Job Description

Key Duties OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities for establishing and maintaining communication and relationship both internally and externally. Establish and maintain effective communication and foster good working relationships with all multidisciplinary teams, both internal and external. Provide and receive complex and or sensitive information from patients and staff. For example, breaking bad news to patients, giving complex information about procedures and their outcomes, dealing with performance issues, holding staff meetings.



Able to support and talk to distressed patients, visitors, and staff members. Responsible for cascading information to ward staff regarding diabetes management of individual patients and developments in diabetes management. Make use of electronic internal / external mail and Internet systems as appropriate and necessary. Deal effectively with comments, complaints, or incidents that affect staff and users of the diabetes service in accordance with complaints, risk management, or human resources procedures.



Bring to the attention of the Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse any factors which may adversely affect patient care or service provision. Report all serious incidents to the appropriate Manager/Director within 24 hours; these include Never Events, serious falls, and grade 3 or 4 pressure ulcers. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES To autonomously manage a clinical caseload of in-patients with diabetes, effectively prioritising referrals to the service in order to deliver specialist diabetes nursing care. Liaising with ward staff to ensure optimum patient care, diabetes care planning and safe discharge planning.



With particular emphasis on assisting with the clinical implementation and sustaining of ThinkGlucose. To advise both secondary and primary care staff on the management of patients with diabetes, promoting effective care and avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and referrals. To advise clinicians on the adjustments of diabetes medication which need to occur, to ensure safe diabetes patient care. To educate, care, advise and counsel patients on diabetes, the complications of the disease and the most effective means of managing the condition.



To be undertaken both face to face and by telephone. To support patients with independently managing their diabetes whist in hospital including the self medication of insulin scheme. Work closely with all members of the multi-disciplinary team in both acute and primary care to promote the development of a seamless diabetes service. Ensure that safe and effective nursing care is delivered, in accordance with Trust policies and best practice guidelines, also Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Codes of Practice and guidelines.



Undertake nurse led services which will include autonomous nurse led discharge within defined protocols. Work with patients, carers/relatives, nursing and other healthcare professionals in secondary care to promote timely discharge, through appropriate discharge planning. Provide telephone advice to patients and or their carers as appropriate Provide expert advice and support to colleagues in the care and management of patients within speciality. Actively contribute to the health and well being of patients by promoting health through a number of methods e.g.



healthy eating, exercise and smoking cessation. Ensure accurate, comprehensive contemporaneous and clear documentation of patients care. Ensure that own and others written reports are in accordance with Trust policy and NMC guidelines Be familiar with the policy for safe administration of prescribed therapies, including Medicines Management, Intravenous Therapy, Patient Group Directives, clinical guidelines for example Diabetes and Warfarin. Demonstrate the ability to safely monitor and provide care for the patient once therapies have been administered.



RESPONSIBILITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY AND/OR SERVICES At all times act in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines and NMC Codes of Practice standards and guidelines. Be aware of and support policies and procedures existing and being introduced throughout the Trust Assist Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse by cascading information and new policies and guidelines to staff in the clinical area Represent clinical area at forums and meetings as requested by Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse. Assist Senior Diabetes Specialist in staff appraisal and the progress of staff while completing goals and development plans. Assist Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse in the formulation of induction and training programmes and assist in the delivery of these to staff and learner nurses including mentoring.



Undertake agreed mandatory training and to seek out opportunities to enhance knowledge, skills and develop practice. Participate in the teaching and development of staff and ensure records kept of all training activities within the department. Ensure these records are sent to the Training department to maintain the Electronic Staff Record. Ensure risk assessment of working environment and conditions, equipment, chemicals and activities is routinely carried out within the department.



EDUCATION Constantly acts as a resource for information on specialist diabetes care within the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, disseminating evidence based knowledge and skills to clinical staff at levels. Effectively utilises informal education opportunities with patients, carers and professionals. Educates patients and their carers in the understanding of their diabetes treatments and provides other sources of information, help and support. Support with the planning and co-ordination of formal and informal educational programmes to involve all aspects of generic and specialist diabetes care within the acute trust.



Specifically identifies the educational needs of multi-professionals and delivers programmes to meet these needs, locally and as part of a county- wide diabetes network. Participates in county wide diabetes education initiatives and development, e.g Multi-disciplinary diabetes module, ward based teaching, ward coaching. Works in conjunction with the Consultants in Diabetes Medicine to provide education and training to rotational specialist registrars and the induction of medical and surgical house officers. Develops and produces written information for patients, carers and professionals on diabetes services.



RESEARCH & AUDIT Ensures clinical effectiveness by critically appraising current research and applying it to practice. Develops and participates in appropriate nursing and medical research. Advices and supports with identifying patients who are eligible for recruitment to Diabetes research trials as agreed by Diabetes Research Network and the Trust. Regular audit of issues relevant to current service provision, reviewing and amending practice as a result.



To be involved in clinical effectiveness issues, particularly the introduction of patient pathways. Co-ordinates the development, implementation and review of relevant nursing policies, procedures and documentation, ensuring a consistent evidence based approach to patient care. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES Maintains a programme of personal and professional development by attending in-service training and utilising relevant educational opportunities such as self-directed learning and attendance of courses, conferences and seminars as identified in PDR. Functions effectively as a specialist practitioner in line with the recommendations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Department of Health and operates as a member of the Diabetes Team and wider multidisciplinary teams.



Uses clinical supervision to maintain and improve practice. Work with the Lead Nurse in developing service policy and delivery, participating in projects, education and consultation as appropriate. Maintain high professional standards of care and professional expertise. Keep accurate records, submit statistical returns and compile reports as required.