Mrs Jillian Pawlyn

Professional biography

Field lead - learning disabilities

BA Hons, MSc, RNLD, SCLD, PCTHE, TCH, SFHEA. 

I am an experienced Registered Nurse (Learning Disabilities) (RNLD) (NMC), qualified nurse lecturer (TCH), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and masters-level graduate with varied clinical, teaching and management experience with strong communication and information technology skills.

During my years as a registered nurse, I have developed a specialist interest in the health needs of people with a learning/ intellectual disability, in particular those individuals who have Profound Intellectual and/or Multiple Disabilities (PIMD/ PMLD). 

Research interests

Doctoral researcher at The Open University. 

I am carrying out research with parent carers of young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PMLD/PIMD) in England to explore their experiences during their child’s transition from child to adult health and social care services. My research will give insight into the parent carer’s transition experience to reduce the knowledge gap surrounding this life experience. Participant Flyer Parent carer experience of Transition.pdf (84.7 KB) Please view my video on YouTube to learn more about my research project.

I am a member of the Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Research Group, the Carer Research and Knowledge Exchange Network (CAREN) Carer Research Group, and the Nursing Research and Scholarship Group.

My primary interest is in the health of people with a learning/intellectual disability.

My early research career focused on how learning disability nurses use eLearning in Professional Education.

I am also interested in how technology can widen access to health information and developments in digital health literacy, particularly service user and caregiver digital health literacy. 

Teaching interests

I am a Lecturer in nursing and an enthusiast and advocate of technology-enhanced learning.

My priority is embedding Learning Disability Nursing theory and practice within the curriculum and raising awareness of the health and care needs of people with learning disabilities.

Teaching on modules:

• K*210: Understanding nursing: knowledge and theory (20J,onwards)  (Module Team Chair)
• K*328: Becoming an autonomous practitioner: learning disabilities (21J, onwards).

Practice Tutor on modules:

• K*211: Developing nursing practice (24C)
• K*328: Becoming an autonomous practitioner: learning disabilities (24G, onwards).

Previously taught on modules:

• K*211: Developing nursing practice (22C, 22G, 22J, 24C) 
• K*236: Extending your contribution to healthcare practice (2018 - 2022)

Author on modules:

• K102: Introducing health and social care.
• K104: Introduction to Healthcare Practice
• K*210: Understanding nursing: knowledge and theory (Module Team Chair)
• K*328: Becoming an autonomous practitioner: learning disabilities

Impact and engagement

• Reviewer for the British Journal of Learning Disabilities
• Reviewer for Dove Medical Press
• Reviewer for the Learning Disability Practice Journal
• Reviewer for PeerJ Life and Environment 
• Examiner for the Edge Hill University Medical School and School of Allied Health, Social Work and Wellbeing

Former

• Examiner for the University College Cork, School of Nursing and Midwifery
• Examiner for the University of Greenwich, Family Care & Mental Health 
• Examiner for the University of Otago, Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies
• International champion PMLD Network (Profound & Multiple Learning Disabilities Network)
• Specialist Adviser - Learning Disabilities Care Quality Commission
• Trustee for the PMLDLink Journal 

External collaborations

Advisory Panel Member - 'DAPPLE', a national project exploring models of palliative and end-of-life care for people with learning disabilities (NIHR159160, 2024-27). (2024 - date)

Advisory Panel Member - Improving the support for older people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge, family and professional carers, and supporting end-of-life care planning for carers (2019 to 2023)

East Midlands Learning Disability Nurses Network (EMLDNN) (2014 to 2022)

Learning and Intellectual Disability Academic Nurses Network (LIDNAN) (2016 to date)

Future Learning Disability Nurse Network Member (2022 to date)

Scottish Learning Disability Lead Nurse Group (SLDNL) (2022 to date)

Scottish Learning Disabilities Nurse Education Network (SLDNEN) (2019 to date)

Scottish Learning Disability Nursing Network (SLDNN) (2018 to date)

International links

New Zealand Intellectual and Learning Disability Nurses Network (2012 to date)