International Nurses Day 2023 | “I feel honoured and privileged to work with those with complex learning disabilities”

First-year student, Aimee Robinson from Blackwood, is training to become a learning disability nurse, at University of South Wales (USW).

Mum of two teenagers, Aimee is a mature student, who has worked in care settings since her teens. She started working for Rhondda Cynon Taff council in adult day services and then on a pilot provision for complex autism services, supporting adults to increase their independence and develop life skills.

“I have no regrets about the 20 years I spent working in care, this is where I became passionate about making a difference to vulnerable adults’ lives. It gave me such valuable insight and experience, which I have brought to my degree,” she said.

“We saw some massively positive outcomes in people with profound disabilities and behaviour that challenges, and we built strong relationships with the families too.”

Working in social care, Aimee had not heard a lot about learning disability nursing, as a branch of healthcare. It was when she met her future wife, a learning disability nurse, that she thought this could be a potential career avenue for herself. 

Aimee said: “I was promoted to a Team Leader role and slowly my self-confidence grew. However, as my career progressed into management roles, I felt like I was moving further away from the people that I really wanted to work with and help. I felt, and still am, passionate about working with people with autism and making changes within the services.

“So, I talked to my wife about going back into education. I left school with few qualifications, so I felt very insecure. I wondered if I could do a degree. I took a leap of faith, really. I'm glad I did because I don’t look back now.

“I applied through UCAS and was offered a place on the same day that I needed to give one month’s notice before the start of the course. It was meant to be.”

When Aimee started, the first module was ‘Anatomy and Physiology’ and she questioned if she had made the right choice. She said: “I was thinking, what have you done? You can't do this. But I did do it and I got a really good mark in the exam.

“I think that I lack confidence in myself. I doubt that I can achieve. Everyone has been really supportive, and the further I go into the course, the more I believe in myself.”

Aimee has since worked placements in a residential nursing home, for people with learning disabilities and dementia, and in a community team in Torfaen.

“I am really lapping up every bit of information and experience I can from my placements and determine what field I would like to go into after I graduate,” she said.

“I feel honoured and privileged to have worked with individuals with complex learning disabilities and autism and witness the positive effects services on individuals and their families. It is still an area of care that needs a lot of development. I'd love to be a part of that again, supporting positive changes and reducing inequalities.”