Job summary
The
Diabetic Specialist Nurse will be an experienced and compassionate clinician
who will play a key role in managing Hitchin and Whitwell patients with diabetes
mellitus and pre-diabetes. You will work with practice and PCN staff and the
wider multi-disciplinary team to deliver excellent, patient-facing care, aiming
to improve patient experience and their outcomes.
Diabetes
is a condition in which good blood sugar control can reduce the risk of the
many associated potential complications. You will be an experienced prescribing
nurse who is passionate about diabetes care, promoting self-management and
patient empowerment while confidently adding and adjusting medication as
required.
This
post is part of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for Primary
Care Networks (PCNs).
Main duties of the job
With support from the
practice and PCN teams, you will undertake holistic diabetic Quality Outcomes
Framework and Enhanced Commissioning Framework reviews, including taking and recording
clinical observations, completing care planning documents, implementing evidenced
based interventions, prescribing and monitoring medication, and offering
practical advice and emotional support patients and, where appropriate, their
carer. You will be aware of local support services and be able to refer and signpost
into these as appropriate. You will work collaboratively with partners to
support patients, primary care and the wider health and social care system.
About us
H&W
Health Ltd is a company providing services for Hitchin and Whitwell Primary Care Network
(HWPCN). HWPCN was the Hertfordshire and West Essex PCN of the Year in 2024.
PCNs build on existing primary care services and
enable new and innovative approaches to improve patient care and access to
services. HWPCN covers approximately 47,000 patients from four local GP
surgeries. We are a dynamic and forward-thinking PCN, with a team of ARRS
including clinical pharmacists, physiotherapists, social prescribing link
workers, health & wellbeing coaches and care coordinators, supported by an
operations manager, a business manager and a clinical director. We facilitate
our PCN staff to integrate into practice teams and pride ourselves on providing
a friendly and supportive working environment.
Hitchin is a market town in Hertfordshire with excellent schools
and transport links.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- The
following are the core responsibilities of the Diabetic Specialist Nurse:
- Deliver comprehensive diabetes care and management in accordance with
national guidelines (e.g., NICE, QOF)
- Conduct structured diabetes reviews including assessment, monitoring,
and adjustment of treatment plans
- Provide education and self-management support to patients with diabetes
and pre-diabetes
- Initiate and titrate insulin or non-insulin therapies in accordance with
clinical protocols and independent prescribing rights
- Support patients to manage devices such as continuous blood glucose
monitoring equipment and insulin pumps
- Identify patients at risk of diabetes-related complications and
implement appropriate interventions
- Collaborate with GPs and multidisciplinary teams to deliver
patient-centred care
- Provide support and training to primary care staff in diabetes
management
- Contribute to service development
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in patient records
- Participate in patient recall systems and help
ensure achievement of QOF and IIF targets related to diabetes
Secondary Responsibilities
In
addition to the primary responsibilities, the Diabetic Specialist nurse may be
requested to:
- Participate
in practice audits as requested by the audit lead
- Participate
in local quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and
patient care
- Participate
in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured
approach i.e. root cause analysis (RCA)
This list is not exhaustive and there may be on occasion, a
requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such
as workload, staffing levels and the needs of the business.
Generic Responsibilities
Confidentiality
- All staff are required to respect the confidentiality
of all H&W Health, HWPCN and Practice business and the business of the
staff, residents, patients and general public which they may learn in the
execution of their duties.
Data Protection
- All staff are expected to
adhere to the current laws regarding data protection.
Health and Safety
All staff are expected:
- To carry out the duties placed
on employees by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, , Environmental
Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace)
Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.
- To take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work
- To co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the
requirements of the legislation.
- Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything
provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare in the pursuance of any
relevant statutory provision.
Equality and Diversity
- You must uphold the PCN
commitment that all people will be valued regardless of their economic
circumstances, disability, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion or
belief, transgender status, pregnancy, maternity, partnership or marital
status.
Risk Management
All staff are expected:
- To have a commitment to
identifying and minimising risk, report all incidents and any risks which need
to be assessed.
- To
always comply with the Practices/PCNs/Companys
Health and Safety policies. To follow agreed safe working practices and report
any incidents or concerns to the practice manager, PCN director and senior
clinic pharmacist.
Professional Registration
- All qualified/professional
staff are required to keep professionally registered and updated in accordance
with the requirements of the relevant Code of Practice and to follow guidance
issued by their professional body.
Policies and Procedures
- The post holder is expected
to comply with all relevant PCN policies, procedures and guidelines.
Quality & Continuous
Improvement (CI)
- All staff
are expected to strive for continuous improvement and to raise ideas and
concerns with their line manager
Learning and Development
- All staff
will be required to partake and complete a company induction and mandatory
training, as well as participating in PCN training activities.
Collaborative Working
All
staff are expected:
- To
recognise the significance of collaborative working.
- To communicate
in a manner which enables the sharing of information appropriately and
professionally.
Professional Conduct
- Staff
are required to dress appropriately for their role
Leave
- Staff
are encouraged to use all of their annual leave entitlement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- The
following are the core responsibilities of the Diabetic Specialist Nurse:
- Deliver comprehensive diabetes care and management in accordance with
national guidelines (e.g., NICE, QOF)
- Conduct structured diabetes reviews including assessment, monitoring,
and adjustment of treatment plans
- Provide education and self-management support to patients with diabetes
and pre-diabetes
- Initiate and titrate insulin or non-insulin therapies in accordance with
clinical protocols and independent prescribing rights
- Support patients to manage devices such as continuous blood glucose
monitoring equipment and insulin pumps
- Identify patients at risk of diabetes-related complications and
implement appropriate interventions
- Collaborate with GPs and multidisciplinary teams to deliver
patient-centred care
- Provide support and training to primary care staff in diabetes
management
- Contribute to service development
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in patient records
- Participate in patient recall systems and help
ensure achievement of QOF and IIF targets related to diabetes
Secondary Responsibilities
In
addition to the primary responsibilities, the Diabetic Specialist nurse may be
requested to:
- Participate
in practice audits as requested by the audit lead
- Participate
in local quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery and
patient care
- Participate
in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured
approach i.e. root cause analysis (RCA)
This list is not exhaustive and there may be on occasion, a
requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such
as workload, staffing levels and the needs of the business.
Generic Responsibilities
Confidentiality
- All staff are required to respect the confidentiality
of all H&W Health, HWPCN and Practice business and the business of the
staff, residents, patients and general public which they may learn in the
execution of their duties.
Data Protection
- All staff are expected to
adhere to the current laws regarding data protection.
Health and Safety
All staff are expected:
- To carry out the duties placed
on employees by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, , Environmental
Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace)
Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.
- To take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work
- To co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the
requirements of the legislation.
- Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything
provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare in the pursuance of any
relevant statutory provision.
Equality and Diversity
- You must uphold the PCN
commitment that all people will be valued regardless of their economic
circumstances, disability, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion or
belief, transgender status, pregnancy, maternity, partnership or marital
status.
Risk Management
All staff are expected:
- To have a commitment to
identifying and minimising risk, report all incidents and any risks which need
to be assessed.
- To
always comply with the Practices/PCNs/Companys
Health and Safety policies. To follow agreed safe working practices and report
any incidents or concerns to the practice manager, PCN director and senior
clinic pharmacist.
Professional Registration
- All qualified/professional
staff are required to keep professionally registered and updated in accordance
with the requirements of the relevant Code of Practice and to follow guidance
issued by their professional body.
Policies and Procedures
- The post holder is expected
to comply with all relevant PCN policies, procedures and guidelines.
Quality & Continuous
Improvement (CI)
- All staff
are expected to strive for continuous improvement and to raise ideas and
concerns with their line manager
Learning and Development
- All staff
will be required to partake and complete a company induction and mandatory
training, as well as participating in PCN training activities.
Collaborative Working
All
staff are expected:
- To
recognise the significance of collaborative working.
- To communicate
in a manner which enables the sharing of information appropriately and
professionally.
Professional Conduct
- Staff
are required to dress appropriately for their role
Leave
- Staff
are encouraged to use all of their annual leave entitlement.
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Occupational Health Clearance
Desirable
- Clean current driving licence and access to own vehicle
- Project lead as required
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated, forward thinker
- Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
- Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Effectively utilises resources
- Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Recognised nursing qualification to degree level or equivalent
- Additional post-registration qualification in diabetes management
- Independent nurse prescriber
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Strong IT skills
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
- SystmOne user skills
- Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Problem solving & analytical skills
- Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
- Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
- Experience with clinical risk management
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Excellent level of clinical knowledge and skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a primary care environment
- Extensive experience in managing diabetes mellitus, including initiation and monitoring of insulin
Desirable
- Experience of using SystmOne
- Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Occupational Health Clearance
Desirable
- Clean current driving licence and access to own vehicle
- Project lead as required
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Occupational Health Clearance
Desirable
- Clean current driving licence and access to own vehicle
- Project lead as required
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Motivated, forward thinker
- Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
- Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Effectively utilises resources
- Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
Qualifications
Essential
- Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Recognised nursing qualification to degree level or equivalent
- Additional post-registration qualification in diabetes management
- Independent nurse prescriber
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
- Strong IT skills
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
- SystmOne user skills
- Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Problem solving & analytical skills
- Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
- Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
- Experience with clinical risk management
Clinical Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Excellent level of clinical knowledge and skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a primary care environment
- Extensive experience in managing diabetes mellitus, including initiation and monitoring of insulin
Desirable
- Experience of using SystmOne
- Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
Other requirements
Essential
- Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Occupational Health Clearance
Desirable
- Clean current driving licence and access to own vehicle
- Project lead as required
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).
Additional information
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).
