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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work as a diabetes nurse providing an effective and high-quality patient-focused service that is sensitive to the needs of the users and providers. To deliver a high-quality patient centred system of care and education to enable people with diabetes to manage their condition confidently and effectively.  This will include responsibility for assessing, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based education programmes provided by the service.  To perform comprehensive assessments of patient needs and actively contribute to setting and maintaining high standards of quality nursing care.   Plan, implement and evaluate delivery of diabetes care according to changing health care needs of the individual. To liaise with the multi professional teams to provide an appropriate service to patients and their carers.  Maintain effective and efficient communication with the nurses and members of the multi-disciplinary team on issues related to patient care and organisation of nursing teams.

Working without supervision to coordinate, organise and prioritise own work within the diabetes nursing team clinical area on a day-to-day basis.  Contribute to the development of services, new ways of working and the implementation of change. Act as a professional and clinical role model to all staff, patients, carers and the public at all times.  Ensure self and the nursing team within the department adhere to Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust’s uniform policy.  To work flexibly when called upon to work at one of the other Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust sites and be prepared to work in the inpatient and outpatient setting. 

As a Diabetes Nurse we will provide support, guidance and training as appropriate to ensure that within 2 years you are able to meet the Diabetes Competency Programme as per the Welsh Academy for Nursing in Diabetes (WAND). 

2. Communication and working relationships

a)      Establish and maintain good working relationships and communicate on a regular basis with:

·       Patients aged 18 years and over

·       Carers

·       Senior nurses

·       Nurse in charge

·       The wider multidisciplinary team

·       Infection prevention and control team

·       Other nurse specialists

·       Education and Practice Team

b)    Holistically observe and systematically assess patients in clinic or patient home-setting.  Liaise on a daily basis with patients providing and receiving complex, sensitive information, eg the titration of injectable therapies and other diabetes therapeutics; use of continuous glucose monitors for patients within the service.  Appropriately share confidential information and matters relating to the education programme, and where necessary escalate issues to senior colleagues accordingly. Regularly attend and contribute to departmental team meetings. Contribute to effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team, receiving regular team updates and information for the effective day to day running of the department. Participate in the provision of education to patients/carers and other staff relevant to role and responsibility.

c)    Where there are barriers to understanding provide reassurance and make use of additional resources as required, eg interpreting services. Use empathy and encouragement, employing motivational and negotiating skills.  Frequent requirement to impart unwelcome news; potentially distressing or emotional circumstances, eg safeguarding issues.

d)    Plan and deliver provision of structured education programmes face to face or virtually within the diabetes SCFT area to groups of patients.  Facilitate and appropriately manage workshops to individuals with varying needs.   Contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of education programmes for registered and non-registered SCFT workforce.

3. Main tasks

a)      Act independently, following policies and procedures and adhering to pre-set standards, escalating issues to the Senior Nursing staff where necessary.

b)    Provide support to patients within their home setting or within clinical settings requiring frequent concentration.  Assess, plan, implement and evaluate clinical care and give specialist advice.

c)    Following training and competency assessment as required, perform necessary clinical procedures, e.g., continuous blood glucose sensor, perform capillary blood glucose and ketone testing, appropriate to the clinical speciality.  Work towards WAND specialist diabetes nursing competencies within an agreed timeframe.

d)    Facilitate, with others as required, group Type 2 Diabetes Education programmes both virtually and face to face.

e)    Collect, collate, and fully accurately report patient information, maintaining accurate complete and up-to-date nursing records. 

f)      Recognise, prioritise, and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.

g)    Act as link nurse for various specialist areas, i.e. Infection prevention, Tissue Viability, Older People’s Champion, as designated.

h)    Participate in the mentoring of new starters/student nurses appropriate to role and responsibility.

4. Main responsibilities

a)    Undertake the Trust Corporate, directorate and local Induction and competency programmes.

b)    Ensure own compliance with regard to mandatory training and NMC Professional re-registration requirements.

c)    Responsible for keeping up to date with individual skills, knowledge and competence and awareness of professional issues, relevant to role.

d)    Undertake specialist education training and successfully complete a competency-based programme related to the role as required that will allow health care to be delivered to the user through new ways of working.  This will be monitored according to agreed expectations.

e)    Accepts designated responsibilities of other team members and actively contributes to performance review and the appraisal and personal development planning (PDP) process within the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).

f)      Ensure that the delivery of care for all patients meet the standards determined by the Lead nurse and the Standards for Better Health.

g)    Adheres to Trust policies, procedures and clinical guidelines and ensures    compliance of others.

h)    Promote and practice the highest standards of infection prevention and control measures at all times.

i)      Continually monitor standards of nursing care and contribute to improvement of care, through benchmarking, audit and research. 

j)      Participate in and contribute to patient and public involvement activities.

k)    Promote patient dignity, equality, diversity and rights.

l)    Ensure professional practice at all times in accordance with NMC Code of Professional Conduct and raise any concerns with the Advanced Diabetes Specialist Nurse / Consultant Nurse / Clinical Services Manager.

5. Organisation chart