Rachel Gardiner, NHS Borders
Rachel Gardiner
Scottish borders learning disability team manager
NHS Borders

I am a passionate Community Learning Disability Nurse and proud Queens Nurse. I have worked in different capacities within the learning disability field for over 25 years. Seeing and adapting to profound changes in the community and helping people achieve better health outcomes. I currently work as Team Manager of the Scottish Borders Learning Disability Team, an integrated health and social care service for people with a learning disability aged 18 and above. My previous post was a community forensic learning disability nurse offering specialist risk assessment, intervention and support for people with a learning disability involved within the criminal justice system or at risk of offending. Over the past 3 years I have worked collaboratively with my Queens nurse cohort to develop the animation ‘Think COULD’, its primary objective is to raise awareness of the diverse needs of individuals with learning disabilities. The animation has already had a significant impact, having been incorporated in National Police Scotland training.