Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Job overview

We are seeking a full-time band 7 Diabetes Specialist Nurse to join our diabetes team at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on a 12 month fixed-term basis.

The post holder will play a key role in delivering high quality, patient centred care in individuals with diabetes. You will be working as part of a large multidisciplinary team supporting patients. This post will be predominantly based in inpatient diabetes but with some outpatient activity.

The post offers excellent opportunity to gain insight and experience in a renowned diabetes centre. There will be opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in different specialist areas within the diabetes service.

Main duties of the job

• To work as a practitioner delivering nursing care within the diabetes team to a defined caseload of patients/clients. This will primarily be in the inpatient setting but will include some outpatient activity.

• To provide evidence based care in line with current research and guidelines.

• To maintain clear lines of communication within the diabetes team, KCH hospital inpatient teams and primary healthcare teams in order to facilitate the care of this group of people.

• To be an active member of the multidisciplinary team.

• To support the development of junior members of the team.

• To work as an autonomous practitioner and effectively co-ordinate and deliver an expert nursing service within diabetes

• To ensure that patients and their families are fully informed and supported by providing clinical and social support

• To be involved in the development of evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines

• To work collaboratively with colleagues at Princess Royal University Hospital, Intermediate Diabetes Nursing Teams in the Community, Nursing and other HCPs at Denmark Hill, KCH.

• To be involved in research/audit

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Clinical Practices

· To provide an expert diabetes specialist nursing service. Particularly being able to critically evaluate processes of care and then assist with the provision of innovative solutions.

· To provide expert nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment, particularly complex clinical needs of those with acute illnesses who have been admitted for inpatient care.

· To provide an expert specialist nursing service to patients, this may include initiating and supporting patients on insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, and with patient education such as DAFNE depending on experience.

· To provide expert nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment, to ensure continuity of a high standard of evidence based nursing care, assessing health, health related and nursing needs of patients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care. This can include:

• Managing a patient caseload

• Ordering diagnostic tests

• Making and receiving referrals

• Co-ordination of the admission of and discharge of patients for specified conditions

• Developing agreed protocols

• Running clinics

· To accept responsibility for own patient caseload, ensuring all patients have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made ensuring clear documentation in the patient’s records and hand held records

· To be actively involved in in-patient care, liaising with ward staff to ensure high quality nursing care, and safe and timely discharge.

· To help co-ordinate a seamless service through the development of enhanced Multidisciplinary team (MDT) processes and communication

· To lead the identification and development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care.

· To ensure operational policies are reviewed annually in accordance with national standards

· To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols.

2. Management

· To be involved in the development of policies and protocols to improve patient care.

· To liaise effectively with other disciplines within the Trust and at community level.

· To contribute to any relevant initiatives within the care group and provide support to senior colleagues and Heads of Nursing.

· To assist in the resolution of conflicts within the clinical area, resolving informal complaints locally and assisting in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required. To work with and support clinical staff to identify areas where changes in practice are required.

· To be involved in the introduction of measures to manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensure the formal reporting and recoding of adverse incidents in line with Trust policy.

· To network with the team of clinical nurse specialists within the Trust and with KCH to evaluate, develop and promote the specialist nursing role.

· To maintain records and send reports set by various bodies pertaining to the diabetes speciality. To maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested.

· To ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to positively promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups.

3. Education and Research

· To provide information for clients, carers and heath professional about all aspects of specialist care

· To ensure appropriate information and educational literature is available to help patients make informed choices as to their treatment plan and continuing management developing and regularly updating literature

· To contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team.

· To work with and support ward managers and other clinical staff to identify areas where changes to practice are required. Also where opportunities exist to improve treatment and support for inpatients.

· To actively participate and co-ordinate educational events provided by the Trust and primary care sector

· To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that the post holder is fully conversant with current issues both within the Trust and within the specialist services locally and nationally

· To be involved in nursing research initiatives and support research activity within individual Care Groups and also through collaboration with other agencies

· To identify, apply and disseminate research findings relating to diabetes specialist nursing

· To participate and assist with any Trust approved research projects conducted within the department

· To publish and present relevant clinical practice and service developments.

4. Personal Professional Development

· To achieve a range of clinical competencies as required within the Trust and Care Group.

· To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in nursing and the speciality.

· To maintain your own personal and professional development in accordance with revalidation requirements, attending mandatory study sessions as required.

· To undergo and actively participate in your own performance appraisals

· To keep up to date with NMC, relevant specialist Faculty & Trust guidelines and protocols.

· To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional conduct working within and accepting responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of competence.

General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind . We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful . We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team . We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.
• Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

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• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Person specification

Experience and qualifications

Essential criteria

• NMC Level 1 or Level 15 Registered Nurse
• Evidence of further professional studies in diabetes
• Experience working as diabetes specialist nurse

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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