GH GHNHSFTeLearning Portal

Access continence care eLearning for older people's services

Continence care supports bladder and bowel health, comfort, dignity and independence. For older people, improvements in assessment, toileting routines and access to suitable equipment can prevent avoidable distress and complications.

This guide explains how to find and open the continence care eLearning on the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust eLearning portal, including search terms, access checks and help when a course does not appear.

Australian colleagues can use the same access process while applying the learning within local aged care, hospital and home care settings. Local policy, privacy law and referral pathways remain essential alongside any online module.

Find the course in the eLearning portal

Sign in to the eLearning portal using your existing account details. After entering the portal, locate the learning catalogue or search function. Search for “continence” first, as this term is more likely to produce relevant results than a complete course title. If the portal displays filtered results, check whether a service, profession or topic filter is restricting what you can see.

Try related terms such as “bladder and bowel”, “continence assessment”, “older people” and “dignity”. Results may include a learning package containing several lessons rather than one stand-alone module. Read the description and learning outcomes before selecting a course, and check whether enrolment, manager authorisation or an assignment is required before the content becomes available.

Where the module refers to wider reading, the linked professional learning materials can provide useful background. Treat these as supplementary resources rather than a substitute for the access instructions or clinical guidance provided by the Gloucestershire Hospitals portal.

Prepare for a relevant learning experience

Before starting, check the course title, target audience, estimated duration and completion requirements. Protected work time and a reliable internet connection will make the eLearning easier to complete. It is also useful to identify a current local procedure for continence assessment, escalation and product access, so that any differences between the course and Australian practice are clear.

Australian services may use different terminology from the NHS examples in the module. For example, a care home may be described as an “aged care facility”, while local teams may refer to a district nurse, community nurse or continence adviser. Keep the learning focused on principles and good practice, but use Australian job titles, referral routes and documentation standards when transferring the content into everyday work.

Work through the continence care content

Complete the lessons in the order provided, including any knowledge checks or reflective activities. The material may cover bladder and bowel assessment, toileting, equipment, communication and the effect of continence problems on an older person’s wellbeing. Make brief notes about how each topic relates to your own service, particularly where people may have mobility, cognitive, sensory or communication needs.

The scenarios are likely to use NHS terminology and may not reflect the exact resources available in Australia. Focus on the reasoning behind each response rather than memorising a pathway that may not exist locally. A strong learning point often combines several factors, such as privacy, adequate time on the toilet, suitable clothing, a functioning call bell and access to personal equipment.

If the course includes practice questions, revisit any question answered by guesswork. Check the accompanying guidance and record the principle you intend to apply. This turns the module into a practical tool for reviewing care rather than simply obtaining a completion record, and gives supervisors or educators a useful basis for discussion.

Apply learning within Australian care settings

Continence care in Australia must align with several local requirements. In approved aged care services, dignity, privacy and clinical care are supported by the Aged Care Act 2024 and the Aged Care Quality Standards. Health information is also governed by the Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles and relevant state or territory health records legislation. Do not enter real patient identifiers or clinical records into an eLearning activity; use the examples provided instead.

The way older people enter services can also affect your response. Some people arrive through a My Aged Care assessment, while others use home care packages or hospital referral processes. Continence aids are commonly supplied through state and territory schemes, but eligibility, brands and ordering arrangements differ. Confirm the local process before promising equipment or directing a person towards a particular product.

Geography matters in Australian care. Teams in Sydney and Melbourne may support people across several hospital and community settings, while services in regional New South Wales or near Kalgoorlie may rely more heavily on telehealth and courier delivery. A person’s medication schedule, access to household bathrooms and usual daily routine can offer clues about continence needs that are not visible during a short clinical encounter.

Search terms and support options

If the course is difficult to locate, simplify the search and remove filters before changing terminology. These phrases can help locate either the module or a related learning package:

Clear the search field between attempts and check whether the result opens an enrolment page or merely a course description. Searching in a private or incognito window can also distinguish an account permission problem from a browsing issue, provided institutional access remains available through the normal login.

If access remains unavailable, note the exact error message, course title, device and browser before contacting the eLearning Helpdesk. Avoid including patient information or confidential material in a screenshot.

Use the phone number or email address displayed within the portal so your query reaches the correct support team. Keep a record of the response, particularly if a manager or administrator needs to assign the course. Once access is restored, check that every required lesson and assessment appears before beginning.

Turn learning into safer continence care

A completion record shows that the eLearning was accessed, but safe practice also depends on applying its principles within local systems. Document assessments, agreed care approaches and any escalation in the appropriate clinical record. Support older people to maintain privacy and independence, check that equipment is available and functioning, and involve the relevant nurse, continence adviser or support worker when needs change.

The practical takeaway is to treat completed eLearning as one component of a documented, person-centred continence plan, supported by local policy, privacy safeguards, appropriate equipment and timely escalation.