University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Diabetes specialist nurse

The closing date is 08 July 2025

Job summary

The post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team under the supervision and guidance of the Band 7 diabetes specialist nurses and will provide high quality, evidence based care and education of people with diabetes within the adult diabetes service setting.

In addition the post holder will be a clinical and educational resource for patients, carers/relatives and other healthcare professionals.

To facilitate and expedite diabetes management, discharge and follow up care. To reduce bed occupancy for people with diabetes, where possible, and improve their experience of diabetes care during admission.

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Main duties of the job

To provide inpatient and outpatient advice to diabetes patients and their carers

To provide expert opinion on treatment plans

To educate staff and provide updates when treatments change

To ensure patient safety in relation to diabetes management

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Date posted

24 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7112658-JUN25

Job locations

St Richards Hospital

Chichester

PO196SE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

Able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the trusts values and behaviours.

To communicate with all colleagues within the department, in areas of practice and to ensure all colleagues caring for patients in both primary and secondary care are informed of changes in diabetes management. This should be done in a timely manner.

Staff are expected to behave in a professional manner and to be ambassadors for the diabetes team and the trust.

All members of the diabetes team are valued and expected to contribute to the team to ensure tasks are achieved and with due regard to the welfare of all colleagues.

Maintaining contemporaneous and accurate clinical records at all times.

Be able to uphold information governance guidelines and practices.

Service Delivery and Improvement

To assist in the implementation of national diabetes strategies and recommendations.

All concerns and issues should be escalated to line manager promptly.

To participate in projects related to service development and attend service development meetings and any related project groups.

No financial budget responsibilities but all staff are expected to use all resources appropriately.

To maintain stock control and order specialist supplies within current resources.

To be forward looking regarding own and team future clinics, and promptly escalate to manager any staffing or other resource issues which may impact on staff or patient care and safety

To manage complex activities and plan specialist nursing service provision for patients, including education, training.

To propose changes to working practice incorporating national and local recommendations, guidelines, targets, and available resources. To contribute to specialist protocols for own area, including leading and contributing to the way diabetes services in the local area are organised with support of manager.

To support specific research or clinical audit projects within the department.

To keep updated with current research/evidence relevant to patient care, treatments and service developments.

People Management and Development

Fulfil all NMC and Trust Requirements for training, update and continuous professional development.

Assist and participate in developing and delivering training for other healthcare professionals.

To be responsible for own professional development and identify areas for learning reflecting Trust and diabetes team priorities. To adhere to professional code of practice and maintain portfolio for revalidation.

To reflect on current practice, have an innovative approach, and challenge where appropriate.

To act as a positive role model for health professionals and act as an ambassador for the diabetes centre and specialist nursing.

To manage change and have the ability to both promote and advance skills and practices within and outside of the diabetes team.

Patient Care Delivery

To receive clinical referrals directly from, and refer directly to other healthcare professionals, working in partnership with a range of other specialist colleagues to ensure optimal quality care.

To provide on-going specialist diabetes education and training for patients, nursing and medical staff, evaluating behaviour change against outcomes.

To be able to impart knowledge and skills to patients to enable and empower them to make informed decisions about their care, and gain confidence in self-management skills.

To provide specialist advice and education for people with diabetes who have developed foot complications requiring specialist podiatry intervention.

To provide specialist advice and education for inpatients and their carers/relatives to promote self-care and self-management strategies.

To provide opportunities for health promotion to patients and healthcare professionals.

To have excellent analytical and judgmental skills to enable analysis of complex facts to improve care for people with diabetes. To demonstrate specialist expertise underpinned by theory and incorporating evidence based practice. To demonstrate skills in assessing and interpreting patients condition and to take appropriate action in the light of their clinical need.

To order appropriate diagnostic investigations to assist in managing and coordinating care of people with diabetes i.e. pathology tests.

To be able to assist in emergency situations, according to Trust Policy.

To assess, develop, implement, and evaluate specialist nursing care plans.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

Able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the trusts values and behaviours.

To communicate with all colleagues within the department, in areas of practice and to ensure all colleagues caring for patients in both primary and secondary care are informed of changes in diabetes management. This should be done in a timely manner.

Staff are expected to behave in a professional manner and to be ambassadors for the diabetes team and the trust.

All members of the diabetes team are valued and expected to contribute to the team to ensure tasks are achieved and with due regard to the welfare of all colleagues.

Maintaining contemporaneous and accurate clinical records at all times.

Be able to uphold information governance guidelines and practices.

Service Delivery and Improvement

To assist in the implementation of national diabetes strategies and recommendations.

All concerns and issues should be escalated to line manager promptly.

To participate in projects related to service development and attend service development meetings and any related project groups.

No financial budget responsibilities but all staff are expected to use all resources appropriately.

To maintain stock control and order specialist supplies within current resources.

To be forward looking regarding own and team future clinics, and promptly escalate to manager any staffing or other resource issues which may impact on staff or patient care and safety

To manage complex activities and plan specialist nursing service provision for patients, including education, training.

To propose changes to working practice incorporating national and local recommendations, guidelines, targets, and available resources. To contribute to specialist protocols for own area, including leading and contributing to the way diabetes services in the local area are organised with support of manager.

To support specific research or clinical audit projects within the department.

To keep updated with current research/evidence relevant to patient care, treatments and service developments.

People Management and Development

Fulfil all NMC and Trust Requirements for training, update and continuous professional development.

Assist and participate in developing and delivering training for other healthcare professionals.

To be responsible for own professional development and identify areas for learning reflecting Trust and diabetes team priorities. To adhere to professional code of practice and maintain portfolio for revalidation.

To reflect on current practice, have an innovative approach, and challenge where appropriate.

To act as a positive role model for health professionals and act as an ambassador for the diabetes centre and specialist nursing.

To manage change and have the ability to both promote and advance skills and practices within and outside of the diabetes team.

Patient Care Delivery

To receive clinical referrals directly from, and refer directly to other healthcare professionals, working in partnership with a range of other specialist colleagues to ensure optimal quality care.

To provide on-going specialist diabetes education and training for patients, nursing and medical staff, evaluating behaviour change against outcomes.

To be able to impart knowledge and skills to patients to enable and empower them to make informed decisions about their care, and gain confidence in self-management skills.

To provide specialist advice and education for people with diabetes who have developed foot complications requiring specialist podiatry intervention.

To provide specialist advice and education for inpatients and their carers/relatives to promote self-care and self-management strategies.

To provide opportunities for health promotion to patients and healthcare professionals.

To have excellent analytical and judgmental skills to enable analysis of complex facts to improve care for people with diabetes. To demonstrate specialist expertise underpinned by theory and incorporating evidence based practice. To demonstrate skills in assessing and interpreting patients condition and to take appropriate action in the light of their clinical need.

To order appropriate diagnostic investigations to assist in managing and coordinating care of people with diabetes i.e. pathology tests.

To be able to assist in emergency situations, according to Trust Policy.

To assess, develop, implement, and evaluate specialist nursing care plans.

Person Specification

Experience & qualifications

Essential

Relevant Post registration Qualification.
First level degree.
Demonstrable post registration experience. Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

Teaching qualification or equivalent e.g. ENB 998
Non medical prescribing qualification or willing to achieve

Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to impart complex and sensitive information to patients, relatives and carers with varied levels of understanding.
Able to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders

Desirable

Involvement in the care and management of patients with diabetes

People management & development

Essential

Ability to prioritise own workload.
Ability to work under stress and with interruptions

Desirable

Participated in service development and implementation of change

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Person Specification

Experience & qualifications

Essential

Relevant Post registration Qualification.
First level degree.
Demonstrable post registration experience. Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

Teaching qualification or equivalent e.g. ENB 998
Non medical prescribing qualification or willing to achieve

Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to impart complex and sensitive information to patients, relatives and carers with varied levels of understanding.
Able to maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders

Desirable

Involvement in the care and management of patients with diabetes

People management & development

Essential

Ability to prioritise own workload.
Ability to work under stress and with interruptions

Desirable

Participated in service development and implementation of change

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richards Hospital

Chichester

PO196SE

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richards Hospital

Chichester

PO196SE

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)