Talking #TeamCWPT blog

For Learning Disability Nurses Day, we caught up with Jose Ferin, a learning disability nurse on Amber Unit, a specialist assessment and treatment ward for people with learning disabilities and autism at Brooklands Hospital. 

1 year on from becoming a newly qualified nurse, Jose explains a bit more about what the role of a learning disability nurse involves and what a typical day looks like. 

The role of a learning disability nurse

"When I start my shift, I never really know what the day will bring. That's one of the challenges and also one of the privileges of this job. Each person we support is unique with their own strengths, needs and ways of communicating.

"Many of the people we care for have complex needs, including behaviours that can put themselves or others at risk. So, part of my job is not only to advocate, but also to set boundaries, provide clear redirection, and, when absolutely necessary, step in with safe interventions to keep everyone protected. At the same time, we work with patients to make progress and support them towards their future.

"There are also moments that come later, long after someone has left our care. Every so often, we receive phone calls from former patients. You hear their voice on the phone, telling you about their new job, their new home, or simply that they are doing well, and you realise just how far they've come. Those moments remind me that progress isn't always visible straight away, but it is always possible.

"Of course, there are challenges. The work can be intense, emotionally demanding, and it requires patience. But it is also deeply rewarding. Every day, I see courage, resilience, and growth - not only in the people we care for, but also in the staff I work alongside and in myself."

A day in the life of a learning disability nurse is never 'just a day'. It's a chance to make a difference and support people as they move towards safer, more independent lives. And that, for me, is both an honour and a responsibility.

A day in the life of a learning disability nurse

Now you've heard about the role of a learning disability nurse and Jose's work at Brooklands, here's a glimpse at what a typical day looks like.

Morning: stepping into the role of a leader

A large part of my day is about managing and guiding a team of healthcare assistants. I allocate staff to patient observations and care, oversee medication administration, attend multidisciplinary team meetings, and write care plans and risk assessments. It's about making sure that the whole team is working together safely and consistently, and always with the patient at the centre.

We have a 15-minute handover in the staff room and staff are allocated for the first 2 hours. After that, the staff are relocated to different patients, and they change every 2 hours until the end of the shift. 

I can complete the task of allocation usually in the first two hours of the shift, but there are always changes during the day because of unexpected events or incidents, for example. So, this task must be constantly managed during the shift and recorded on a planner for staff to follow.

There are 2 nurses working on the ward every day. The first is the nurse in charge of the ward, the second is responsible for the medication. 

Lunch: a chance to catch up with colleagues

I sometimes stay in the staff room during my breaks, chatting with my colleagues, or go for a walk and have something to eat out in that hour. 

Afternoon: supporting patients to make progress

One of the things I work towards as a nurse is supporting patients to make progress. Community access, for example, often begins very limited, and is gradually increased as people show they can manage their behaviour and respect others. So, my afternoons can be spent going out into the community with patients.

We once supported a patient who loved going out into the community. The difficulty was that he sometimes approached strangers and got too close. As you can imagine, this created many challenges.

At first, outings were short and carefully planned, with staff always close by to redirect him. But with patience, structure, and consistency, he began to learn safer ways of interacting.

I still remember the day the team brought him back from town and he proudly said, "I did well today, didn't I?". That moment captured exactly why our work matters: it wasn't just about keeping him safe, it was about helping him find a way to enjoy the world around us while respecting others.

Healthcare assistants will take the patients into the community, whilst I stay on the ward where I will attend meetings that happen throughout the day. I have to keep my notes about any events, patient behaviours, activities, appointments attended and so on updated to handover to the staff working on the next shift.

After work: how I relax and unwind

In the evening, I listen to music on the way back home if I'm alone, just enjoy some quiet time or chat with colleagues if they head in the same direction. While at home, I have a hot shower, a hot meal with my partner while watching the news or some TV series before going to bed. 

In the morning, it's a little different as there's no one around: a hot shower, a light meal, watch some short videos on my mobile phone, and straight to bed.

 

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Jose also spoke about his time as a student nurse and his journey to becoming a newly qualified nurse, which you can read more about in this blog.

With thanks to Jose Ferin for sharing his story this Learning Disability Nurses Day.

Nursing roles are at the heart of CWPT and in every care pathway. If you enjoyed reading about what a day in the life of a learning disability nurse is like and want to join our amazing team of nurses, take a look at our job opportunities.