Lela Gaunt

Community Learning Disability Nurse, St Mary’s Hospital, Leeds

My current role is a community learning disability nurse, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. We offer services to adults with a learning disability whose health needs cannot be met by mainstream services. The MDT work together to ensure their skills can be used suitably to meet service user’s needs in a person centred way. My role is varied and can include risk assessing and risk management, positive behavioural support, addressing physical health needs and creating person centred care plans. I feel it is important to advocate for my service users and I try to raise awareness of reasonable adjustments and the importance of providing person centred care.

I am looking to develop new skills particularly within leadership to support the MDT and effectively bridge the gap in health inequalities for people with a learning disability. I am hoping to develop my confidence within the MDT and prepare myself for future leadership roles. I would like to develop effective change management techniques to ensure up to date practice is in line with the evidence base. Finally, I hope this programme helps me grow as a practitioner, feel more confident in my practice and allow me to support my patients effectively.