As a student nurse, my ideas around social care were clouded with misconceptions and negative connotations, which contributed to a critical and often discouraging outlook on the sector. The systematic structures of higher education in nursing created the notion that student nurses had to follow a particular path towards becoming a nurse. I felt this was a clear barrier to developing student nurses’ understanding of the dynamics of social care and nursing roles within the field. Furthermore, being a learning disability nurse within the wider nursing paradigm created complications regarding where I belonged and questioned my sense of professional identity as a nurse.

My lack of awareness of social care opportunities was the main barrier to my development and growth as a student nurse. I felt that learning disability nursing was an uncovered gem within the nursing profession—full of possibilities yet lacking clear direction for career development. However, through my own curiosity and desire for growth, I sought out social care placements, and I have now been a qualified learning disability nurse working in the sector for over a year.

Throughout my studies and practice, I have continued to recognise that the social care model aligns closely with the learning disability model of practice. The values of learning disability nursing focus on person-centred principles that promote inclusivity, equality, and fulfilment. Similarly, the social care model celebrates emotionally led care, a strength-based approach, and personalised support. These two models highlight the complexities of individualised care while demonstrating how empowerment can be achieved for people within the sector. Because these models of care complement one another, they strengthened my passion for learning disability nursing within social care and facilitated a growing sense of confidence in my identity as a nurse working outside the National Health Service. 

The role of a social care nurse is dynamic and evolving, challenging the misconceptions surrounding it. I am not just a learning disability nurse; I also bring clinical knowledge and experience, mental health first-aid skills, and awareness of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. These skills have been developed in response to the dynamic and often complex needs encountered in social care settings. With growing health inequalities and persistent barriers to inclusive support for people with learning disabilities—alongside a shrinking learning disability workforce—I urge future generations of learning disability nurses to seek out social care placements. Doing so will allow them to explore, experience, and nurture their identity and values as developing nurses.