The role of job descriptions in learning disability nursing practice

Community learning disability nurses need clear specification of the expectations and boundaries of their roles, particularly when they work with public health responsibilities in professional and geographical isolation. Current NHS reorganisation makes clear and detailed job descriptions indispensable to prevent role conflict in the work environment, and to ensure proper delivery of public health services to people with learning disabilities. This article explores the importance of job descriptions and job specifications in community learning disability nursing. It presents a definition of a job description, explores work in the literature on the purpose of job descriptions and discusses the effect of job descriptions on public health role enactment by community learning disability nurses