Nursing (Learning Disability) and Social Work

Nursing for people with learning disabilities, combined with a qualification in social work, is a degree designed for the reality that people with learning disabilities often need support that crosses the boundary between health and care. Learning disability nursing focuses on understanding and responding to the complex health needs of people with learning disabilities, including co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy, mental health difficulties, and physical health inequalities that this population experiences at significantly higher rates than the general population. Social work adds the legal, rights-based, and relational dimension, supporting people to live as independently as possible and coordinating the wider network of support they need.

At Sheffield Hallam University, this full-time, four-year programme with integrated foundation year prepares you for dual qualification as a learning disability nurse and a social worker. You will develop the skills and experience needed to provide exceptional care for people with learning disabilities, tailoring your studies within a structure that reflects how both professions actually work in practice. You will learn from other practitioners and students in allied professions, building an understanding of where your specialism fits into the broader sphere of healthcare and social care.

The foundation year provides a structured academic entry point that broadens access to this important and rewarding combination.

Graduates with both learning disability nursing and social work qualifications are equipped for an unusually broad range of roles in health and social care. NHS community learning disability teams, residential and supported living services, schools and colleges for young people with SEND, advocacy organisations, and local authority social services are all settings where this combination is needed and valued. The dual qualification provides flexibility and scope for progression into leadership, education, and advanced practice.

Postgraduate study in advanced clinical practice, social work, or allied health is available for those who wish to develop further.