Job summary
We are looking for a motivated, committed, friendly, and forward-thinking nurse with experience and enthusiasm in diabetes nursing. You will provide specialist care to patients within four GP Practices across Rochdale and Middleton. The post holder will work very closely with the Diabetes staff, Practice Nurses and Doctors.
Main duties of the job
The Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) will promote the health and wellbeing of people with diabetes enabling them to achieve optimum Glycaemic, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and other key Parameters. The nurse's role is key to encouraging compliance with medication through informed self-management.
About us
Hope Citadel Healthcare is a not-for-profit community interest company, who have been commissioned by the local ICB to provide NHS services to the local area where the practices are located.
We really care about whole person healthcare.
We want to look at our patients in their wider setting, as whole people. We know that good health is not just related to clincial matters, but is affected by lots of complex factors such as social, economic, community issues, beliefs, family circumstances, housing and employment. Because of this, we try to treat patients health issues with more than just a prescription, by working with people that can help sort out other issues wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role will strive to improve diabetes care at all levels of the health service and ensure all those living with diabetes can self-manage to reduce their likelihood of developing complications, improve communication and deliver patient focused diabetic care.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Will liaise regularly with GPs and practice nurses to assist in the development of diabetic services within these identified practices.
- Will contribute to the coordination of care between primary and secondary care diabetes services to ensure high quality of patient care and the continuity of services.
- Be responsible for always maintaining a professional profile.
- Act in accordance with local policies and procedures.
- Conform to the regulations laid down by the Data Protection Act and respect confidentiality of all staff and patient information.
- Ensure the health and safety of staff, patients, and visitors, recording and reporting actual or potential problems promptly.
- Identify actual or potential clinical risks and take appropriate action, using when required the appropriate reporting structures.
- Demonstrate sound IT skills and be prepared to undergo training to use electronic patient record system e.g. EMIS.
- To undertake an annual appraisal to identify organisational and professional objectives and developmental needs.
Clinical
- Maintain effective communication with patients, carers, and professionals to ensure seamless service delivery, and to act as a first line contact resource, using highly developed specialised knowledge underpinned with experience and theoretical knowledge for diabetes related issues.
- Be able to impart highly complex information, which requires developed communication and reassurance skills to empower people with diabetes to self-care, such as starting people on insulin therapy where English is not a first language. Having the ability to deal with distressing circumstances associated with diabetes, e.g. loss of vision, amputation, heart attacks etc.
- To participate in Diabetes Clinics, formulating individualised patient treatment care programmes in conjunction with the patient, multidisciplinary team, and initiating changes in management of care.
- To be responsible for assessing patients diabetes needs, identifying physical, psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs in relation to their condition and proposed treatment.
- To act as a clinical expert in advising patients who present with diabetes related problems and provide clinical advice.
- To request and interpret diagnostic investigations and inform patients and GPs of results.
- To act as the patients, advocate when relevant and educate on all the treatment options to enable a patient to make an informed choice, negotiating with the medical team to agree a care pathway.
- To ensure patients, carers and health care professionals are given verbal and written information regarding planned care.
- To identify vulnerable groups and provide support, care, and education to enable them to be self-caring in the management of their condition.
- Manage a complex caseload, autonomously in a primary care setting.
- To work across organisational boundaries and in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team at other sites within the borough.
- Facilitate the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of programmes of care that meet the needs of the individual patient with diabetes in terms of treatment and referral.
- Under agreed guidelines, protocols and using non-medical prescribing undertake the initiation and stabilisation of insulin and oral hypoglycaemics agents.
- Advise general Practitioners, and practice nurses on oral hypoglycaemic medication and insulin dose changes.
- Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented using EMIS as per agreed protocol.
- Network with other diabetic nurses to maintain and keep up to date to minimise variation in practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role will strive to improve diabetes care at all levels of the health service and ensure all those living with diabetes can self-manage to reduce their likelihood of developing complications, improve communication and deliver patient focused diabetic care.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Will liaise regularly with GPs and practice nurses to assist in the development of diabetic services within these identified practices.
- Will contribute to the coordination of care between primary and secondary care diabetes services to ensure high quality of patient care and the continuity of services.
- Be responsible for always maintaining a professional profile.
- Act in accordance with local policies and procedures.
- Conform to the regulations laid down by the Data Protection Act and respect confidentiality of all staff and patient information.
- Ensure the health and safety of staff, patients, and visitors, recording and reporting actual or potential problems promptly.
- Identify actual or potential clinical risks and take appropriate action, using when required the appropriate reporting structures.
- Demonstrate sound IT skills and be prepared to undergo training to use electronic patient record system e.g. EMIS.
- To undertake an annual appraisal to identify organisational and professional objectives and developmental needs.
Clinical
- Maintain effective communication with patients, carers, and professionals to ensure seamless service delivery, and to act as a first line contact resource, using highly developed specialised knowledge underpinned with experience and theoretical knowledge for diabetes related issues.
- Be able to impart highly complex information, which requires developed communication and reassurance skills to empower people with diabetes to self-care, such as starting people on insulin therapy where English is not a first language. Having the ability to deal with distressing circumstances associated with diabetes, e.g. loss of vision, amputation, heart attacks etc.
- To participate in Diabetes Clinics, formulating individualised patient treatment care programmes in conjunction with the patient, multidisciplinary team, and initiating changes in management of care.
- To be responsible for assessing patients diabetes needs, identifying physical, psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs in relation to their condition and proposed treatment.
- To act as a clinical expert in advising patients who present with diabetes related problems and provide clinical advice.
- To request and interpret diagnostic investigations and inform patients and GPs of results.
- To act as the patients, advocate when relevant and educate on all the treatment options to enable a patient to make an informed choice, negotiating with the medical team to agree a care pathway.
- To ensure patients, carers and health care professionals are given verbal and written information regarding planned care.
- To identify vulnerable groups and provide support, care, and education to enable them to be self-caring in the management of their condition.
- Manage a complex caseload, autonomously in a primary care setting.
- To work across organisational boundaries and in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team at other sites within the borough.
- Facilitate the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of programmes of care that meet the needs of the individual patient with diabetes in terms of treatment and referral.
- Under agreed guidelines, protocols and using non-medical prescribing undertake the initiation and stabilisation of insulin and oral hypoglycaemics agents.
- Advise general Practitioners, and practice nurses on oral hypoglycaemic medication and insulin dose changes.
- Maintain adequate patient records and ensure all relevant information is documented using EMIS as per agreed protocol.
- Network with other diabetic nurses to maintain and keep up to date to minimise variation in practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Diabetes qualification
Desirable
- On-going post graduate education and development
- Post-graduate qualification
- Non-medical prescriber (or willing to undertake)
Knowledge
Essential
- Good diabetes knowledge with the ability to work autonomously in the treatment and management of complex patients, using decision-making skills that reflect a patient's focus.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
- Ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders including people with diabetes, voluntary groups, social work, and acute providers.
- Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills, analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures across Health, its local implementation or application
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
Experience
Essential
- Experience of running diabetes clinics in community or primary care setting.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a trained capacity in more than one care setting e.g. primary care, community, or hospital.
- Experience in more than one geographical area, so aware of differing aspects of focus and priorities.
- Developing, interpreting & implementing of local, Trust and National policies
- Experience in delivering either staff or patient education in group setting.
- .
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Diabetes qualification
Desirable
- On-going post graduate education and development
- Post-graduate qualification
- Non-medical prescriber (or willing to undertake)
Knowledge
Essential
- Good diabetes knowledge with the ability to work autonomously in the treatment and management of complex patients, using decision-making skills that reflect a patient's focus.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills.
- Ability to communicate highly complex and sensitive information using the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with a range of stakeholders including people with diabetes, voluntary groups, social work, and acute providers.
- Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills, analytical and reflection skills
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures across Health, its local implementation or application
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
Experience
Essential
- Experience of running diabetes clinics in community or primary care setting.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a trained capacity in more than one care setting e.g. primary care, community, or hospital.
- Experience in more than one geographical area, so aware of differing aspects of focus and priorities.
- Developing, interpreting & implementing of local, Trust and National policies
- Experience in delivering either staff or patient education in group setting.
- .
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).
