How did your journey into learning disability nursing begin?
“My original career ambition was to become a teacher and work with children with learning disabilities. I have an aunt with a learning disability who has had a huge influence on my life. Through her, I've seen firsthand both the barriers that can exist and the difference the right support can make.
“I joined Queen Margaret University to study BSc Health Psychology, after which I had planned to undertake teacher training. However, alongside my undergraduate studies I was also working as a call handler at NHS 24 - Scotland's national telehealth service. One day, I spoke with a clinical supervisor about my career ambitions, and he suggested that I look into learning disability nursing.
“I went away and researched the profession and immediately realised it aligned with everything I wanted to do: promoting inclusion, developing skills, supporting independence, and ultimately improving the quality of life of people with learning disabilities. From that moment on, I knew learning disability nursing was the right path for me.”
Tell us about your time at Edinburgh Napier
“My study experience was slightly unusual. I started studying nursing at another university, however after my first year the university withdrew the programme. I then transferred to
Edinburgh Napier University while continuing to undertake my placements in my local area.
“Looking back, moving to Edinburgh Napier was where I truly developed my identity as a learning disability nurse. I was part of a small, close-knit cohort and the relationships I built with my classmates and lecturers were incredibly important. Those friendships have lasted throughout my career, and many of the mentoring relationships I developed with academic staff continued long after graduation.”
Describe your career after graduation
“After qualifying in 2012, I secured a post in the assessment and treatment unit at a hospital in NHS Fife, where I had previously completed a placement. I loved hospital-based nursing. It was a privilege to support people during some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives. The role also allowed me to develop a very broad skill set because every patient had different needs and circumstances.
“I remained within learning disability services in NHS Fife until 2022, progressing through a range of roles and secondments that helped me understand the wider healthcare system. I have worked for NHS 24 since then.”
How did you develop your leadership skills?
“Quite early in my career, I realised that if I wanted to influence change on a larger scale, I needed to keep developing my knowledge and skills.
“A couple of years after completing my Bachelor of Nursing, I returned to Edinburgh Napier to complete postgraduate study in Positive Behaviour Support before undertaking an Early Clinical Careers Fellowship funded by the Scottish Government. Through this I was able to complete a masters in Advancing Nursing Practice at the University of Edinburgh and also benefit from peer action learning and coaching from the Director of NHS Fife.
“The fellowship completely changed my perspective. It helped me move beyond ward-based nursing and begin thinking strategically about healthcare systems, policy, leadership, and how services could be improved for people with learning disabilities.”
What does being a Senior Nurse for Learning Disabilities at NHS 24 involve?
“NHS 24 is the national provider of digital and telephone-based health and care services for Scotland.
“I am the only learning disability nurse within the service and the first to hold the role. I am responsible for providing strategic clinical leadership across the organisation and ultimately, my job is about reducing barriers to healthcare and ensuring people with learning disabilities receive the same access, support, and quality of care as everyone else.
“A large part of my work focuses on helping staff understand and meet the needs of people with learning disabilities when they access urgent and unscheduled care services. This includes organising training programmes, influencing policy, supporting public protection work, improving pathways into healthcare, and helping colleagues make reasonable adjustments that improve people's experiences.
“I travel across Scotland to meet the staff in various NHS 24 centres and key stakeholders while also developing links with learning disability specialists across the UK to share learnings. From 2022 until recently I was co-chair of the Scottish Learning Disability Nurse Network and helped rebuild it after the disruption of the pandemic. The network brings together learning disability nurses from across Scotland to share good practice, support one another, and raise the profile of the profession.”
What has been your proudest achievement?
“Being recognised as the Royal College of Nursing Scotland (RCN)’s Disability Nurse of the Year and RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year in 2026 is undoubtedly one of the proudest moments of my career.
“I never set out to win awards. Being nominated was an honour in itself, but receiving that recognition for work that I’m deeply passionate about and that aligns so closely with my values was incredibly meaningful.”
You have also been involved in international volunteering. What impact did that experience have?
“In 2016, I volunteered in Romania with the Life Foundation, working with children and adults with disabilities.
“It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Seeing the challenges people faced there reinforced for me the importance of protecting people's rights, promoting inclusion, and ensuring access to quality care.
“The experience continues to influence how I think about healthcare, inequalities, policy, and social change. It strengthened my determination to advocate for people with learning disabilities and remains something I'm incredibly passionate about today.”
What advice would you give to those starting out in their career?
“Stay open-minded, stay curious, and always remember your "why". Think about the difference you want to make and let that guide your decisions.
“Be kind to yourself, be realistic about the challenges you'll face, and never underestimate the importance of the friendships you build along the way. I wouldn't have made it through university without the support of my classmates, and I wouldn't be the nurse I am today without those friendships. Those relationships really matter.”