Learning Disability Queen’s Nurse cohort wins RCN Scotland award

The Learning Disability Queen’s Nurse cohort was announced as the winner of the learning disability nursing award at this year’s RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards ceremony.

The award aims to recognise those who have succeeded in raising standards of care for their patients and clients and have made an outstanding contribution to the care of service users.

The QNIS Think COULD animation project aims to raise awareness about the need for better support for individuals with learning disabilities in the justice system.

Funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, the eight learning disability nurses worked together to create an evidence-based project as part of their Queen’s Nurse journey, which focused on adults with learning disabilities and the justice system.

The team developed an animation called Think COULD, emphasising Communication, Observe, Understand, and Learning Disability, as an educational tool. The animation was designed to be accessible, educational, and inclusive, with representation from diverse perspectives.

It was launched in May 2023 and has had a significant impact, being embedded in Police Scotland training resources, shared with relevant organisations, and informing policy and practice.

You can find out more about Think COULD here.

Praising the team for their award win, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director said: “Learning disability nurses are vital in ensuring people with learning disabilities are supported to maintain their health and wellbeing and are supported to be able to live their lives as fully and independently as possible.

“The team has gone above and beyond to reduce health inequalities and their success is well deserved”.

Clare Cable, QNIS Chief Executive and Nurse Director, said: “This award is very well-deserved. The Learning Disability Queen’s Nurses are driving positive change for individuals with learning disabilities, ensuring they receive equitable treatment and fair access to justice.

“I am incredibly proud of the collaborative effort behind ‘Think COULD,’ and extend our gratitude to The Burdett Trust for Nursing for funding this project.”