A learning disability nurse from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has become the first apprentice in the South East to receive the NHS England Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Midwifery Officer Student Excellence Award.
Aaron Tebano is also the first apprentice from the Trust to receive the award. He was recognised for his outstanding commitment, dedication and excellence during his Registered Nurse Degree (Learning Disability) apprenticeship.
The award was presented at Tatchbury Mount Hospital on 14 July by Claire Wardle, Health and Care Support Workforce Education Senior Specialist and Registered Nurse, alongside Professor John Clark, Deputy Director of Clinical Professions in NHS England’s Workforce, Training and Education Directorate.
Aaron was nominated by his lecturer at the University of Winchester, Rachel Beckett, after developing a menopause toolkit to support people with learning disabilities.
The toolkit helps people recognise and record symptoms throughout the perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. It can be used independently or with support from a family member or carer, helping people manage their symptoms while supporting healthcare professionals with diagnosis and treatment. Aaron later presented the project at the Trust’s Dragon’s Den event, where it secured £6,000 in funding from the Academy of Research and Improvement.
The award follows other recent achievements for Aaron. In 2025, he received the Degree Apprenticeship Award from the University of Winchester Students’ Union. Earlier this year, he was also named Apprentice Student Nurse of the Year by the University of Winchester.
Maria Crandon, Senior Locality Lead Nurse for the North and West Community Learning Disability Team, said: “The North and West Hampshire Community Learning Disability Team is immensely proud to celebrate Aaron’s outstanding achievement in receiving the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Midwifery Officer Student Excellence Award.
“Aaron has shown a strong commitment to learning disability nursing throughout his apprenticeship and a genuine passion for improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. His work has highlighted the importance of ensuring appropriate resources are available to support people with learning disabilities and the need for greater awareness of the impact of menopause, an area of healthcare that is often overlooked.
“Aaron’s dedication, innovation and commitment to person-centred care make this award thoroughly deserved. We congratulate Aaron on this significant achievement and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will continue to make for the people we support.”
Aaron said: “I am really proud to be part of a strong learning disability healthcare team who have supported me incredibly well throughout my apprenticeship. It means so much to me that my hard work has been recognised, especially as I have been told I am the first apprentice and learning disability nurse to receive the award. I’m still quite shocked and can’t quite believe that I received it.”