Biography

Louise Cogher MA(HE), PGDiP(HE), RNT, BA(Hons), DPSN, RNLD, FHEA is Professional Lead for Learning Disability Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University. During my learning disabilities nursing career, I have held numerous positions, as well as managing services, both in England and overseas in Bermuda and Guernsey, Channel Islands, across a range of settings.

My main areas of interest in clinical practice focussed on health promotion and facilitation, person-centered planning facilitation, positive behaviour support, active support, and practice development. I moved to Higher Education in 2008 and I have extensive experience in teaching learning disability nursing as well as public health in relation to the health inequalities of people with a learning disability and applied behaviour analysis at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

I am a postgraduate researcher undertaking Doctoral studies with a focus on women with learning disabilities' experiences of accessing midwifery services. I am a passionate advocate for Learning Disability Nursing and the people we have chosen to serve.

I also hold a School role as Student Experience Lead and it is a privilege to support our nursing students to have a voice on their experiences on our programmes.

I am also an External Examiner for BSc (Hons) Learning Disabilities nursing and social work (integrated practice) at the School of Health and Society, University of Salford.

Research and scholarship

I am a postgraduate researcher undertaking Doctoral studies with a focus on women with learning disabilities' experiences of accessing midwifery services.

I am also a member of the national stakeholder group for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and a member of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing Academics Network.