Continence Nurse

Livewell Southwest; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Livewell Southwest invites applications for a Specialist Continence Nurse within our community services in Plymouth. The role involves autonomous work delivering person-centred continence care across patients’ homes, clinics, and care settings, with ongoing professional development and collaborative working relationships.

You will provide advanced assessments, care planning, and education to patients and carers, while using digital tools to support care delivery and evaluation.

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse with current registration and pin.
• Experience in community or district nursing and continence care.
• Mentoring or teaching qualifications are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist continence assessments and interventions.
• Undertake advanced level continence assessments and create treatment plans.
• Use clinical judgement to manage bladder and bowel incontinence.
• Promote self-care, independence and patient empowerment.
• Support carers with education, advice and reassurance.
• Provide continence education and share knowledge with the team.
• Utilise digital technology to support assessment and ongoing care.

Skills

Autonomous practitioner

Clinical judgment

Communication skills

Leadership

IT literacy

Education

NMC Registration

Current registered nurse with community care experience

Mentoring experience

NMP prescribing qualification or willingness

Job description

Proposed interview date in person Friday 13 November 2026

Deliver Specialist Care. Empower Independence, Change Lives in the Community.

Are you a passionate, skilled nurse with a drive to improve quality of life for people living with bladder & bowel health needs? Would you like to work in a specialist, community focused role where your expertise, compassion & clinical judgement make a meaningful difference every day?

We are delighted to invite applications to join our specialist community Continence Service, delivering high quality care across Plymouth, SH&WD.

Why Join Our Continence Service?

By joining our team, you will

Be part of a dedicated specialist service making a genuine difference to peoples lives

Use & develop advanced clinical skills in continence care

Work autonomously while having the support of a knowledgeable, collaborative team

Build long-term therapeutic relationships with patients & carers

Contribute to innovation, education & continuous improvement in community care

Experience meaningful, varied work in a role that truly values your expertise

If you are an experienced nurse with a passion for continence care, community nursing & empowering people to live well, we would love to hear from you

Join us & be part of a service where your specialist skills create lasting positive change.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this role is to provide a specialist continence service to patients and their carers within the community. You will work autonomously and collaboratively to support individuals with bladder and bowel incontinence, delivering person centred, evidence-based care that promotes dignity, independence, and wellbeing

This is a highly rewarding role for a nurse who enjoys building therapeutic relationships, working holistically, and supporting people to manage long-term conditions confidently in their own environments

Where You'll Work

• Patients own homes
• Residential and nursing homes
• Clinic settings

This provides the opportunity to tailor care to individual needs and to see the real impact of your expertise on patients lives

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist continence assessments and interventions
• Undertake advanced level continence assessments, forming comprehensive, person-centred treatment plans
• Use expert clinical judgement to manage bladder and bowel incontinence effectively
• Promote selfcare, independence, and patient empowerment
• Support carers with education, advice, and reassurance
• Provide continence education
• Share specialist knowledge and competencies
• Use digital technology to support assessment, communication, and ongoing care

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

1.JOB PURPOSE

Tobe responsible for assessing, triaging, planning, implementing, evaluating carewhich may be complex, sensitive and unpredictable with the support of seniornurse nurse specialist caseload holder

ToCo-ordinate the delivery of care, application of clinical judgement inday-to-day changes in patients' needs and circumstances external to theindividual, determining when to seek advice from senior clinical or managementstaff. This includes response to immediate crisis.

Toundertake and to develop all nursing skills and competencies, updating asrequired for their role to enhance the skill mix of the nursing team ensuringthat the ever-changing health needs of patients are met.

Tomaintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, legible,and all care given to be documented. These records may be paper or IT basedsystem and must be maintained as specified in the LWSW Policies, the relevantprofessional body guidelines and Government directives.

Toprovide clinical supervision to other staff and students.

Promotingand supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their ownhealth and wellbeing, maximising independence and facilitating healthpromotion.

Dependingon role you will be required to work within a defined geographical areaundertaking specific clinical nursing duties to patients in a variety ofsettings such as their own homes, care homes, other community locations orclinic set

Provideclinical and managerial leadership to nursing and support staff in the absenceof the team leader.

1.SCOPE AND RANGE

Towork within the scope of the NMC professional code of practice. Moving acrossthe organisation should the need arise, for example, in a pandemicsituation.

Yourrole may require you to be a non-medical prescriber Nurse Prescriber takingresponsibility for prescribing in line with Nurse Prescribing formulary andPlymouth Area Joint Formulary.

Towork within Livewell Southwest policies.

Withinthe role you will be expected to work with more complex patients providingholistic evidence-based care, assessing, planning, implementing the treatmentrequirements of the practice population.

Towork collaboratively and maintain key working relationships with managers,service heads and leads.

Establishand uphold proactive connections with stakeholders, including ICBs, NHS Organisations, CHC, PCNs, Plymouth City Council, as wellas private/voluntary sector St. Lukes.

Leadand participate in the management of enhanced assessments, rehabilitationprogrammes

Promotingand supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their ownhealth and wellbeing, Maximise independence.

Shareknowledge and skills and empower others.

Supportthe audit of patient outcomes.

Some services may need extra training to administercertain medications, such as intravenous medication, oxygen, or medicines underpatient group directives.

Preventhospital admission.

Youmay be required to undertake 7 days working, including bank holidays, this issubject to the terms and conditions set out in your contract of employment.

2.MAIN DUTIES RESPONSIBILITIES2.1Responsibility for People Management

Be responsible for the planning, implementing, development,delivery and evaluation of care across community nursing teams/clinics.

To manage and prioritise a defined caseload and delegatewhere appropriate to the skill mix of the team.

As part of your role there may be a requirement /opportunity to undertake Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) discussion, to achievethis you will be required to be competent in advanced communication, careplanning and attended appropriate training to support competence.

To act as a role model for other staff and studentsdemonstrating high standards of specialist practice and professional conduct.

Be responsible for providing and maintaining a learningenvironment and maximise opportunities for educational and development in theclinical area to enhance individual development and performance in the deliveryof high standards. Acting as expert resource and assist in teaching knowledgeand clinical skills for other health care professionals.

Take part in the process of clinical supervision and supportclinical supervision and reflective practice for team members.

To develop strategies for continued professional developmentas Non-Medical Prescriber if relevant for role

Support recruitment and selection of new staff, which mayinclude being part of an interview panel.

Act as mentor for new staff and students, including leadingon a structured induction and training program for new members of staff.

Support the coordination of study leave, annual leave, androtas to ensure the service is operationally covered. Where difficulties areidentified in maintaining service provision that this is escalated to seniormanagers of the service in team managers absence.

Support the team manager in the supervision, linemanagement, appraisals, mandatorytraining, standards and staff performance to work within the teams andsupporting and investigating staff performance and absence.

Take responsibility for your own personal and professionaldevelopment, maintain competence, knowledge and skills commensurate with therole.

Within your job role there will be clinical specificcompetencies which you may need to undertake to enhance your knowledge andskills in practice.

Integrate theory into practice.

Support staff to complete documentation within the agreedorganisational timeframes.

In the absence of the service manager, be responsible forthe day-to-day management (without direct supervision) of the team and patientcare provided to the agreed local and professional standards.

To maintain effective verbal and written communication withthe clinical team and to keep staff informed of changes to prescribingintervention or treatment provided to service-users.

To work in partnership with medical staff and service-usersin the development and implementation of clinical management plans related toan individuals treatment and prescribing needs.

To establish and maintain good liaison with key stakeholdersin the individuals care e.g. GP practices and other services in the area,including sharing prescribing information and rationale.

2.2Responsibility for financial and/or physicalresources

To demonstrate awareness of resources, providing costeffective and quality-controlled usage of products.

To have a working knowledge of statutory and non-statutoryfunding and the legislation guidance that underpins these funding streams,ensuring service users meet the eligibility criteria when advocating for/utilising services on the service users behalf e.g. Care Act eligibility,Housing legislation etc

Be authorised signatory and signing off the supplies andexpenses. These include off duty, staff overtime, annual leave, bank nurses andthe procurement of supplies for the team.

Exercise a duty of care in relation to the use of theorganisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.

To be responsible for overseeing and monitoring andauthorising of equipment and ensuringmaintenance and repair.

Track stock levels and ensure the supply levels aresufficient to meet the demands of the service.

Maintain effective working relationships withmultidisciplinary team and deliver a cost-effective quality service topatient/carers within a defined geographical area.

To contribute to resource governance through knowledge andappropriate prescribing decisions.

2.3Responsibility for administration

The post holder may be required to use a computer, mobilephone or lone working device and will be required to adhere to LivewellSouthwest policies regards their use.

Compliance will be monitored through observation, spotchecks and through incident management in line with the Organisations Incidentreporting and Investigation policy.

The post holder will be expected to oversee the standard ofpatients records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussionwith team members.

Support the team manager in the recording of accurateclinical activity data.

To be responsible for maintaining lone working informationfor identified staff group and monitoring staff adherence to lone workingpolicy and use of devices.

Ensure accurate records of FP10 prescription use maintainedin accordance with organisational Medicines Policy.

Person Specification

Specific Skills

• Good time management
• Autonomous practitioner with the ability to work unsupervised.
• Ability to assess and treat patients using evidence-based practice.
• Ability to work alongside clinicians to support and enhance quality of patient care.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in Leadership, co-ordination and management skills.
• IT Literate.
• Highly motivated with ability to influence and inspire others.
• Ability to act as a champion for patients and carers and their
• interests, ensuring the patients voice has an impact on service developments.
• Flexible/Adaptable
• /Team player
• Evidence of using initiative to put innovation into practice.

Qualifications

• (degree or diploma)
• NMC Registration
• Current Registered Nurse with a relevant registered experience.
• Experience of mentoring.
• Recognised teaching qualification mentorship or equivalent.
• Leadership experience/qualifications
• NMP prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake.
• DNSPQ Qualification
• Specialist Nurse
• modules

Knowledge

• Up to date knowledge of current practice within the area specified in job purpose
• Knowledge of national and local frameworks and strategies
• Ability to translate best practice evidence and national policies in practice.
• Background and development knowledge of Government Policies and changes in Primary Care.
• Understanding of NICE guidance.
• The post holder will have experience undertaking Incident Investigations.
• Evidence of continued recent academic and
• Knowledge of service development
• Previous primary care / community experience.

Additional Requirements

• Familiar and committed to the principles and values of the NHS.
• Demonstrate commitment to focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
• Creates and fosters a culture of openness, honesty, integrity and inclusiveness.
• Ability to work flexibly, demonstrating commitment to partnership working.
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.
• Values and diversity difference.

Experience

• Relevant post registered experience
• Able to demonstrate Clinical Management skills appropriate to the role.
• Proven relevant experience of Leadership.
• Experience in leading and development of new pathways of care and delivering best practice
• Experience in managing sensitive issues and overcoming obstacles in communication.
• Experience and working knowledge of community setting desirable.
• Management/Leadership
• qualification
• Experience of influencing change in the workplace.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.