Addressing the learning disability nursing shortage

There is a long history of a shortage of learning disability nurses, a problem that is compounded by a declining number of classroom-based university course places. “Learning disability nurse education is a real challenge and there are currently some severe workforce shortages in learning disability nursing,” says Paul Armer, Senior Partnership Development Manager at The Open University (OU). “It’s a service that often gets overlooked.”

A lack of education programmes at traditional universities

No universities physically located in the South-east of England provided a learning disability course in 2024, according to research by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), with the University of Winchester being the closest.

The RCN has warned there could be ‘learning disability nurse deserts’ due to a 36% drop in the number of acceptances onto learning disability courses in England over an eight-year period. Certain parts of the country are experiencing pronounced shortages – the RCN research shows that there has been an 89% reduction in the number of students enrolling on learning disabilities programmes in the East of England between 2015 and 2023, as well as a 67% reduction in the South-west and 65% reduction in the North-east.

Perception problems

Part of the problem, according to Erica Goddard, a registered learning disability nurse and Staff Tutor at the OU, is that many people don’t realise that learning disability nursing is a field of practice or that the OU provides a learning disability nursing qualification across the UK. “The OU has offered learning disability nursing since 2020, but people aren’t aware this course exists or that it’s an accessible option for them,” says Erica.

Where learning disability nursing is not offered locally due to low student numbers, the OU can still provide the programme. Even if an employer has only 1-2 employees interested in the learning disability pathway, they can still register and join a national cohort of learning disability students. Because the OU delivers nursing programmes nationally, individual students can still join a viable cohort.

The OU offers an employer-supported BSc nursing degree as well as the registered nurse degree apprenticeship, delivering across all four fields of nursing – adult, children, learning disability and mental health. This makes us an ideal partner for NHS employers that deliver a range of services.

Another option is for employers to utilise the Nursing Associate route. When qualified Nursing Associates can progress to study to become registered nurses through the OU's Nursing Associate to Registered Nurse programme. For employers, this means that they can develop generalist Nursing Associates and offer the option to specialise when employees decide to progress into a specific field of practice.

This is proving a popular option for some employers who want to support staff to become nursing associates in learning disability services and who then go on to complete their registered nurse training at a later time.

Erica Goddard
Registered learning disability nurse and Staff Tutor at the OU

The fact that the OU offers flexible, distance learning is a very attractive option for employers as it enables their staff to remain in post whilst they study. For the OU, the ability to take students from all over the UK makes learning disability nursing financially viable year on year by pooling them together enough learners to run a financially viable cohort.

Learning disability nursing in Sussex

The shortage of learning disability nurses has prompted some healthcare providers to pursue a ‘grow your own talent’ strategy. Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is one of them. Eleanor Dunn, Team Lead in the Learning Disability Health Facilitation Team, says distance learning through the OU is enabling the Trust to meet its workforce needs. “We have had vacancies for over two years within our teams. We are based in West Sussex and don’t have any local universities [the nearest is the University of Winchester] offering RNLD (registered nurse learning disability) training, so we are at a real disadvantage. We had to widen our recruitment process.”

Jason Robinson is a learning disability nurse at the Trust, having recently completed his qualification through the OU route. Originally an artist, Jason got a job several years ago as a support worker in a home for people with learning disabilities. He discovered that he really enjoyed helping people become more independent and took an apprenticeship to become a learning disabilities health practitioner in the NHS.

When the opportunity arose to further his study and become a registered nurse, he knew it was the right move for him. “It felt like a natural progression to move up, become a nurse and carry on doing the role that I love doing, working with people who have disabilities and supporting them to access healthcare as everyone else does. As a learning disability nurse, you help people live their lives and do things that people take for granted.”

Eleanor added: “We have been very lucky to host Jason as our apprentice, working in our team before gave him solid foundation to the running of the team and insight into the role of the RNLD in our services.”

A bright future

With his new qualification under his belt, Jason is now able to work with people who have more complex needs, lead on their care and advocate for them. He liaises with other healthcare providers, supporting a wide range of people and services.

I am so grateful to the Trust for giving me the opportunity to do my apprenticeship through the OU. I don’t think I could have done it any other way than through an apprenticeship. I am proud to be a nurse and part of a profession that is very much needed.

Jason Robinson
Learning disability nurse at the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Jason particularly enjoyed the placement modules during his training and seeing how other services operate, such as mental health services. Although none of his learning cohort live locally – the closest lives and works in Cornwall – they were still able to build up a bond and support each other. And the OU provides continual support in the form of practice tutors and module tutors.

Given the shortage in learning disability nursing, in terms of recruitment and education, Paul says supported online learning is an invaluable solution. “Because there are not enough students going to university to do learning disability nursing, universities are stopping delivering their programmes because it’s not viable. But if you can run the training nationally across all four nations, then you can get a viable cohort together. That’s a great opportunity for the NHS.”

To find out more about learning disability nursing through the OU, visit:

* The University of Winchester also offers an apprenticeship programme and the opportunity for Nursing Associates to continue study to become Registered Nurses.