Rebecca Chester MBE
Consultant Nurse for people with learning disabilities - Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT)
Hello, I’m Becky. I qualified as a learning disability nurse and social worker in 2000. Since then I have mostly worked in community learning disability teams for people with learning disabilities as a learning disability nurse, but I’ve also spent some time working in child and adolescent mental health services. As part of my career development I undertook a Consultant Trainee Programme where I was able to experience working in a wide range of learning disability, mental health and acute trust services. To expand my knowledge and expertise I have completed an MSc in Mental Health in Learning Disabilities. I found my MSc absolutely fascinating and would recommend further study if you have the opportunity. I have also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Research and PGCERT in Academic Practice. As well as clinical practice I have worked for the University of Hertfordshire as a Lecturer Practitioner. If I could offer one piece of advice to aspiring learning disability nurses, it would be to take opportunities that come your way, but in doing so ensure that you equip yourself well by listening to, working with and learning from others, particularly people who use the services that you are working in, as everything we do as a learning disability nurse is for the person.