JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Continence Nurse Specialist

Band: 6

Care Group: Care Group 1

Base Clifton Health Centre

Ref Code: (Link to CAJE

Terms and conditions of Service

Contract Status: Fixed Term/Secondment

Hours: 30

Organisational Relationships

Responsible to: Continence Specialist Practitioner

Accountable to: Directorate Manager for Adult Community Services

Responsible for:

Professional Accountability: Professional registration

Organisational Chart

(Detailing the structure of the department. Showing where the role will fit with at least one
person above and one below, where applicable)

Specialist Nurse Team Leader

Continence Specialist Practitioner

Continence Practitioner
Job Summary / Role

To support the delivery of a Continence Service that embraces the recommendations of the
‘Good Practice in Continence Services; (DOH 2000) guidelines.

To be responsible for the management of a caseload of patients with complex bladder and/or
bowel problems who require specialist assessment and treatment and to provide educational
programmes and clinical support to health and social care colleagues.

Core Functions

(State any duties / responsibilities that will not be covered in any of the core functions below
using bullet points)

Key relationships

Internal:
Continence Specialist Practitioner
Team Leaders – Adult & Children Services
Community Health Practitioners
GPs
Allied Health Professionals

External:
Patients/Carers
Physiotherapists
Nurse Specialists
Consultants
Nursing Staff – Acute sector
Independent Sector nurses & Carers
Social Services

Will be required to provided and receive very sensitive condition related information to
patients and carers.
Ability to communicate face to face, email, telephone and formal written correspondence
Required to undertake formal teaching sessions or presentations to groups of staff and/or
members of the public
Core Functions

1. Clinical Responsibilities

To have responsibility for own caseload of patients with complex bladder and/or bowel
problems

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist programmes of care for patients with
complex bladder and/or bowel problems using specialist diagnostic equipment

To work autonomously making clinical decisions based on the evidence produced at

assessment

To provide psychological and emotional support to patients and carers with continence needs

To take and make referrals directly in line with established referral pathways

To support the development and provision of a specialist continence service working

alongside medical consultants and specialist practitioners
To work collaboratively with health and social care staff to promote best practice in
continence care

To provide evidence based specialist continence specific advice and clinical support to
medical practitioners, community nurses, practice nurses, independent sector nurses and
other members of the multidisciplinary team (allied health professionals and social care)

Participate in and use research and audit to inform best clinical practice in continence care

To promote the appropriate and cost effective use of continence products

Promote, facilitate and participate in Clinical Supervision

Ensure completion of patient records in accordance with NMC guidelines for record keeping
to promote continuity of care and ensure a quality service is delivered.

Comply with the requirements of the Caldicott Report, the Data Protection Act, Access to
Health Records Act and a subsequent legislation issued in relation to confidential data.
Ensure staff practice in accordance with these guidelines.
2. Management / Leadership Responsibilities

To plan own workload on a day to day basis

Provide leadership and support to colleagues to ensure optimum continence care is delivered

Encourage and support staff to contribute to planning and delivering service improvements

Through networking and the use of influencing skills ensure the profile of continence care is
raised

Through demonstration of a facilitative and enabling style, ensure effective working

relationships and communication is promoted between all grades of staff and professional
groups, working within a multi-disciplinary team

Address the concerns of patients and service users, and respond to their suggestions for local
quality improvements, Participate in the management of complaints through local resolution
and in accordance with the Trust complaints procedure, liaising with the Continence Specialist
Practitioner, Complaints Manager and PAL’s co-ordinator where appropriate

Promote a risk-aware culture within the service, ensuring all staff are aware of and
understand the Trust Risk Management Procedures. Ensure the seven pillars of clinical
governance underpin current services and service developments

Ensure risk incidents are reported in accordance with Trust procedures, and agree actions
with appropriate members of the team in response to these.

Deputise for the Continence Specialist Practitioner where appropriate

3. Policy and Service Development Role

Initiate and support developments in practice to reflect the health needs of patients, the Local
Delivery Plan and the wider modernisation agenda

To identify and explore new and innovative ways of working together across organisational
boundaries to support the development of an integrated continence service

To contribute to the development and review of services, policies and protocols for continence
care in line with national guidelines

Contribute to the development of referral systems for use by colleagues in conjunction with
managed care pathways, as these are developed, that cross professional and health care
settings

Interface with primary and secondary care facilities to support the implementation of managed
pathways in line with national guidelines

Support the Continence Specialist Practitioner to deliver a quality service through setting and
monitoring clinical and non-clinical performance standards, working in collaboration with
service users, the public and the wider multi-disciplinary team.

4. Research and Audit Role

Participate in the process of audits, benchmarking projects and research initiatives in

continence care and the wider Trust organisation

To promote practice and education that is based on the best available evidence and research
in relation to continence case and to assist staff in the utilisation of research to support patient
care. Support and encourage staff to undertake research, audit and project work

To contribute to the continuous evaluation of practice through audit and the application of
evidence to inform future developments

Utilise technology to collect, share and retrieve data upon which to base future practice

Encourage and support staff to see the views of patients and the public regarding service
provision
5. Managing Resources Responsibilities

Ensure equipment used is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications and

necessary repairs are undertaken. Ensure staff and service users are trained and supervised
where appropriate in the correct use of equipment

Support the Continence Nurse Specialist in ensuring the cost effective use of resources and
best value by monitoring usage and evaluating products.

To authorise requests for specific containment products in line with the ‘Criteria for Product
provision’ and a the discretion of the Continence Specialist Practitioner

Demonstrate awareness of pay and non-pay budgets

6. Education and Training

Promote a positive learning environment. Actively facilitate and participate in training
programmes for qualified staff, students and other members of the multi-disciplinary team

To enhance knowledge of continence care in the wider nursing and allied health professional
workforce to support the development of best practice

Establish links and provide educational support to the Independent sector and local
educational establishments

Develop won clinical and professional skills through the identification of performance
objectives with the Continence Specialist Practitioner, and engage in continuing personal
development planning. Participate in performance review and appraisal in line with
Knowledge and Skills Framework

General Functions

1. Communications and Working Relations

The department aims to maintain the goodwill and confidence of its staff, service users and
the general public. To assist in achieving this objective it is essential at all times for
employees to carry out their duties in a courteous and sympathetic manner. Each member of
a team is expected to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other
members. Positive relationships are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.

2. Human Resources Policies and Procedures

All duties and responsibilities must be undertaken at all times in compliance with the Trust’s
HR Policies and Procedures
3. Departmental Policies and Procedures

The post holder will support the Trust’s internal audit service during regular reviews of
financial and other systems across the organisation. The post holder will assist audit in these
reviews and will provide information as required and without undue delay

The post holder is responsible and accountable for their own practice in line with Trust
Infection Prevention and Control policies that reflect evidence, best practice and legislative
requirements.

The post holder will have the appropriate level of child protection and adult safe guarding
knowledge, skills and practice required for the post and be aware of and comply with the
Trust’s child protection and adult safe guarding policies and procedures.

In addition to observing the departmental rules and procedures, which all staff are required to
observe and follow, the post holder is also required to follow the Trust’s general policies and
procedures that apply to the employment relationship. Whilst the Trust recognises specific
responsibilities fall upon management, it is also the duty of the post holder to accept personal
responsibility for the practical application of these policies, procedure and standards. The post
holder should familiarise themselves with these, and ensure they have an understanding of
them, and adhere to them. Particular attention is drawn to:

- Health & Safety: Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 it is the responsibility
of individual employees at every level to take care of their own health and safety at work,
and that of others who may be affected by their acts at work. This includes co-operating
with management in complying with health and safety obligations, particularly by reporting
promptly any defects, risks or potential hazards. The post-holder is required to undertake
annual training in respect of Health and Safety and comply and adhere to all Trust Health
and Safety Policies.
- Fire: The post-holder must adhere to the Trust’s Fire Policy, including attendance at
training.
- Working Time Regulations: The postholder must ensure that they do not work more
than an average of 48 hours per week based on a 17-week period regardless of whether
this is for the Trust as a secondary contract, as overtime, bank/casual, agency work or
with another employer.

4. General

In order to ensure the Trust’s ability to respond to changes in the needs of the service, the
Trust may make changes on a temporary or permanent basis, that are deemed
reasonable in the circumstances, to the duties and responsibilities outlined in the job
description. Any changes will be made with reasonable notice, taking into account the
circumstances of the Trust and the post-holder.
5. No Smoking

The Trust has a No Smoking policy. All health Service premises are considered as non-
smoking zones other than designated smoking areas. There will be a strict no-smoking
policy within the TRUST premises.

6. Confidentiality

The post holder will maintain the security of sensitive personal and other confidential
information and will apply all relevant Information Governance policies reliably to working
practice. Additionally they will be expected to follow secure operating procedures for
handling information in all formats including verbal, written and that held electronically.

Attention is drawn to the confidential nature of information collected within the NHS. The
unauthorised use or disclosure of patient or other personal information is a dismissible
offence and in the case of computerised information could result in prosecution for an
offence or action for civil damages under the Data Protection Act.

7. Equal Opportunities

The Trust will be an equal opportunities employer. Its aim will be to ensure that neither
applicants nor employees receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, marital
status, disability, religion, creed, colour, race, nationality, ethnic origins or social
background, or are disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to
be justifiable.

The post holder will uphold and support York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in
its goal to promote and embed diversity and inclusivity throughout the organisation. The
post holder will, in support of the Trust’s aims, ensure that everyone is treated as an
individual, with dignity and respect. Further, the post holder will embrace the Trust’s
philosophy that as individuals we are all unique, and will acknowledge and value
difference in order to treat everyone fairly.

JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT:

Job Holder [Print name] Job Holder Signature

Recruiting Manager [Print name] Recruiting Manager Signature

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

CONTINENCE PRACTITIONER BAND 6

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitude

Essential Desirable Means of assessment

 IT skills (email, internet, word  Presentation and teaching skills  Application Form
processing, power point)
 Change Management skills  Reference
 Excellent Communication and
 Experience of Clinical Governance  Interview
interpersonal skills
& Risk Management
 Ability to work independently and within
a multidisciplinary team
 Good time management &
organisational skills
 Knowledge of local and NHS
developments
 Commitment to patient focused care
 Self motivate

Qualifications & Training

Essential Desirable Means of assessment

 Registered Health Care Practitioner
 Current Registration with discipline
specific professional body
 Degree or equivalent experience
 Professional Development Diary
 Post Graduate continence/urology  Application Form
qualification
 Profession Regulatory body
 Teaching and Assessing check
qualification
 Proof of qualifications
 Independent Prescribing
qualification (or willingness to
undertake)
Experience

Essential Desirable Means of assessment

 Minimum of 2 years’ experience at
Band 5
 Solid base of experience in
continence/urology care
 Previous community experience  Application Form
 Experience of planning and  Interview
delivering study days
 Experience of working with both
Adults & Children
 Awareness of audit & research
 Awareness of evidence based care

Personal Skills / Competencies

Essential Desirable Means of assessment

 Positive and flexible approach  Ability to challenge traditional  Interview
roles/boundaries
 Reliable and trustworthy  References
 Ability to work within a multi-
disciplinary team
 Committed and enthusiastic
 Current Driving Licence & access to
vehicle