Primary, Community and Social Care Nursing (Learning Disability) Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

This sector-leading Primary, Community and Social Care Nursing (Learning Disability) BSc(Hons) has been designed to prepare you for a rewarding career supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism across community, primary care and social care settings. Aligned with the NHS 10 Year Plan and wider healthcare priorities, the course reflects the growing need for nurses who can deliver person-centred care closer to home, promote wellbeing and help reduce health inequalities. 

If you're compassionate, curious and passionate about improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, this course will help you develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to support individuals, families and communities across a range of settings. You'll learn to work in a person-centred way, promoting rights, choice, inclusion and equality while helping people achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes. 

Learning disability nurses support individuals throughout their lives, from childhood through to later life. During the course, you'll develop strong communication and interpersonal skills, alongside confidence in person-centred practice, leadership, teamwork and evidence-based decision making. You'll also explore how health and social care services work together to support people with learning disabilities and autism across different environments and stages of life. 

On successful completion of the course, you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities), opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities. 

Why study Primary, Community and Social Care Nursing (Learning Disability) BSc(Hons) 

* Throughout your studies, you’ll be supported by a team who are learning disability nurses first and foremost, with extensive and varied practice experience and diverse interests in the field of learning disabilities. Individuals with learning disabilities are involved in the development of teaching materials, too, and will work with you in the classroom.  

* You’ll spend 50 per cent of your learning undertaking placement opportunities in a wide range of clinical practice settings, providing care and support for both children and adults. 

* You’ll learn in our Daphne Steele Building on the National Health Innovation Campus, where you will use our specialist simulation facilities to develop your clinical skills, including personal care, life support, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE) assessment, venepuncture, and wound care.  

* You’ll have the opportunity to undertake interprofessional learning opportunities with other professional groups, such as social workers and speech and language therapists. 

Our Public Partnership Group (PPG) and Health and Wellbeing Academy work together to support your development as a compassionate, person-centred professional. You’ll engage with service users and carers through lectures, discussions, and simulations. Their lived experiences will help to build your communication skills, empathy, and the critical thinking needed to deliver outstanding care across diverse communities. While our Health and Wellbeing Academy offers hands-on placement opportunities through initiatives like Get Set Goal and Restart a Heart. These experiences will help you build skills in communication, public health, leadership, and teamwork while making a real impact in the community. 

Students on this course may be eligible to receive a non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 each year – find out more on the NHS Learning Support Fund website. 

Not quite ready to start Primary, Community and Social Care Nursing (Learning Disability) BSc(Hons)? Successful completion of our Health Foundation Pathway leading to a BSc(Hons) Degree will equip you with the foundation knowledge to study Learning Disability Nursing.