Community learning disability nursing has been faced with considerable changes over recent years. In the early part of the 1990s, some commentators believed that it was a specialism in decline. The aim of the present study was to describe the way in which community nurses, learning disabilities (CNLDs), work within National Health Service (NHS) trusts in England, the other professionals whom they relate to, the client group whom they serve, their qualifications and their working practices. A postal questionnaire enquiring about these themes was returned by CNLD managers from 136 out of the 170 NHS trusts which were identified (81%).