Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Works as an autonomous, advanced specialist practitioner. Plans and prioritises own work load, organises own patient caseload and will have full responsibility and accountability for diabetic management decisions made.

To act as a resource and role model in expert practice facilitating and supporting the delivery of direct specialist patient care for all members of the Primary health care team, nursing and residential homes. Voluntary organisations and other agencies.

In conjunction with the Clinical lead and Diabetologists, will lead on the diabetes related issues in primary care services within their allocated locality.

To undertake complex specialist assessments of patients to include nursing, social and psychological assessment taking into account the patients self-management skills and knowledge using relevant practical experience.

Produce specialised management plans through the analysis and interpretation of the specialist assessment which can be complicated in nature

Takes the lead responsibility working alongside and supporting primary care teams to ensure implementation and delivery of treatment care plans developed in the Specialist Diabetes Triage /Assessment clinics.

Initiate and adjust insulin/ GLP-1/ oral hypoglycaemic agents in accordance with Trust Protocol, thus enabling the post holder to:

Stabilise poorly controlled diabetes through the use of individualised treatment plans

Advise and adjust insulin/ GLP-1/ OHA doses during illness and other complex situations as identified in Protocol.

To interpret blood glucose result, urine results, HbA1C results to make informed adjustment in medication and insulin doses.

Ensure service delivery is sensitive to cultural differences and that treatment planning and educational activities meet this need i.e. insulin adjustment during Ramadan.

To have counselling, motivational and negotiating skills to work with patients, promoting self-management and engendering patient empowerment

Assist the clinical lead to identify service gaps and the need for further knowledge in health care professionals and plan strategies within each setting to meet these needs.

Via a professional helpline Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge and advice to other health care professionals involved in diabetes care and be first line of contact for locality area. Also provide clinical advice direct to patients via telephone, email and fax communication..

Act as a professional role model and provide and facilitate effective clinical leadership.

Act as a core member of the multidisciplinary diabetes team.

Education

Identify learning needs and support and assist in the development, implementation, teaching and evaluating of training programmes in diabetes for a range of health care professionals

Provide clinical supervision for other Health Care Professionals (GPs, Practices nurses, District Nurses, Nursing/ learning disability homes) in designated area of community.

To act as a mentor for diabetes care for newly appointed Practices nurses

Support and assist in the development, implementation, teaching and evaluating of training programmes in diabetes for people with diabetes and their carers

Provide education on a one to one or group basis

Show commitment to research, audit and education to improve clinical practice and strategic development

Leadership/ Professional Responsibilities

Be the responsible lead in Diabetes Service development within the given locality, this may include services for the elderly, housebound etc. Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement and plan the future development.

Ensure safe use of equipment by self and other health care professionals. Within the locality, lead on quality assurance programmes of equipment used and control and monitor its use.

Liaise with and implement effective communication channels with community nurses, GPs and other Health Care Workers to ensure a comprehensive diabetes service is provided across primary/secondary care.

Actively participate with the Clinical Lead and other Diabetes Nurse Specialists in formulating, implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures relating to diabetes care.

Developing relationships with external organisations and across boundaries.

Contributes to effective resource management working within a dedicated budget.

Collect, evaluate, report and maintain accurate patient records on the Diabetes Computer Software System DIAMOND and community based systems where required.

Be a member of Diabetes UK through their Education Section.

Clinical Governance/ Research and Development

Identify need for, interpret and undertake research, surveillance and clinical audit in order to improve effectiveness and equality of patient care.

To assist in assessment of standards of care for benchmarking against locally and nationally set guidelines.

Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups or publication.

To plan, deliver and evaluate health promotion, screening and prevention programmes for the community.

To actively participate in the delivery of allocated areas of Diabetes NDA.

Provide a positive public relations image by dealing with queries direct from members of the public.

Report all accidents and complaints in accordance with agreed policies and assist in investigations of complaints and accidents as required.

Uphold the principles of the UKCCs code of professional conduct.

Be conversant with Units Policies and Procedures.

This post requires a current driving licence and the use of a car.

They may be required to work their normal contracted hours flexibly in a variety of different working patterns in response to the needs of the service. For example, this could include working their contracted hours as part of a 7 day job plan or working their hours over a pattern that includes extended days and unsocial hours.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration

Experience

Essential

• Experience in working in the field of Diabetes

Knowledge

Essential

• Good understanding of diabetes

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK429DJ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)