On 17 February 2026, more than thirty-five learning disability nursing professionals from across Kent and Medway gathered for a day of honest, structured conversation about who they are, what their work does, and what needs to change. Over 500 combined years of experience were in the room.

The result is We Are Still Here. We Are Still Vital. — a new report that is ready to read and share.

What it found

Participants were clear. LD nurses see the whole person, identify what others miss, prevent diagnostic overshadowing, and change how entire teams behave. When asked what would be lost without Learning Disability nursing, answers included over-medication, people lost without a voice, earlier deaths, and — from one experienced practitioner — simply: Catastrophic.

Three collective actions

1. Formalise a Kent and Medway Learning Disability Nursing Network — quarterly, with lived experience representation, linked to the KSS Community of Practice.
2. Take LD nursing into schools and colleges — outreach into at least five settings within twelve months, co-delivered with lived experience partners.
3. Build the evidence base — a working group to develop outcome frameworks that capture the preventative impact of Learning Disability nursing.

Read it. Share it. Use it.

The report is written to be placed in front of commissioners, Chief Nurses, and workforce planners. If you’d like to get involved in any of the three collective actions, we’d love to hear from you.

KaM RNLD CPD Report LDNursing April 26

Ruth Germaine is launching Co-creation Learning Sessions, and she wants you to know about them.

Whether you have lived experience of learning disabilities or autism, whether you are a family member, or whether you work in services, this is for you.

---

What Are Co-creation Learning Sessions?

These are sessions where staff learn with and from people with lived experience.

In these sessions:

• Everyone’s voice matters — not just the professionals
• We work together to make services better
• People with learning disabilities, autistic people, families, and staff are all part of the learning

---

Why Is Ruth Doing This?

Ruth wants to understand what good co-creation really looks like in practice.

Co-creation means working with people — not doing things to people.

It means listening. It means learning. It means sharing ideas together.

---

When Does It Start?

The sessions will begin in May.

This is a pilot — which means Ruth is trying it out first, to see what works well and what needs to change before making it bigger.

---

Would You Like to Get Involved?

Ruth is looking for people who might want to:

✅ Join the sessions

✅ Support the sessions

✅ Watch and listen — just to see what it is like

This could be you, or someone you know.

To get involved, contact Ruth directly:

📧 Ruth Germaine ruth.germaine@reflectiveruthconsultancy.com

---

What Happens After the First Sessions?

After the first few sessions, Ruth will bring people back together to talk about:

• What we learned
• What people need next
• How we can keep improving

---

A Message From Ruth

“We hope these sessions will be a welcoming space where everyone can learn together — whatever your background or experience. I would love to hear from you.”

💙 Ruth Germaine | ruth.germaine@reflectiveruthconsultancy.com

Episode 39 of So Who Cares Anyway shares powerful insights from an NIHR Knowledge Mobilisation Fellowship on supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Key messages resonate strongly with our work: staff must not only know but feel and understand; trust is rebuilt through action, not words; and meaningful inclusion is never tokenistic. We’re delighted to have supported Ruth in this important project. Well worth a listen!

 

Bemix, Aucademy and Kent Autistic Trust are seeking trainers with lived experience of learning disabilities to deliver Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. This part-time role (5.5-16.5 hours weekly, £15.88/hour) starts 16th December 2025, ending March 2026. Please see the job pack below.

Essential: You must have a learning disability and experience using health/social care services.

Critical deadlines:

• Applications close: Sunday 7th December (midnight)
• Interviews: Friday 12th December in Canterbury
• References must be arranged before 16th December

Apply here or email recruitment@bemix.org

Please share widely within your networks. Contact Isabelle or bemix office with questions.

Job Pack – Trainers – OMMT December 25