, residents, individuals and families she supports.
Inspired by Lived Experience
Emily’s path into nursing wasn’t straightforward. In school, her subjects were German, English, and textiles. Initially, she had dreams of becoming a speech and language therapist. But childhood experiences, including spending time with her best friend’s three disabled brothers and her friend’s aunt, who had cerebral palsy, ultimately inspired her to take a different route.
Emily applied for a nursing degree in Learning Disabilities and earned her qualification from the University of Chester.
Gaining Ground in Complex Settings
After graduating, Emily began her career in an independent inpatient mental health hospital during the height of the pandemic. “I was a newly qualified nurse on a medium secure forensic ward, supporting women with dual diagnoses,” she recalls. The role was intense, with long days, complex safeguarding challenges, and frequent use of restraint, but it helped build her resilience and leadership.
By the end of her time there, she had progressed to Senior Staff Nurse.
From Community to Care Group
Following a move to Milton Keynes, Emily worked in adult social care with Luton Borough Council before joining the Community Learning Disability team.
There, she led the dementia care pathway, developed post-diagnostic support structures, and became trained in delivering relationship and sex education for people with learning disabilities. “That time taught me so much about how systems work and how to advocate for people.”
Now, with Active Care Group, Emily brings all that experience into her national role. “I’ve worked from the outside in. Now, I’m working from the inside out. I see what care providers manage behind the scenes. I’ve got a whole new appreciation for service managers.”
Making an Impact Nationally
In her new role, Emily is helping to build stronger ties between services and local healthcare systems. “We need more links between services, GPs, and hospitals – so people with learning disabilities aren’t overlooked.”
She’s also collaborating with Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) on complex cases and working on a national gold-standard annual health check project to ensure every eligible individual receives a timely and thorough screening.
The Skills That Matter
So, what does it take to be a great learning disability nurse? Emily lists several attributes beyond the clinical, including adaptability, patience, critical thinking, and the ability to remain calm and comfortable in unpredictable or personal situations.
“You might go into an assessment and suddenly find the person doesn’t want to talk to you, or their communication needs mean you need to change approach totally,” she says. “I’ve done assessments while colouring or even walking side by side because that’s what the person needed to feel safe and open up.”
Looking Ahead
Emily is clear about her ambitions: to raise the profile of learning disability nursing and ensure that care is inclusive, holistic, and tailored to the individual. “Every job move I’ve made has been to take on more challenges. I’m ambitious, but it’s about using that drive to do better for the people we support.”
If Emily’s story has inspired you, visit our careers page to learn more about the career opportunities we have at Active Care Group. Click here to discover more.