Diabetes Nurse

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a full time Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse to join the existing team to provide care to people registered with a GP in Greenwich.

We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic individual who is committed to developing and improving diabetes services, ensuring patients receive a high-quality service in the Greenwich  locality.

Applicants must be able to work on their own as well as being part of the multi-disciplinary team. You will support nurse led clinics, multi-disciplinary meetings and home visits. You must have a full UK driving licence and access to use a car.

Excellent communication skills are required in order to empower, support and educate patients, as well as community and practice staff to improve the quality of diabetes care with a focus on type 2 diabetes.

We are seeking a nurse with an active NMC registration. Ideally you will hold a recognised diabetes qualification or demonstrate a keen interest in diabetes management. You should hold a first level degree or equivalent portfolio of experience. Non-medical prescribing whilst not essential would be advantageous.

As a diabetes nurse you will be supported to achieve diabetes clinical competencies to enable you to provide comprehensive evidence-based specialist diabetes training and consultancy to both people with diabetes and other health care professionals.

For further information or informal discussion please contact Amitha George  0208 319 7078.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work with the Greenwich  Community Diabetes Team contributing to service delivery in the clinical field, monitoring and improving standards of care in accordance with local and National guidance.

The post holder will offer patients, relatives and carers support and advice by providing education programmes tailored to suit individual needs and will provide specialist expertise and education in diabetes care to GPs, practice nurses, patients, relatives, carers and other health care professionals.

Working autonomously the post holder will prioritise their own workload and undertake nurse led clinics within the community.

The post holder may in the course of their daily duties be required to frequently work off site, alone & in patients’ homes. They will be required to get around the borough independently for patient visits, meetings etc. They will need to be available to offer advice in a timely fashion to other health care professionals who may require immediate advice and support

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all professional activities.
• To be able to work alone in the community in a variety of settings, independent of multidisciplinary support whilst in direct contact with patients and their carers.
• To be responsible and accountable for the assessment, monitoring, management, and review of a complex diabetes caseload.
• To utilize effective clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice to develop individual care plans which address the patient’s goals and clinical need.
• To maintain up-to-date clinical written records and electronic database in accordance with local and professional standards
• To coordinate staff activity to meet demands of service when required.
• To ensure risk is managed for self, patients, colleagues, and the work environment.
• To participate in the development of the team by working proactively within the MDT.
• To take responsibility for coordinating the health care needs of people with complex needs/multiple long-term conditions and those that are at risk of hospitalization or needing a more intensive level of care.
• To participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis either by self or in a team environment.
• To use clinical skills for assessing and treating patients with diabetes using relevant clinical protocols for newly diagnosed patients with diabetes, patients with unstable diabetes and patients with complex needs and/ or complications of diabetes.
• To identify, monitor and review patients with diabetes in the community and in nurse led clinics with regard to symptom control, prescription and titration of medication adhering to local guidelines.
• To work closely with family and GP practice to maximise patients’ health potential.
• To deliver evidence-based practice in line with clinical governance, trust policies and procedures and NMC guidance.
• To undertake (at the earliest availability) or have undertaken the Non-Medical Prescribing Course and liaise with the medicines management team on issues around prescribing.
• To participate in the development of appropriate guidelines, protocols, audit and evaluation. Work proactively in seeking the views of others about the service provided.
• Uses a variety of methods, including verbal and written communication to effectively communicate complex and sensitive information, issues and ideas to patients and carers, where there may be significant barriers to understanding and the need for persuasion and re-assurance,
• Uses advanced communication and teaching skills to impart care to patients and careers from culturally diverse backgrounds, employing the services of interpreters and other means of communication where necessary.