Diabetes Specialist Nurse Primary and Community Care

• Assess and manage adults with Type 1, Type 2 and complex diabetes within your professional competence and agreed clinical pathways.
• Develop clear, personalised and evidence-based management plans, with appropriate monitoring, follow-up, safety-netting and escalation.
• Initiate, optimise and monitor diabetes treatments within your competence and prescribing arrangements.
• Support insulin initiation, dose adjustment and complex insulin management.
• Review and support the appropriate use of contemporary diabetes treatments, including GLP-1-based therapies and SGLT-2 inhibitors.
• Interpret capillary glucose profiles, flash glucose monitoring and Continuous Glucose Monitoring data.
• Run or contribute to specialist clinics involving CGM, complex insulin management and diabetic-foot assessment.
• Support patients using insulin-pump therapy within demonstrated competence and agreed shared-care pathways.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, sick-day risks and potential diabetic emergencies.

• Current NMC registration as an Adult Nurse.
• A recognised post-registration diabetes qualification or demonstrable equivalent specialist diabetes expertise.
• Substantial experience of managing adults with diabetes, including complex Type 2 diabetes.
• Experience operating at Band 6 level or equivalent.
• Experience of insulin management, dose titration and contemporary diabetes treatments.
• Experience of interpreting glucose-monitoring information, including flash monitoring or CGM.
• Knowledge or experience of managing Type 1 diabetes within established specialist or shared-care pathways.
• The ability to undertake comprehensive clinical assessment and formulate clear and safe management plans.
• Strong multidisciplinary working, communication and patient-education skills.
• Experience of supporting, supervising, mentoring or developing colleagues.
• An understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, information governance and evidence-based practice.
• Current Basic Life Support certification.
• Identify diabetes complications and arrange timely investigation, treatment, referral or specialist escalation.
• Work closely with GPs, Consultant Endocrinologists, clinical pharmacists, community teams and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Support the management of hypertension and wider cardiovascular and renal risk in people living with diabetes.
• Provide specialist advice and clinical leadership to nurses, healthcare practitioners and the wider clinical team.
• Contribute to clinical supervision, mentoring, education and competency development.
• Help colleagues develop confidence in insulin management, CGM, diabetes technology, documentation and supported self-management.
• Educate patients, carers and families about diabetes, medicines, insulin administration, glucose monitoring, foot care, lifestyle and the safe use of diabetes technology.
• Use clinical data and audit to identify patients with poor glycaemic control, uncontrolled hypertension, recurrent hypoglycaemia, high cardiovascular or renal risk, or gaps in essential diabetes care.
• Contribute to the development of clinical pathways, policies, templates and service-improvement initiatives.
• Work with the Clinical Director, Medical Director, Head of Operations and wider leadership team to improve and develop the patient journey.

Essential

• Clinical leadership skills with the ability to support and guide others.
• Clinical skills including cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, ear care, and minor surgery.
• Change-management skills with the ability to support patients in making lifestyle changes.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to communicate sensitive or difficult information to patients and their families.
• Negotiation and conflict management skills.
• Ability to provide teaching, supervision, and mentorship in a clinical setting.
• Competent IT skills and confidence using digital systems.

Essential

• Professional and responsible approach to work.
• Polite, confident, and effective telephone manner.
• Strong team player who works well with others.
• Smart, professional appearance at all times.
• Exercises tact and discretion in all situations.
• Demonstrates initiative and the ability to respond effectively to unforeseen events during a shift.
• Demonstrates flexibility towards new working practices and varying working hours.

Essential

• Registered Nurse qualification with a minimum of two years post-registration experience.
• At least one year of experience in General Practice or community nursing.
• Experience in nurse-led management of chronic conditions.
• Experience implementing clinical guidelines and protocols.
• Experience in audit activity and quality improvement initiatives.
• Clinical supervision training and experience.

Essential

• Knowledge of managing patients with long-term and chronic conditions.
• Understanding of accountability within your own role and the roles of others in Primary Care.
• Knowledge of effective health promotion and preventative care strategies.
• Awareness of local and national health policies and priorities.
• Understanding of the wider health and care system.
• Knowledge of clinical governance principles within Primary Care.
• Understanding of patient group directions and related policies.
• Knowledge of public health principles and population health.
• Ability to recognise factors affecting health within the local community.
• Knowledge of local public health issues and challenges.