Elaine Kwiatek and Karen McKenzie report on what managers think of practitioners who have been jointly trained as nurses and social workers

There is a general recognition that the quality of services provided to people with a learning disability is heavily dependent on the skills, training and experience of staff working in both health and social care settings (Rose 1995). Research has highlighted the necessity of providing staff with appropriate training that is relevant to the needs of the job (Social Services Inspectorate 1990, Scottish Executive 2002). In recent years the model underpinning service provision has shifted from a predominantly medical model to a social educational one, with services largely being provided in community settings (Nirje 1969, Bollard and Jukes 1999). This changing model, although established for over 30 years, continues to have implications for the training and qualifications required by staff working in learning disability services.