Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, planning and provision of specialist diabetes nursing advice by delivering diabetes care to adult patients in local GP practices in West Kent via a visiting service.
Work closely with acute Trust colleagues to reduce the length of stay and help reduce readmission rates by organising appropriate follow up care upon discharge.
Work with acute Trust colleagues to avoid unnecessary admissions wherever possible by developing suitable management plans and providing patient education and support to effectively manage their own condition.
Deliver diabetes clinics in GP practices across West Kent through a combination of patient face to face and virtual clinics dependent on the needs of the patient.
The Diabetes Specialist Nurses will work with Practice Nurses to support the running of local nurse-led spoke clinics across the Primary care networks.
Supports the practice nurses in managing diabetes by improving their confidence and competence at managing Tier 1 & 2 patients through education and supervision.
Deliver structured education to diabetes patients and their families/carers to enable them to self-manage their condition better.
Support with the development and implementation of diabetes policies and standards, based on national guidelines.
Demonstrate business acumen and financial awareness within the service to help run the service efficiently
Where required, support the acute Trust with the development and delivery of educational/training programmes for staff and colleagues to improve standards of diabetes care
Working relationships with:
The diabetes specialist team in the Community, including nurses and the service administrator
The community multi-disciplinary team including podiatrists, dietitians, pharmacists, GPs. practice nurses, community district nurses and complex care nurses.
Acute Trust Colleagues such as Consultant Diabetologists, and inpatient and outpatient Diabetic Specialist Nurses.
Patients and carers.
Budget Responsibilities:
Work with the Operations Manager for this service by contributing to the overall control of the service budget and identifying areas where cost improvement can be made to ensure the best use of resources.
Key Responsibilities:
Accountability:
Maintain effective registration with NMC/ professional body meeting professional requirements outlined in the Code and to maintain professional registration.
Take responsibility for personal and professional development through the appraisal system and work towards completing agreed personal development, identifying own learning needs, and preparing fully for revalidation.
Promote awareness and compliance amongst colleagues regarding the organisations policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards.
Maintain a flexible approach to the role and develop it according to need, liaising closely with line managers and the rest of the diabetes team.
Undertakes clinical supervision, mandatory training and any additional training required for the role.
Communication and Relationship:
Always communicate effectively, and maintain a harmonious working environment with staff, patients, relatives, and carers.
Communicates effectively with patients, relatives, and carers regarding sensitive and complex situations.
Service Delivery and Development:
Work closely with the diabetes specialist teams providing holistic care for the patients and their careers to support them to manage their Diabetes effectively.
Prioritise and co-ordinate response to Primary care referrals to arrange appointments in Primary care clinics.
Offer specialist diabetes advice to other healthcare professionals regarding the diagnosis, care, and management of the patient with diabetes.
Recognise scope of own practice and when to refer to medical staff.
Manage own case load of patients as appropriate.
Act as a professional role model to demonstrate and promote high standards of clinical practice.
Perform comprehensive patient assessments based upon history taking, physical and mental observation and interpretation of laboratory blood results.
Undertake clinical procedures as required including, subcutaneous therapy (insulin/GLP1-agonist) initiation, continuous insulin infusion management, and blood glucose monitoring.
Maintain accurate, contemporary records regarding all patient contacts including telephone consultations.
Co-ordinate holistic management of patients with diabetes by advising, referring to and co-operating with other health care professionals and organisations to avoid unnecessary admissions and support discharge as required
Offer advice for diagnostic and investigative procedures.
Use counselling skills to provide emotional support when discussing highly sensitive issues during consultations with the person with diabetes and their carers.
Recognise ethical and legal issues that have implications for nursing practice and take appropriate action.
Provide clinical leadership to ensure the implementation and monitoring of quality assured evidence-based standards of care using efficient management of resources and following Trust policies and national guidelines.
Assess and manage risk and governance issues using specialist knowledge to ensure safe and effective care.
Have flexible approach and ability to respond to, and change routine, in accordance to situations as needed.
Develops and implements diabetes policies and standards based on national guidelines as well as providing specialist diabetes clinical care.
Lead on areas of service development and strategy within the organisation.
Have an awareness and adhere to the organisations vision & developmental plans
Management Responsibility:
Manage effective flow of patients within the diabetes service to meet NHS targets.
Manages referrals to reduce patient waiting times.
Maintain a safe and healthy environment and report any incidents.
Ensure that nursing practice complies with policies and procedures.
Act as Named Lead for an area of service within the Primary Care networks
Support the operational manager and service administrator with ensuring there is safe cover and rostering in the team.
Work with the operational lead to ensure that clinical equipment required for use in practices is available and in good working order.
Act as the patients advocate and deal with concerns raised by patients and visitors in a proactive manner, taking remedial action where necessary, ensuring matters are escalated appropriately.
Be able to work independently as well as part of a team which will include working with individual GP Practices and staff.
Physical effort:
This post requires both sitting and prolonged periods of standing.
Manual handling of patients and equipment in accordance with the organisations moving and handling policy.
Travelling across GP practice sites.
Mental and emotional effort:
The post requires high levels of concentration and ability to work to tight deadlines and prioritise tasks.
Deal with highly emotional situations and provide support, guidance and counselling for patients, carers and staff.
Responsibility for research and development:
Critically appraise and implement research in practice where appropriate regarding diabetes care.
Use clinical audit in diabetes nursing to monitor quality in the service and implement change according to findings.
Participate in research and development as required.
Working conditions:
The post holder will be based in the community working across GP practice sites but may on occasions be required to support other organisations such as Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS at times of extreme pressure.
As the service develops the post holder may be required to work weekends and bank holidays in line with service need.
The post holder will be required to deal with bodily fluids such as blood and urine and must follow infection control guidelines.
