Band 7 Diabetes Specialist Practitioner

The Band 7 Diabetes Specialist Practitioner role (Nurse or Dietitian) has been developed to support wider access to recruitment, providing development opportunities for a wider range of health care professionals seeking to develop their experience in diabetes within a multidisciplinary workforce.

To provide autonomous diabetes care for patients with Diabetes using advanced clinical skills and knowledge of the speciality
To lead and autonomously manage a caseload of patients with Diabetes, who have multiple and complex needs including complex Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, ante-natal, renal, transition and initiation of CGM/pump therapy within the inpatient and outpatient Diabetes service.
To take responsibility for own evidence-based practice and implement and add to the body of knowledge that supports nursing practice within Diabetes.
To lead and innovate diabetes related specialist practice, both within the Trust and through local networks.
To develop diabetes guidelines, protocols and policies for the Trust
To develop all staff within the multidisciplinary team, providing support, advice, formal and informal education.
To actively contribute to and participate in the delivery of Trust-wide multi disciplinary mandatory training and teaching.
To provide specialist advice to inpatient diabetes service by receiving direct referrals from members of other multi-disciplinary teams

To work flexibly in response to service needs, to provide cover to all trust sites if required.

To provide World Class Care in line with Royal Free Values and behaviours.

Royal Free World Class Values

The post holder will offer World Class Care to service users, staff, colleagues, clients and patients alike so that everyone at the Royal Free can feel:

- Welcome all of the time - Confident because we are clearly communicating
- Respected and cared for - Reassured that they are always in safe hands

1. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To provide a diabetes service by receiving and acting on direct referrals.
Autonomously manage a caseload of patients with the support of the Consultant Nurse Diabetes and Diabetes Service Lead.
Use advanced clinical assessment skills and judgement to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients with diabetes with complex physical and psychological related problems using a recognised evidenced based model of care.
Monitor and make treatment interventions in order to manage patients’ symptoms associated with diabetes. If qualified as an independent Nurse/Dietitian Prescriber, prescribe medications as clinically indicated as per Trust and department policies.
Order and interpret and act on relevant tests and investigations.
Provide appropriate and timely education and advice to patients in order to promote self-management, enhance quality of life and decrease avoidable A&E attendances or admissions.
To provide essential advisory and psychological care to patients referred with diabetes.
To document all care given using the Trust guidelines.
To act as a clinical expert role model in nursing care to other nurses within the team and nationally as required.
To develop nursing guidelines/ protocols related to diabetes at a local and network level.

2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

To review patients on a weekly/daily basis with the multi-professional team
To be an advocate for service users to highlight service deficiencies, to improve patient centred care.
To actively engage with service users and develop methods to measure patient satisfaction.
To participate in regular structured education sessions for patients.
To communicate clearly, skilfully and sensitively with all patients always

3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
- In conjunction with the multi-professional team develop annual objectives and strategies for Diabetes and monitor and evaluate progress towards these
- To identify potential service improvements within Diabetes and lead local improvement projects
- To actively participate in measurement of outcomes including local audit
- To develop and update nursing guidelines/protocols in relation to Diabetes
- Participate in the development of Trust wide mandatory education programmes for Diabetes
- Work collaboratively with Lead/ Consultant Nurse and multi-professional team to develop and disseminate Trust wide Diabetes guidelines

4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
- To ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently.
- To ensure that any equipment used is maintained and serviced accordingly.

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING
- To provide advice and leadership on complex issues within care practices and delivery across the Trust and local networks
- To take a lead role in the further development of off-site Diabetes led services
- Promote the principles of clinical supervision and act as a supervisor for others
- To provide advice and support to other members of the multi-disciplinary team in relation to specialist practice in Diabetes
- To