Specialist Nurse - Diabetes

Job overview

We are looking for a flexible and well organised nurse with experience of looking after people with diabetes. The post holder specifically will be employed to provide a service for people with diabetes who are inpatients but with a view to develop outpatient skills as experience is gained. The position is for the Denmark Hill site of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

We would welcome an application from you if you have:

• Excellent people skills
• Excellent team working skills
• Keen interest in developing knowledge and skills in diabetes management
• Evidence of ongoing education in the area of diabetes

You will be part of an enthusiastic and dynamic team and will play an instrumental part in the smooth running of the department.

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.
• To provide evidence based care in line with current research and guidelines.
• To maintain clear lines of communication within the diabetes team, King’s College 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.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. 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

Clinical Practice

• To assist in the delivery of a specialist nursing service for people with diabetes.
• To provide diabetes specialist nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through their condition. This post is especially focused on the treatment of people with diabetes whilst they are an inpatient and peri-discharge.
• 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.
• To manage own patient caseload under supervision.
• To be actively involved in in-patient care, liaising with ward staff to ensure high quality nursing care.
• To attend all relevant MDT meetings and actively contribute.
• To assist in the delivery of a seamless service through Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) processes and communication.
• To ensure all care is provided in accordance with agreed protocols.
• To follow-up patients under supervision as appropriate and ensure all relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment.
• To liaise with the ward staff to ensure appropriate and timely discharge/follow-up arrangement are in place for patients.
• To adhere to the mechanisms for MDT referrals to the Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• To work with the MDT to implement integrated care pathways and systems of MDT documentation.
• To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements.
• To participate in the development of appropriate patient group directives to facilitate/enhance the discharge process.
• To participate in relevant fora at Care Group or Trust Level to represent the service perspective.
• To act as a resource person to others, providing accurate information, advice and support to the multidisciplinary team, patients and their relatives.
• To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to this at all times.

Education and Research

• To provide information for clients, carers and heath professional about all aspects of specialist care.
• To provide appropriate information and educational literature in order to help patients make informed choices as to their diabetes treatment plan and continuing management.
• To participate in programmes of education and training inorder to meet the identified needs of clients, carers and others involved in their care.
• To actively participate in educational events provided by the Trust and Primary Care sector.
• To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that you are fully conversant with current issues within the Trust and nationally.
• To participate in clinical audit within the Trust as directed.
• To participate in any appropriate/relevant Trust approved research projects conducted within the department.
• To be aware of and actively apply nursing research and evidence based practice relevant to the speciality.
• To work with other staff in clinical areas where changes to practice are required. Also where opportunities exist to improve treatment and support for patients.

Management

• To participate in any local change programmes in order to improve standards and communication links from acute trust through to primary care.
• To keep updated on clinical and professional developments, attending training courses and appropriate updates.
• To work within the policies and guidelines set out by the Trust and Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
• To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self in the working environment to follow safe working practices and to comply at all times with the Trust’s Health and Safety Policies and Procedures.
• To be familiar with the Trust’s Risk Management procedures on reporting complaints, accidents and incidents.
• To be aware of Child Protection Issues. Report any concerns to the Senior Nurse or Clinic Doctor.
• Network with the team of clinical nurse specialists within the Trust to evaluate and promote the specialist-nursing role.
• To utilise and maintain information systems to aid audit and to provide regular actively analysis reports.
• Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested. To evaluate the service in terms of clinical effectiveness, clinical excellence and value for money.
• To maintain effective links within primary secondary and tertiary care to ensure effective communication.
• To assist with the monitoring of stock levels of clinical stores and technical equipment, resolving any shortfall as appropriate.
• To maintain standards of hygiene and cleanliness with the clinical area, action remedy as appropriate and reporting deficits to senior nurse as appropriate.
• Ensures 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.

Personal Professional Development

• To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence.
• To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the Care Group.
• To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the ward manager.
• To complete clinical competencies training document pertaining to the role of Diabetes Specialist Nurse.
• To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in the speciality.
• To maintain your own personal and professional development in accordance with NMC Validation 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.
• To be working towards further post registration qualifications relevant to the specialty area

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; attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults, familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns and 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

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 1st level Registered General Nurse
• Further professional studies relevant to the clinical area
• Mentorship programme or equivalent teaching qualification

Desirable criteria

• Degree in Nursing or Equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable clinical expertise, relevant to the area.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication skills – able to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions. Adapts communication style as necessary and is able to work with and through others.
• Team building and working skills – able to lead a team to achieve results

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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