A personal journey through different roles from 1973 to present day

Robert Henstock

This paper will review and examine the different roles I have experienced as a member of staff working in services that support people with learning difficulties (Open University terminology) since 1973 up to the present day. This includes working in different services in different parts of the country. These experiences will also be placed in the context of what was happening at that historical time.

The different roles include:

• Student nurse working in a large institution
• Staff nurse working in a medical centre
• Community Nurse in a rural setting (Northumberland)
• Community Nurse in urban setting (Cardiff)
• Manager of Residential Services, South Glamorgan Social Services
• Resettlement Officer, Manchester
• Senior Nurse, Children’s services, Tameside
• Senior Manager, single service, Health and Social Services, Tameside
• Executive Director, local provider service, registered charity, Stockport
• Independent trainer and consultant.