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Job summary

Main area
Diabetes
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
410-SUR-7312222
Employer
Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
13/07/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Diabetes Specialist Nurse

NHS AfC: Band 7

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine including adult cystic fibrosis and diagnostic imaging, both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Heart and lung disease continue to be amongst the biggest killers in the UK and the communities we serve are marked by increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, higher levels of heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease and an ageing population.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and facilitated by technology. New and upgraded clinical areas are designed with patients and families fully involved to deliver their needs.

As part of our long term plan, we aim to form strong clinical and organisational relationships where possible. There is clear evidence that partnerships improve patient care and enhance quality and we aim to collaborate with a range of other providers and professionals with the aim to extending access and improve quality.  

Our vision is underpinned by five strategic goals:

  • Quality: to deliver the highest quality, safest and best experience for patients and their families by providing reliable care 
  • Service and Innovation: to develop our service portfolio for patients by developing innovative models of care
  • Value: to maintain financial viability, enhance service delivery and develop new models of care to improve the health of our patients and safely reduce costs
  • Workforce: to be the best NHS Employer by 2019 by attracting and retaining the best staff to deliver excellent patient care
  • Stakeholders: to develop productive relationships with key stakeholders in order to enhance our profile and reputation.

Our Mission

“Excellent, Compassionate and Safe care for every patient, every day”

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Diabetes Specialist nurse to join the diabetes team at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. We are seeking someone who is committed to making a difference, is highly motivated and displays excellent communication skills. You will be working with other diabetes nurses and medical staff to provide specialist advice and education for both Type 1 and Complex Type 2 Diabetic cardiothoracic patients. In addition you will provide education for other healthcare professionals within the hospital Trust. The post includes providing clinical excellence and specialist nursing advice within the inpatient and outpatient setting via our pre-operative nurse led clinic.

 

Main duties of the job

To work within a multidisciplinary team to provide a specialist diabetes nursing service for adults throughout the trust with diabetes, and those at risk of developing diabetes. Delivering treatment, education, and support for patients and their families.

To manage the outpatients Diabetes Pre-operative Clinic (fully nurse-led), providing specialised diabetes treatment to optimise patients pre-operatively in a limited time frame.

Provide education and develop learning programmes for staff throughout the trust.

To be responsible for maintaining and enhancing professional standards of diabetes care.

To act as a specialist diabetes resource for medical and nursing staff and allied health care professionals.

Working for our organisation

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist servicesin cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

Please visit our website - https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/

Please follow this link for a tour of our site - https://bit.ly/36ylsoq

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Ø  To work autonomously in a fully nurse-led service.

Ø  To act as a competent independent nurse prescriber. 

Ø  To confidently diagnose diabetes/impaired glucose regulation.

Ø  To be accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care within the diabetes team. 

Ø  To confidently prescribe insulin when appropriate and titrate accordingly.  

Ø  To confidently manage NG feed related hyperglycaemia/steroids induced hyperglycaemia; and initiate insulin as/when appropriate.

Ø  To manage the pre-op diabetes clinic, including managing all administrative processes of referrals, waiting lists, documentation, discharges and follow-up letters.

Ø  To use specialised/expert knowledge to optimise patients in the outpatient clinic in a limited timeframe, managing both face-to-face and telephone appointments as appropriate.

Ø  To act as an expert resource and provide advice about the management of diabetes to health care professionals within the trust.

Ø  To have a good understanding and awareness of technology within diabetes, commencing patients on continuous glucose monitoring devices and providing appropriate education and support.

Ø  To support patients and staff in managing devices such as insulin pumps and closed-loop systems.

Ø  To use advanced clinical experience in diabetes care, as well as theoretical knowledge to provide a high level of specialist care to people with diabetes.

Ø  To teach patients how to manage their medication/insulin and own blood glucose monitoring.

Ø  To provide on-going care and information on how to self-manage their chronic disease with a view to reducing long term complications, through altered medication and lifestyle modification. 

Ø  To provide highly specialised advice about diagnosis and treatment of diabetes to senior colleagues.

Ø  To manage a defined patient caseload, working unsupervised and using specialist diabetes nursing skills to assess needs of the person with diabetes, and to plan, implement, document, and evaluate programmes of care. This includes referrals to other diabetes services outside of the Trust.

Ø  To implement advice and support at an advanced level, directly to patients or relatives/carers, providing information to those who are newly diagnosed or with longstanding diabetes.

Ø  To undertake assessment of patients/groups with complex problems by using clinical, investigative, and analytical skills to make difficult decisions about treatment and management plans.

Ø  Provide education and training for all health care professionals in the safe management and care of patients with diabetes in the acute setting.

Ø  To provide education for patients and teaching on how to self-manage complex diabetes.

Ø  Identify, initiate, develop, coordinate, and participate in new educational initiatives for staff development.

Ø  Demonstrate professional leadership and assist in the writing of protocols, policies and guidelines in relation to diabetes in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team.

 

 

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential criteria
  • Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
  • Postgraduate qualification or Certificate in Diabetes
  • •Non-Medical Prescribing
  • Mentorship/Teaching Qualification or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant years post registration experience as a Specialist nurse at B6 or above in defined or associated speciality.
  • Extensive experience working with patients with Diabetes Mellitus
  • Extensive experience working autonomously as specialist level.
  • Experience of providing patients centred education and support.
  • Expert knowledge of current issues surrounding Diabetes including current guidance and best practice
  • Expert knowledge of current treatments of Diabetes.
  • Can demonstrate expert nursing knowledge with an ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist care delivered to patients and give advice and information to patients/relatives/staff members
  • Experience in teaching/assessing and supervising others in a clinical setting.
  • Experience in service development.
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of CSII (or willingness to undertake further training)

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to manage own clinical caseload.
  • Ability to work autonomously, manage/prioritise own workload, supervise and assess junior staff.
  • Competent in a range of clinical skills and expanded practices relevant to the scope of practice required.
  • Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrating clarity, diplomacy and influencing skills.
  • IT literate.

Values & Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • •Able to work flexibly.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - OutstandingSVMQ Distinction

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kate Lambe
Job title
Divisional Director of Nursing Surgery
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0161 6001640
Additional information

Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Deborah Orrett

Katie Brett 

0151 6001482

[email protected]

[email protected]

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