Be inspired at Glasgow Caledonian - a great place to study learning disability nursing
Glasgow Caledonian University’s learning disability nursing lecturers are so passionate about the profession they came back to teach the programme after graduating.
As the largest nursing teaching university in Scotland, students from all over the world come to Glasgow Caledonian to study adult, child, mental health and learning disability nursing in the School of Health and Life Sciences’ Department of Nursing and Community Health.
Of the six staff who teach the BSc Nursing Studies (Learning Disability) programme, three of the lecturers Mark Gallagher, Adam Ross and Corrinne Taylor were all taught as undergraduates by Senior Lecturer Dr Chris Darbyshire. All three went on to work in clinical practice before returning to teach.
Both Adam and Corrinne were also taught by now senior lecturers Mark and Alan Middleton, while the sixth lecturer, Linda Steven, came to teach at the University in 2018 after 25 years in the NHS as a learning disability nurse and mental health nurse.
Longest serving is Dr Darbyshire who began his nursing education 30 years ago at Glasgow College of Nursing before it was amalgamated into Glasgow Caledonian in 1996 and became the Department of Nursing and Community Health.
Dr Darbyshire said: “Learning disability nursing is such a rewarding job. You can really make a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families. If you’re interested in promoting inclusion for people with learning disabilities into society and helping them live as fulfilling a life as possible, Glasgow Caledonian is the best place to start that journey.
“We have a fantastic team of lecturers at Glasgow Caledonian who have real-life clinical experience in our communities and they are extremely passionate about the course. They loved it so much they came back to teach it!”
Speaking about his experience, Adam said: “Genuinely, the time I’ve spent with Chris has changed who I am. He’s inspired me to be more interested in research, nursing and caring for people with learning disabilities. I’m still using the tips and tricks he taught me all those years ago. He made me the nurse and teacher I am today.”
Corrinne said: “Dr Darbyshire was a huge part of my experience as a student. I felt incredibly supported by the whole team. It’s nice to see how Chris has taught so many of us, and we believe so much in the way the course is set up and the way it is taught that we wanted to come back and join the team. It’s a huge privilege to be teaching the next generation of learning disability nurses.”
Mark worked as a learning disability community nurse in NHS Lanarkshire and then NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde after graduating from Glasgow Caledonian 20-years-ago. He’s been a lecturer at the University for nine years and is the learning disability nursing development lead. He is also the deputy chair of the Scottish Learning Disability Nurse Group and is involved with a variety of strategic groups that support the wellbeing of people with a learning disability.
Mark said: “The learning disability nursing team are like family and we really look after each other and our students. I just think we have a lovely symmetry here. Having been taught by Chris and then to come back and be his pal and colleague is a great thing.
“I just love my job, helping students maximise their potential by challenging and encouraging them to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to provide person-centred care, which challenges the structural inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities and their families.”
Alan, who is also a deputy head of department, began his education at Ayrshire & Arran College of Nursing, Glasgow Norther College and then Glasgow Caledonian.
Alan said: “One of the best things I ever did was to do voluntary work in that area. I worked with children with severe and profound learning disabilities or additional support needs, and it changed my life. That was when I really knew what I wanted to do and that it was the career for me.”
He spent more than 15 years with NHS Ayrshire & Arran working in clinical practice in Community Learning Disability Nursing and leadership roles before returning to Glasgow Caledonian.
Alan added: “I would love to be studying learning disability nursing now. The difference in research informing practice and education is so different compared to 20 years ago. It's about addressing the additional and unmet health needs of people with learning disabilities. There are many different roles that a learning disability nursing qualification can take you.”
Linda said the best thing about being a learning disability nursing lecturer is the relationship she forms with her students.
“Our students are inspirational and so passionate about learning disability nursing. Watching them develop from a first-year student to a graduate nurse is a privilege and a joy. Knowing you have played a small part in their journey, and in shaping the nurse they will become, is incredibly rewarding,” added Linda.
Photo (left to right) - Alan Middleton, Mark Gallagher, Corrinne Taylor, Dr Chris Darbyshire, Adam Ross and Linda Steven in the University’s state-of-the-art simulation centre.