Practice Nurse - Diabetes Specialist

Job Role The Practice Nurse will provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to the practice population, with a specialist focus on the management of patients with diabetes. The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, effective and patient-centred care, promoting health, preventing disease and supporting patients to manage long-term conditions. The successful candidate will take a lead role in the assessment, monitoring and management of diabetes, ensuring care is delivered in accordance with national guidance, local pathways and best practice. In addition, the post holder will undertake a range of general practice nursing duties appropriate to their competencies and support the delivery of enhanced services and quality improvement initiatives. Key Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities The post holder will: • Lead the delivery of diabetes care within the practice, ensuring patients receive high-quality, evidence-based management. • Undertake comprehensive annual diabetes reviews, including clinical assessment, monitoring, education and treatment optimisation. • Interpret and act upon clinical investigations including HbA1c, renal function, lipid profiles and other relevant investigations. • Optimise diabetes medication within their scope of practice, including initiating or adjusting treatment where appropriately qualified and competent. • Identify patients requiring referral to secondary care or specialist diabetes services and coordinate ongoing care where appropriate. • Provide structured education and support to enable patients to self-manage their diabetes effectively. • Deliver lifestyle advice relating to diet, exercise, weight management, smoking cessation and cardiovascular risk reduction. • Monitor patients for diabetes-related complications and ensure appropriate surveillance is undertaken. • Maintain accurate disease registers and contribute to achieving Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets and other contractual requirements. • Participate in the management of other long-term conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease, according to competency. • Undertake routine practice nurse responsibilities including: • Cervical cytology. • Immunisations and vaccinations. • Wound assessment and management. • Dressings and removal of sutures/clips. • Health promotion and NHS Health Checks. • Contraceptive advice (where appropriately trained). • Travel health advice and vaccinations (where appropriately trained). Professional Responsibilities The post holder will: • Maintain current NMC registration and practise in accordance with the NMC Code. • Work within their professional competence and maintain knowledge through continuing professional development. • Participate in appraisal, mandatory training and revalidation. • Contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement and the achievement of QOF and other contractual requirements. Communication and Team Working The post holder will: • Work collaboratively with GPs, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, pharmacists, healthcare assistants and the wider multidisciplinary team. • Liaise effectively with secondary care, community services and other healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of patient care. • Support colleagues and contribute to the education of learners where appropriate. Governance The post holder will: • Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with Information Governance and Data Protection legislation. • Follow practice policies relating to safeguarding, infection prevention and control, health and safety, and equality and diversity. • Participate in clinical governance activities, including significant event reviews and service improvement initiatives. Other Duties The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role, following discussion with the Partners or Practice Management Team, in line with the evolving needs of the practice. This job description is intended as a guide to the principal duties and responsibilities of the post and may be amended following consultation to meet the changing needs of the practice. Job description Job responsibilities Job Role The Practice Nurse will provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to the practice population, with a specialist focus on the management of patients with diabetes. The post holder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, effective and patient-centred care, promoting health, preventing disease and supporting patients to manage long-term conditions. The successful candidate will take a lead role in the assessment, monitoring and management of diabetes, ensuring care is delivered in accordance with national guidance, local pathways and best practice. In addition, the post holder will undertake a range of general practice nursing duties appropriate to their competencies and support the delivery of enhanced services and quality improvement initiatives. Key Responsibilities Clinical Responsibilities The post holder will: • Lead the delivery of diabetes care within the practice, ensuring patients receive high-quality, evidence-based management. • Undertake comprehensive annual diabetes reviews, including clinical assessment, monitoring, education and treatment optimisation. • Interpret and act upon clinical investigations including HbA1c, renal function, lipid profiles and other relevant investigations. • Optimise diabetes medication within their scope of practice, including initiating or adjusting treatment where appropriately qualified and competent. • Identify patients requiring referral to secondary care or specialist diabetes services and coordinate ongoing care where appropriate. • Provide structured education and support to enable patients to self-manage their diabetes effectively. • Deliver lifestyle advice relating to diet, exercise, weight management, smoking cessation and cardiovascular risk reduction. • Monitor patients for diabetes-related complications and ensure appropriate surveillance is undertaken. • Maintain accurate disease registers and contribute to achieving Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets and other contractual requirements. • Participate in the management of other long-term conditions including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease, according to competency. • Undertake routine practice nurse responsibilities including: • Cervical cytology. • Immunisations and vaccinations. • Wound assessment and management. • Dressings and removal of sutures/clips. • Health promotion and NHS Health Checks. • Contraceptive advice (where appropriately trained). • Travel health advice and vaccinations (where appropriately trained). Professional Responsibilities The post holder will: • Maintain current NMC registration and practise in accordance with the NMC Code. • Work within their professional competence and maintain knowledge through continuing professional development. • Participate in appraisal, mandatory training and revalidation. • Contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement and the achievement of QOF and other contractual requirements. Communication and Team Working The post holder will: • Work collaboratively with GPs, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, pharmacists, healthcare assistants and the wider multidisciplinary team. • Liaise effectively with secondary care, community services and other healthcare professionals to ensure continuity of patient care. • Support colleagues and contribute to the education of learners where appropriate. Governance The post holder will: • Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with Information Governance and Data Protection legislation. • Follow practice policies relating to safeguarding, infection prevention and control, health and safety, and equality and diversity. • Participate in clinical governance activities, including significant event reviews and service improvement initiatives. Other Duties The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role, following discussion with the Partners or Practice Management Team, in line with the evolving needs of the practice. This job description is intended as a guide to the principal duties and responsibilities of the post and may be amended following consultation to meet the changing needs of the practice.