Careers in learning disability and autism

Nurse smiling and taking a patients blood pressure

What we do 

Our Learning Disability and Autism Services provide person-centred services for children and adults with learning disabilities, as well as those on the autism spectrum. 

Our specialist teams are experienced in giving support and respite for people diagnosed with learning disabilities, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and are dedicated to providing bespoke community, respite, and specialist inpatient care, as well as respect and understanding, to all service users across the entire region. 

Our philosophy 

We believe in supporting people living with learning disabilities and/or autism so they can thrive and achieve in the best possible way. We are committed to making sure everyone who receives care has an individualised package of support to improve their lives. 

Our dedicated multi-disciplinary team provides support which is tailored to meet the individual needs of everyone in our care. We take a single and consistent approach to identifying people’s needs and building their care around those needs.

Many of our patients have experienced negative and challenging life experiences which continue to affect them, but we seek to bring about long-term change and improvement for them through the support of our skilled and professional team. 

Who we are and who can join us 

Our multidisciplinary teams are made up of a wide variety of dedicated staff who all support people with learning disabilities to improve their health, well-being, and quality of life. Together, we work with patients, families, and carers and the wider health and social care community to ensure they receive the right care for them. If you're passionate about improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, we want to hear from you. 

We have a wide range of opportunities within our teams. We're made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, physiotherapists, nurses, music and art therapists, activity team coordinators, healthcare assistants, and more. 

Learning disability nursing 

Our learning disability nurses are skilled, they advocate, and they empower the people and families they support. We also have adult nurses, children's nurses and mental health nurses with a passion for supporting people with learning disabilities working on our services. 

Meet Ruth

Ruth joined us as a newly qualified learning disability nurse and works in the community. She tells us about her career journey and the importance of being an advocate for the people and families she supports.

Meet Rachel 

Rachel made a career change to retrain as an adult nurse. Now working in our learning disability secure services, she shares her career journey to date.

Our inpatient services

Brooklands Hospital sits in an open and green space between Coventry and Birmingham with airy units which allow service users to move around in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. 

Here, we provide specialist inpatient assessment and treatment for adults and children with a learning disability, including some adults who have forensic needs. The purpose-built hospital currently offers adult and adolescent assessment and treatment and adult medium and low secure units. It is a centre of excellence and is nationally renowned across the country.

Our respite services

Our respite services provide overnight breaks for children/young people and adults with a Learning Disability and complex health care needs in a friendly, home from home environment. We aim to offer a holistic approach whilst supporting identified specific needs in collaboration with the individual, the family, carers and other key health and care professionals. 

Respite offers a much needed break to families and carers allowing time to take a break from the demands of the caring role and to restore some balance in life, it has been described by some parents/carers as a’ life saver’. The benefits for the children, young people or adult include a short break away in a different and stimulating environment, offering new experiences and a chance to build on independence and develop friendships.

Our staff are highly skilled, motivated and passionate, they show respect through a person centred approach, and by building relationships of trust and understanding. 

Our community teams

Our five learning disability community teams support people with learning disabilities and substantial, complex, health needs, to live healthier, more independent, lives and to enjoy a good standard of health and well-being. 

Serving a population of over a million people across Coventry, Warwickshire, and Solihull, our community teams work with partners in primary care, acute hospitals, and other specialist services to provide a joined-up approach to patient care. 

They provide daily, meaningful activities, focused on physical health engagement and access to the local community, to ensure people receive the support they need to maintain an independent and safe life.