The aim of this study was to explore how public health policy in the United Kingdom was reflected in community intellectual disability nurses’ (CIDNs)’ job descriptions and person’s specifications. The role of CIDNs has evolved due to policy changes. As these roles evolve, job descriptions and person specifications are important in highlighting employer’s expectations staff, priorities, and professional values of their employees. This study involved an exploratory documentary analysis of n = 203 CIDNs’ job descriptions and person specifications in the context of role theory. The CIDNs’ public health roles identified in this study are health education, health protection, health prevention, health surveillance, and health promotion. Key policies themes were intellectual disability health access, public health strategies, policy evaluation/redesign, and public health policy. There is a lack of public health role clarity and inconsistency in role expectations across organizational boundaries in the United Kingdom.
BaileyKD (1994) Methods of Social Research. 4th ed. New York, NY: Free Press.
2.
BarrOGilgunnJKaneT. (1999) Health screening for people with learning disabilities by a community learning disabilities nursing service in Northern Ireland. Journal of Advanced Nursing29(6): 1482–1491.
3.
BarrO (2006) The evolving role of community nurses for people with learning disabilities: changes over an 11-year period. Journal of Clinical Nursing15: 72–82.
4.
BoarderJH (2002) The perceptions of experienced community learning disability nurses of their roles and ways of working. Journal of Learning Disabilities6(3): 281–296.
5.
BollardM (2002) Health promotion and learning disabilities. Health Education16(27): 47–55.
6.
BowlingA (2009) Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services. 3rd ed. Buckingham, UK: Open University.
7.
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2004) Equal Lives: Draft Report of Learning Disability Committee. Belfast, UK: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
8.
DH (1999) Agenda for Change – Modernising the NHS Pay System. London, UK: Department of Health.
9.
DH (2001) Valuing People. A New Strategy for the 21st Century. London, UK: TSO.
10.
DH (2004) The NHS knowledge and skills framework (NHS KSF) and the development review process. London, UK: Department of Health.
11.
DRC (2006) Equal Treatment: Closing the Gap. Stratford Upon Avon, UK: Disability Rights Commission.
12.
DuceyA (2002) What is the use of documents? Reflections from the health-care industry. Working USA6: 40–55.
13.
EricsonRBaranekPChanJ (1991) Representing Order: Crime Law and Justice in the News Media. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.
14.
ForchukCOuwerkerkAYamashitaM. (2002) Mental health case management in Canada: job description analyses. Issues in Mental Health Nursing23(5): 477–496.
15.
GlaserBStraussAL (1967) The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Chicago, IL: Aldine Publishing Company.
16.
Grensing-PophalL (2000) Clear expectation. Credit Union ManagementOctober: 32–36.
17.
MafubaK (2012) The role of job descriptions in intellectual disability nursing practice. Learning Disability Practice15(4): 19–21.
18.
MarinoM (2005) Understanding the importance of documents: How to put them in writing. Public Relations Tactics12(2): 26–26.
19.
MarshallDMooreG (2003) Obesity in people with intellectual disabilities: the impact of nurse-led health screenings and health promotion activities. Journal of Advanced Nursing41(2): 147–153.
20.
McDonnellAWilsonRGoodacreS (2006) Evaluating and implementing new services. British Medical Journal332(109): 109–112.
21.
MelvilleCACooperSAMorrisonIJ. (2006) The outcomes of an intervention study to reduce the barriers experienced by people with intellectual disabilities accessing primary healthcare services. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research50(1): 11–17.
22.
Mencap (2007) Death by Indifference. Following up the Treat Me Right Report. London, UK: Mencap.
23.
Mencap (2012) Death by Indifference: 74 Deaths and Counting. London: Mencap.
24.
MichaelJ (2008) Healthcare for All: Report of the Independent Inquiry into Access to Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities. London: Department of Health.
25.
MobbsCHadleySWitteringR. (2002) An exploration of the role of the community nurse, learning disability, in England. British Journal of Learning Disabilities30(1): 13–18.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and Social Services Ombudsman (2009) Six Lives: The Provision of Public Services to People with Learning Disabilities. London: TSO.
28.
RCN (1992) The Role and Function of the Domiciliary Community Nursing for People with a Learning Disability. London: Royal College of Nursing.
29.
SahaA (2008) Role perception – the role it plays. Icfai University Press, HRM Review, 29–33.
30.
Scottish Executive (2000) The Same As You. Edinburgh, UK: Scottish Executive.
31.
SidaniSIrvineD (1999) A conceptual framework for evaluating the nurse practitioner role in acute care settings. Journal of Advanced Nursing30(1): 58–66.
32.
SowneyMBarrO (2004) Equity of access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities: a concept analysis. Journal of Learning Disabilities8(3): 247–265.
33.
TaylorJC (1996) Systems thinking boundaries and role clarity. Clinical Performance and Quality Healthcare4(4): 198–199.
34.
The Scottish Government (2013) The keys to life - Improving quality of life for people with learning disabilities. Edinburgh, UK: The Scottish Government.
35.
TorringtonDHallLTaylorS (2002) Human Resource Management. 5th ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall.
36.
WeiCTungHLinC. (2011) Self-role perception of nurse practitioners in northern Taiwan (Chinese). Journal of Nursing58(2): 22–30.
37.
WelbourneTMTrevorCO (2000) The roles of departmental and position power in job evaluation. Academy of Management Journal43(4): 761–771.
38.
Welsh Assembly Government (2002) Well-being in Wales. Cardiff, UK: Welsh Assembly Government.
39.
WertherWBDavisK (1993) Human Resources and Personnel Management. Istanbul: McGraw-Hill.
40.
WickCJ (2007) Setting the stage: writing job descriptions that work. Executive Housekeeping Today29(7): 9–11.
