Learning disability nurses given voice in decision-making and workforce planning

Learning disability nurses are being given a voice in decision-making and workforce planning through a new council.

Julie Kirby, acting chief nurse and George Matuska, learning disability nurse (c) Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Julie Kirby, acting chief nurse and George Matuska, learning disability nurse (c) Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust's Learning Disability Nursing Shared Decision-Making Council is designed to strengthen the future of learning disability nursing and ensure people with learning disabilities continue to receive high-quality, specialist care.

Julie Kirby, acting chief nurse at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: ‘This council represents an important step forward in ensuring learning disability nurses are directly involved in decision-making and workforce planning across our region.'

The Learning Disability Nursing Shared Decision-Making Council will provide a structured forum for collaboration across organisations, enabling nurses to contribute directly to workforce planning, service development and improvement activity across the system.

The council forms part of wider workforce planning across Kent and Medway, including work to explore future training routes, strengthen recruitment and retention, and improve career development opportunities for learning disability nurses.

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