Meet Danielle our newest sub group member from GCU

Danielle Donaghy is currently a second year student at Glasgow Caledonian University studying Learning Disability Nursing.  Danielle recently joined the SLDNN student sub group alongside her classmate, and is looking forward to being involved in this year’s annual conference in June.  

Prior to starting the course, Danielle was a locality support worker for five years, supporting individuals with disabilities within the community, and still continues to support a young man through SDS (Self-directed support).  Danielle wanted to continue to help individuals reach their full potential and therefore applied to university to train within a nursing role instead.  Danielle has previously completed an honours degree in Business from Stirling University but soon realised that this wasn’t for her and that working within the care sector was much more satisfying and that she thrived in providing care and support to those who needed it.  

Danielle continues to learn through her personal work commitments as well as on placements and enjoys applying her new knowledge and skills within various nursing environments.  Danielle hopes to progress onto the post graduate course next year in Health Visiting and is very excited for her future career within nursing.  

Meet Julie Our new member of the student subgroup from ENU

Julie Irvine is a 1^st year student at Napier.  She is really pleased to be part of this enthusiastic sub group.  Her background is working with Multiply Disabled Visually Impaired adults.  Julie has particular interest and enthusiasm for communication, she enjoys the challenge of working creatively to enable individuals to make informed choice.  Latterly working in day services she worked hard to encourage participation and has been fortunate to experience and promote a shift from service led to service user led services/care.  Out of her comfort zone she a bit daunted but is keen and excited to extend her knowledge and skills to benefit the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities.        
 

Meet Jack Our new student subgroup member from ENU

Jack Souter is currently in his first year at Edinburgh Napier University, living in Edinburgh is a massive change for Jack after just finishing his 6^th year at School in Ayr. After volunteering with a Sunday school group with various children with Learning Disabilities for years Jack always new LD nursing was the goal.

Although moving out and starting a new life in Edinburgh has been a massive step every day is a new adventure, with lots of new experiences. He wouldn’t change it for the world. 

Welcome Kelsie - Our New SLDNN Student Sub-group member

Kelsie-Louise Buchan is currently in her second year studying Learning Disability Nursing at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) after completing her first year at North East Scotland College by completing the HNC Care and Administrative Practice. Kelsie is currently studying through the new national programme, this enables her to stay at home to study in Aberdeenshire but still partake in all the classes through video conferencing and all placements are within her local area.

When leaving school in 6^th year Kelsie had no idea what she wanted to do with her life but knew through her volunteer work at a local theatre group for 8-21 years old that she wanted to work with people so landed off in a care home for the elderly for a total of 7 years. Working as a carer/activities co-ordinator Kelsie was encourage by the nursing staff to go back to college and receive the qualifications she needed in order to pursue her nursing, so off she went and it was here that she learnt about the national programme for Learning Disability Nursing.

Whilst at college Kelsie was recognised for her volunteer at the local theatre group to which she had been involved in for 10 years and also receive an award for work placement to which she was nominated by her placement ward manager to recognised her work that she had done whilst on the ward.  

Some thank yous and good lucks!

At the beginning of the year, with a lot of ideas and ambition, the SLDNN Student Sub-group was created. What the sub-group has achieved and how it has developed over the last few months has been quite remarkable (if we do say so ourselves...). We could not have achieved what we have over the last few months without the backing of the SLDNN Steering Group. They have empowered and encouraged us in our development. The Steering Group has pushed us to realise our potential and recognised our contribution as equal to their own, for that we thank them greatly.

Our progress would not have been possible if it was not for the hard work and dedication of all of our student members. We would like to thank all student member's for their hard work over the last year, as we simply could not do it without you.



                                                         
We would like to particularly thank two third year students from Edinburgh Napier University, Caryn McWhirter and Annie Millar, who have been a key role in our group over the last year. Both fulfilling valuable roles within the sub-group whilst in their final year of studies is an example of how dedicated and passionate these individuals are for Learning Disability Nursing. It is clear to us, and hopefully to the followers of our blog and Twitter account, that Caryn and Annie are destined for great things in their future careers. The group would not have been as successful without your input and we cannot thank you enough for your contribution. It is with this post, that we wish you lots of luck in your future career's and hope you keep in touch in the future.

The Student Sub-group will be taking a few weeks off of Tweeting, Blogging and all other related business to enjoy some rest and relaxation before the new term. We have some great things planned for the 2015/2016 term and we cannot wait to share it with you.

Sian and Joe