Community Specialist Diabetes Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities 

-       To work as guided by NMC professional code of conduct and Trust guidelines

-       To provide  peer support to all health care professionals Trust-wide with regard to all aspects of diabetes care and management

-       To provide expert diabetes knowledge and support to GP’s, practice nurses and district nurses regarding all aspects of diabetes care and management

-       Responsible for the provision of specialist knowledge and training in the use of medical devices used in the treatment/management of diabetes care

-       Responsible and accountable for providing expert knowledge and advice by telephone to patient, carers, health care professionals and relevant others

-       To provide structured education to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes within the framework of that provided within the trust

-       Responsible for maintaining accurate and appropriate standards of documentation

-       To deliver specialist knowledge of the delivery and actions of all oral and injectable therapies used in the treatment of diabetes

-       To ensure own knowledge is up to date and evidence based

-       Demonstrate a high level of clinical competence in diabetes management based on in depth knowledge, research and evidence based findings. Training will be provided within the diabetes department.

-       To develop and maintain skills required to practice, using developed communication and teaching skills to educate patients by using motivational and counselling techniques to facilitate change

-       Act as an effective role model to all healthcare professionals and as an expert resource on the management of diabetes

-       Identify people with diabetes who are at risk of developing acute complications and agree a care plan/management strategy which will support patients carers and health care teams to manage their diabetes more effectively

-       Empower and support patients with diabetes to achieve their self-management goals by making informed decisions relating to their glycaemic control and the prevention of diabetes complications

-       To use biochemical results to optimise treatment interventions according to evidence based practice and incorporating the preference of the person with diabetes

-       Ensure safeguarding and mental capacity issues are recognised and dealt with appropriately

-       To participate in audits/research to monitor and develop the service in achieving identified outcomes NSF milestones and NICE guidelines and to influence change in the event of up to date research findings

-       Participate in and encourage sharing of best practice and knowledge at relevant local and national meetings/networks

-       To provide cover where appropriate (by mutual arrangement)and work in a collaborative way with the other diabetes specialist nurses to ensure adequate staffing levels .

-       Make and receive referrals for patients who have diabetes with complex needs.

-       Use advanced skills and expert knowledge to undertake comprehensive assessment of needs, establishing both the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient to inform the development of a comprehensive care plan.

-       Analyse signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, investigations and other measures of function in formulating a specialist diagnosis.

-       Develop evidence-based treatment plans based on sound clinical decision making.

-       In partnership with patients and carers, facilitate a “self-management approach” to achieve optimum levels of self-care. Demonstrate, teach and supervise the care that families can undertake safely, advising as necessary.

-       Interpret when necessary/applicable to the patient and family the implications of their condition/s, offering comprehensive information in a way that is understood, including how to recognise early signs of deterioration, how and where to seek support, intervention and treatment options and their likely outcomes.  

-       Contribute to the provision of expert advice and facilitation of policy development and implementation for identified areas of diabetes care, both within West Essex Integrated Community Services and other health and social care partner organisations.

-       Provide expert level professional advice to the integrated teams, patients, carers and voluntary agencies.

-       Exercise a high degree of personal professional autonomy and make critical judgements of the highest order.

-       Liaise with professional associations and institutions and provide up to date resources and information for staff.

-       Identify opportunities for service development and improved treatment.

-       Identify clinical issues that reduce the quality of care, and support changes in practice to improve outcomes for patients.

Leadership

-       To have knowledge and comply with the NMC Directives and Codes of Conduct

-       To have knowledge and comply with Trust Policies and Procedures

-       To actively support and maintain effective lines of communication between all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients and their carers

-       To work together with the diabetes multi-disciplinary team to develop pathways of care

-       To assist with training programmes for all allied health care professionals working Trust wide

-       To manage own workload and support more junior team members to prioritise workload safely and effectively

-       Act as Trust Advocate across boundaries with outside agencies involved in the delivery of diabetes services

-       Contribute towards the development of guidelines and protocols which reflect evidence based best practice and also to support implementation

-       To Support and promote evidence based cost effective use of NHS resources

-       Involvement in the acute/community care pathway redesign.

-       Demonstrate good negotiation and influencing skills, with ability to represent diabetes at local and regional level.

-       Investigate local complaints and take appropriate action.

-       To monitor clinical waiting times, triaging referrals.

-       To actively seek new knowledge, innovations and create appropriate change in line with risk management and professional boundaries.

-       Promote, facilitate and participate in the provision of skill acquisitions.

-       To lead, support, educate and motivate community colleagues to deliver optimum care.

-       Ability to manage change at both strategic and operational levels.

Communication Skills

-       Communicate highly sensitive condition related information to patients and carers.

-       Deal sensitively with patients or cares who have a high level of anxiety and aggression caused by their condition/problems or their responsibilities.

-       Effectively adapt communication techniques according to the individual needs of the patient e.g. the patient may have a learning disability, mental health problems, a confessional state, neurological condition or may not speak English as their first language.

-       Respond to telephone calls to the service, providing information, advice, reassurance and support to callers.

-       To liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team,

.Research

-       To promote practice and education that is evidence based in relation to diabetes care.

-       Participate in audits and use up to date research information to inform best clinical practice in diabetes care.

-       To conduct and support audit of the quality and effectiveness of the diabetes service.

-       Utilise technology to collect, share and retrieve data upon which to base informed practice.

-       Promote evidence-based practice and assist staff in the utilisation of diabetes research to support patient care.

Education 

-       Contribute to education programmes arranged within the Trust  and to integrated nursing teams.

-       Participate in reflective practice.

-       Identify own learning and development needs.

-       Working collaboratively within the team to continuously collate, monitor and analyse service information making comparisons against quality standards, contributing towards the development of proposals for reducing clinical risk and improving clinical care, through the use of clinical systems in line with regulations and policies and procedures.

-       To have working knowledge of IT skills working towards improvement of skills for the improvement of the service.  Ensure all staff are made aware of changes required as part of the National Programme for IT and use of clinical systems.

-       To input data and information accurately and completely using the latest versions of policies and procedures in manual and electronic systems.

-       To ensure the necessary precautions are adhered to when transferring information, only disclosing patient identifiable information in line with Caldicott and the Data Protection Act.

The post holder will be required to travel across all areas of the Trust and will at all times work alone, independently and as part of a team.