Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

The post holder will have a clinical role with responsibility for the person-centred assessment, planning and co-ordination of care and support of people with diabetes. The aim of the Diabetes Specialist Nurse role is to work with the wider Integrated Diabetes Team and people with diabetes to promote optimism of engagement with appropriate services, contribute towards more effective specialist management and prevention of the potential negative health outcomes of diabetes and avoid unnecessary diabetes related hospital admissions.

To work closely with GPs, long term conditions case managers and other primary/community care staff to support people with diabetes to manage their condition more effectively.

To work closely with Diabetes Teams in secondary care to ensure that appropriate patients are identified for referral into community-based services.

To co-ordinate care of patients between primary and secondary care settings acting as a specialist resource.

To contribute towards the development of the Diabetes Specialist Nurse role to continuously improve the treatment and support for people with diabetes and their carers.

To work with the Integrated Diabetes Team to support and maintain a clinically managed network of multidisciplinary professionals, promoting consistent evidence-based practice to ensure efficient and effective use of available resources.

To participate in diabetes network working groups where appropriate, and particularly those looking at clinical standards, pathways and outcomes.

Dimensions

The work alongside the wider Integrated Diabetes Team mentoring clinical staff working within the service as appropriate.

To work collaboratively and across organizational boundaries to provide evidence-based practice and holistic care to people with diabetes in a variety of settings.

The Nottingham City Diabetes service supports appropriate patients registered with Nottingham City GP practices, as defined by inclusion criteria for the service.

To offer a specialist resource to health care professionals in Nottingham City

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

To provide specialist nursing care and advice to people with diabetes including initial assessment and on-going management.

To work in partnership with people with diabetes in a variety of settings to develop individualised person-centered management plans which will be reviewed at agreed, regular intervals.

To monitor, evaluate and review the effects of diabetes medication using agreed local and national guidelines.

To make recommendations on changes at diabetes medication to the GP by adhering to local and national guidelines on diabetes medication.

To use a motivational interview approach to provide information and support to those who wish to make healthy lifestyle choices.

To ensure an approach to care, which recognises the unique needs and views of individuals and their carers and which places the service user at the centre of all activities

To informally assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and work within legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

To triage referrals, review blood results and offer same day appointments when undertaking agreed triage duties.

To work effectively as a member of the Nottingham City Diabetes Team in order to deliver coordinated care to service users in the community.

To participate in the organisation and delivery of structured education to health care professionals, service users and their carers as needs are identified.

To assist in on-going development of the integrated team and provide essential cover in the absence of the other Diabetes Specialist Nurses.

To participate in any other agreed duties that may be reasonably required in addition to those above.

To be responsible for managing their own caseload and day-to-day tasks.

Professional

To participate in the PDR review process to identify training and development needs using the service Diabetes Specialist Nurse Competency Document and role outlined as a guide.

To be responsible for own continuing professional development keeping abreast of new trends and developments, incorporating them into clinical practice as necessary.

To actively engage in clinical supervision.

To support learners as appropriate and contribute towards the education and support of health care professionals within primary and secondary care settings.

To contribute towards and participate in appropriate seminars and study day, acting as a specialist resource in diabetes Care.

To raise awareness of the role of the Nottingham City Diabetes Service.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

To ensure compliance with policies and protocols related to the clinical role, contributing towards the development of specialist protocols.

To make recommendations for positive change.

To ensure all documentation is accurately maintained.

To always act within the guidelines provided by the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.

Leadership

To participate in the development and implementation of appropriate specialist pathways of care for people with diabetes.

To represent the team externally and participate in the service marketing strategy when required, by supporting local and regional networks and contributing towards presentations to a wider audience.

Governance

To ensure an approach to the care of people with diabetes that minimizes risk and maximizes clinical effectiveness.

To assist with the investigation and reporting of all incidents relating to the service, ensuring appropriate action is taken.

To be responsible for the promotion of best practice that ensures the health, safety and security of self, patients and colleagues in accordance with policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisation.

To practice in accordance with the procedure and guidelines for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection.

To practice in accordance with information governance policy ensuring that confidentiality is protected at all times.

Research and Audit

To participate in and contribute towards any related research programmes that have been formally agreed within limits of time and funding.

To ensure that evidence-based findings are applied to practice.

To collect and utilise data to enable monitoring and evaluation of the service, which will provide evidence of its value and effectiveness and identify gaps/areas for development.

To support and participate in the use of clinical audit as a means of enhancing clinical practice.

Experience

Essential

• Recent evidence of applying knowledge of diabetes to clinical practice
• Evidence of managing change
• Evidence of well-developed interpersonal and leadership skills

Desirable

• Ability to work within a culturally diverse population
• Community experience in diabetes care

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Up to date working knowledge of diabetes management
• Up to date general clinical knowledge
• Knowledge of current local, regional and National developments in diabetes care
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Effective communication skills verbal and non-verbal
• Concise accurate record keeping
• Experience of supervising and supporting health professionals
• Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner
• Evidence of working with external agencies and networking skills
• Teaching experience
• Basic IT skills

Desirable

• Evidence of supporting people to self-manage a long-term condition
• Presentation skills
• Knowledge or experience of audit evaluation and research
• Experience of working with SystmOne
• To have experience working in the community setting

Qualifications

Essential

• 1ST level Nurse Registration
• ENB 928 or equivalent
• Evidence of further professional development

Desirable

• ENB 998 or equivalent
• Evidence of health promotion activities/training
• Non-medical prescribing (V300)

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to work out of hours
• Full driving licence and the ability to travel between locations.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).