Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Job summary
The Integrated Diabetes Team are looking for an individual who is already a Specialist in Diabetes Care or an individual who has a keen interest to specialise in Diabetes.

The post holder will provide specialist diabetes advice and clinical support. Demonstrating a sound knowledge of the issues related to the identification, assessment, treatment and management of diabetes.

They will support the delivery of structured educational to people with diabetes. Give specialist advice to GPs and other health professionals about Diabetes, especially with reference to adjustment of medication and supporting the management of patients with complex needs.

Working closely with General Practices and other Health Care Professionals, they will support the delivery of integrated diabetes services across the primary / secondary care interface. As well as contributing to Clinical Governance within the service by participating in audit and research as part of the team, they will be expected to champion priorities within national diabetes strategies and NICE guidance/standards for diabetes.

Should we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 20/08/2026

Main duties of the job
Receive direct patients referrals according to referral criteria set-out in the service contract and participate in joint clinics as necessary.

To contribute in preventing avoidable hospital admissions, by providing a holistic assessment of the individual needs of patients. Plan, implement and evaluate care delivered and support self-management.

To organise and when necessary coordinate the overall care to meet clients' care needs, which may be complex involving other professionals and agencies in an integrated and co-ordinated way. Engaging the wider multi-disciplinary team as needed.

Understanding of approaches to motivating behavioural change for patients and their carers and champion and support diabetes self-management.

To champion and support diabetes self-management wherever appropriate

In conjunction with senior nurses in team, work as an autonomous specialist practitioner.

Understand the implications of cultural differences for service delivery.

Plan and prioritise own caseload.

Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge and advice to other health care professionals involved in diabetes care.

Collect, evaluate, report and maintain accurate patient records on the Diabetes Computer Software System - SystmOne

To support the delivery of group education including DESMOND and other bespoke programmes including specific programmes for the South Asian community.

About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Please be aware that East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust will never ask applicants to pay fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. All recruitment communications and job applications should only be made through our official careers website and published contact details.

If you receive a suspicious job offer or recruitment-related communication, do not make any payments, share personal information, or provide identity documents. We encourage you to report the matter to your local police or relevant law enforcement agency. Any concerns relating to potential recruitment fraud should also be reported to our Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The post holder will work as part of the Integrated Community Diabetes Services, providing specialist diabetes advice and clinical support. Demonstrating a sound knowledge of the issues related to the identification, assessment, treatment and management of diabetes.

They will support the delivery of structured educational to people with diabetes. Give specialist advice to GPs and other health professionals about Diabetes, especially with reference to adjustment of medication and supporting the management of patients with complex needs. Working closely with General Practices and other Health Care Professionals, they will support the delivery of integrated diabetes services across the primary / secondary care interface. As well as contributing to Clinical Governance within the service by participating in audit and research as part of the team, they will be expected to champion priorities within national diabetes strategies and NICE guidance/standards for diabetes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Receive direct patients referrals according to referral criteria set out in the service contract and participate in joint clinics as necessary.
• To contribute to preventing avoidable hospital admissions, by providing a holistic assessment of the individual needs of patients. Plan, implement and evaluate care delivered and support self-management.
• To organise and when necessary, coordinate the overall care to meet clients care needs, which may be complex involving other professionals and agencies in an integrated and co-ordinated way.
• Engaging the wider multi-disciplinary team as needed.
• Understanding of approaches to motivating behavioural change for patients and their carers and champion and support diabetes self-management.
• To champion and support diabetes self-management wherever appropriate in conjunction with senior nurses in team, work as an autonomous specialist practitioner.
• Understand the implications of cultural differences for service delivery.
• Plan and prioritise own caseload.
• Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge and advice to other health care professionals involved in diabetes care.
• Collect, evaluate, report, and maintain accurate patient records on the Diabetes Computer Software System SystmOne
• To work in partnership with other agencies to deliver strategic national and local health priorities
• To escalate Risk appropriately
• To ensure that patients are treated with care and compassion at all times.
• To support the delivery of group education including DESMOND and other bespoke programmes including specific programmes for the South Asian community.
• Identify learning needs and be involved in planning, delivery, and evaluation of educational programmes for other Health Care Professionals. E.g. GPs, Practice Nurses, Community Nurses, student nurses
• To be involved in updating and assessing diabetes competencies for self and junior team members.

Leadership
To support the teams delivery and evaluation of services; identify areas for improvement and contribute to plan the future development.

Ensure safe use of equipment by self and other health care professionals. Be involved in maintain stock and ordering of supplies and equipment.

Liaise with community nurses, GPs and hospital staff to ensure a comprehensive diabetes service is provided across primary/secondary care.

Actively participate with the Lead and other Diabetes Nurse Specialists in formulating, implementing and evaluation of policies and procedures relating to diabetes care.

Developing relationships with external organisations and across boundaries.

Ensure own competencies, mandatory and role specific training are up-to-date.

Provide a positive public relations image by dealing with queries direct from members of the public.

Communication
To promote and facilitate excellent working relationships and communication within the Integrated Community Diabetes Services and multi-disciplinary teams, and between the hospital and community settings.

To communicate highly sensitive, condition related, information to patients and their relatives. To demonstrate good interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to explore health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours.

To understand data protection and patient confidentiality and the policies and procedures surrounding them and to accurately record personally generated clinical observations, and update patient/client records.

To create opportunities to promote and share good practice, locally and nationally, by undertaking presentations and publications.

To anticipate barriers to communication and use interpreters or tools as required.

To produce accurate and complete records of communication consistent with legislation, policy and procedure.

To attend, lead and participate in relevant meetings and events including relevant research projects and conferences as required

Build and develop relationships between all health professionals involved in the patient pathway.

Key working relationships
Senior nurseAll team membersPatients, carers, and familiesOther community specialist servicesCommunity Health Care ProfessionalsGeneral Practitioners and practice staffLuton & Dunstable hospital diabetes team CCS personnelLocal Clinical Commissioning GroupExternal OrganisationsCare / Nursing HomesHospital

Research & Development Activity
Contribute to research, surveillance, and clinical audit in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.

To promote the use of research in practice.

To contribute to appropriate audit of services and service role from user and provider perspectives and respond to research findings

Clinical and Practice Governance
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and proceduresIt is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with your professional body, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required

Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team

Participate in Clinical & Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Continuing Professional Development
The post holder will be expected to undertake ongoing personal, professional and management development in line with the responsibilities of the post.

Improving Working Lives

The post holder is expected to demonstrate a commitment to the Improving Working Lives initiative.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• Registered Nurse Level 1
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience
• Post registration qualification in Diabetes or working towards / willing to undertake the course
• Independent Non Medical Prescriber or working towards / willing to undertake the course
• DESMOND trained or willingness to train

Desirable

• Counselling certificate / diploma

Experience
Essential

• Minimum of 3 years post registration clinical experience
• Relevant clinical experience in diabetes
• Some experience of working across organisational boundaries
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Understanding of NSF for Diabetes
• Awareness of working in a multicultural team and with a multicultural client group.

Desirable

• Involvement in audit research and guidance based practice
• Experience of working with multicultural groups
• Previous experience of delivering education sessions / programmes

Knowledge, Skills & Personal Qualities
Essential

• Teaching / Assessment skills
• Organisational and negotiation skills and ability to prioritise workload.
• Effective communicator and ability to manage complex cases
• Works well as part of a team
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy relating to diabetes
• Able to work under own initiative and achieve deadlines

Desirable

• Experience in counselling patients.
• Experience in Trust wide computer systems i.e. ICE, SystemOne, mobile IT working
• Ability to communicate at a senior level to both internal and external agencies

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridge)
Address: The Poynt, Units 2-3 Poynters Road, Luton, LU4 0LA, United Kingdom
Employer's website:

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Service Manager Long Term Conditions and Frailty, Louisa Farrell, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

Details
Date posted: 13 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro-rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
Reference number: 448-LCA-8226788
Job locations: The Poynt, Units 2-3 Poynters Road, Luton, LU4 0LA, United Kingdom