We are seeking a skilled and compassionateDiabetes Practice Nurse to join our supportive practice. This role offersthe opportunity to deliver high-quality, patient-centred diabetes care and makea real difference in our community.
We offer
- 24 hours per week (flexible working considered)
- Competitive salary (depending on experience)
- Supportive and welcoming work environment
- Ongoing training and professional development
Main duties of the job
The Role
- Conduct structured diabetes reviews
- Provide education and support for self-management
- Monitor and manage long-term conditions in line with best practice
- Work closely with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical records
About You
- Registered Nurse (NMC)
- Experience in diabetes care (primary care or community setting)
- Confident, approachable, and patient-focused
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Diabetes qualification (or willingness to undertake training) desirable
About us
At Hartlepool and Stockton Health GP Federation our guiding aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of local people. Relationships are key to everything we do and by working with our practice members and their Primary Care Networks, as well as other local partners, we strive to provide excellent services that help people to live their best lives.
As part of this support, we are hosting this job advert on behalf one of our member practices.
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
To lead and deliver a high-quality, evidence-based diabetes service for the practice population. The postholder will manage a defined caseload of adults living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, providing assessment, treatment, education and ongoing review to optimise care, prevent complications and support self-management.
They will work collaboratively with the GPs and other clinical health professionals to ensure safe, consistent and coordinated care across the patient journey. The postholder will also act as a clinical resource within the practice contributing to the professional development of colleagues and the continuous improvement of diabetes care.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain a defined caseload of patients with all types of diabetes and deliver ongoing assessment, monitoring, review and follow up.
- Undertake complex assessments (clinical history, physical exam, risk stratification, complication screening) and develop individualized care plans.
- Monitor and interpret relevant investigations (HbA1c, lipids, renal function, etc).
- Initiate, titrate, adjust and monitor diabetes medications (oral and insulin therapies) in line with agreed protocols and prescribing qualifications.
- Manage insulin initiations, intensification and review, including basal bolus regimes, premixed insulins and where appropriate advanced or technology assisted therapies.
- Educate patients in self-management; blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting, sick day rules, prevention of hypoglycaemia, lifestyle modification and foot care.
- Provide structured education (or refer to diabetes programmes) for newly diagnosed or existing patients.
- Identify, assess and refer patients with complications as appropriate.
- Ensure continuity of care and coordinate with secondary care and community services to support integrated diabetes management.
Clinical Leadership and Development Duties
- Develop, implement and review local pathways, policies and protocols in diabetes care.
- Audit and monitor diabetes care metrics (QOF indicators, local targets and clinical outcomes) and drive improvement initiatives.
- Act as a specialist resource and mentor for practice staff providing expert advice, support and supervision.
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of health promotion and prevention programmes.
- Support implementation of new technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), flash monitoring and digital diabetes tools.
- Lead or contribute to quality improvement projects, audits and service redesign initiatives aligned with local and national priorities.
Professional and Quality Assurance Duties
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of national and local diabetes guidance (NICE, local pathways) and ensure clinical compliance.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and professional clinical records in accordance with NMC and Practice standards.
- Participate in practice clinical governance processes including risk management, incident review, and medicines safety.
- Undertake regular audits and contribute to service evaluations, research and outcome measurement.
- Participate in and support CQC, or other relevant quality frameworks as required.
- Engage in continuing professional development (CPD) and reflective practice to maintain and develop specialist competence.
- Maintain professional registration and if applicable, independent prescribing qualification.
- Adhere to the NMC code, professional boundaries, and practice policies including confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Accurately record all consultations, care plans and interventions on the clinical system.
- Ensure appropriate coding to support QOF and Local Enhanced Service reporting.
- Maintain and review diabetes register, ensuring systematic recall and proactive management.
- Contribute to data collection, audits and reporting for clinical and performance monitoring.
- Participate in the review and development of practice policies and standard operating procedures.
- Attend and contribute to clinical meetings, case reviews and multidisciplinary discussions.
Professional Registration
- Be professionally accountable for nursing practice in accordance with NMC Code.
- Maintain active NMC Registration and up to date professional knowledge.
- Participate in annual appraisal and maintain a personal development plan.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
- Carry out standard Treatment Room procedures such as removal of sutures/clips, dressings, venepuncture, standard medical measurements, immunisation and other injections, travel advice.
- Act as a chaperone if the HCA or Treatment Room Nurse is not available.
- Maintain the highest standard of hygiene and the prevention of cross infection to patients and other members of the Primary Healthcare Team.
- Complete all nurse related paperwork and ensure that all treatment room records are maintained efficiently.
- Assist in organising preventative measures such as flu vaccination, health promotion activities.
- Liaise with colleagues to order and maintain stocks of drugs, vaccines and equipment necessary for the day to day running of the treatment rooms.
- Perform other related duties from time to time.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to indicate the main functions and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
Experience
- Experience with Diabetes
- Experience of working autonomously
- Experience of infection prevention and control measures
- Ability to work within own scope of practice and understand when to refer to GPs
- Good clinical system IT knowledge and an ability to record accurate clinical notes
- Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people by telephone, email and face to face
- Understanding of safeguarding adults and children
- Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP Practices, QOF and Enhanced services
- Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
- Broad knowledge of clinical governance
- Awareness of issues within the wider health arena and knowledge of health promotion strategies
- Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
- Knowledge of national standards that inform general practice (NICE Guidelines)
Qualifications
- Registered General Nurse
- Qualification in Diabetes
- Evidence or working at relevant level of practice required for this post
- Mentor or Teaching qualification
- Non-Medical Prescriber
Personal Qualities
- Effective time management (planning and organising)
- Ability to follow legal, ethical and professional policies, local policies, procedures and codes of conduct
- Knowledge of IT systems including the ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet
- Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated Policy
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyle and diversity
- Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Good interpersonal and organisational skills
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
- Clear, polite telephone manner
- Meet the requirements and provide evidence for professional revalidation
- Evidence of CPD commensurate with the role.
- Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.