Diabetes Specialist Nurse

Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and compassionate Diabetes Specialist Nurse to join Modality East Surrey Medical Practice and help shape the continuing development of specialist diabetes care within primary and community care.

We support approximately 45,000 to 46,000 patients across our sites in Horley, Smallfield and Townhill in Caterham. You will join an established multidisciplinary team and work closely with GPs, nurses, healthcare practitioners, clinical pharmacists, healthcare assistants, community services and Consultant Endocrinologists.

Our existing Diabetes Specialist Nurse is moving on to pursue a different venture, creating an opportunity for someone new to build on the strong foundations already established while bringing their own expertise and ideas to the service.

The role combines autonomous specialist practice with clinical leadership, education and service improvement. You will support adults with Type 1, Type 2 and complex diabetes, including patients requiring treatment intensification, insulin management, diabetes technology or coordinated multidisciplinary care.

Previous general-practice experience would be advantageous but is not essential. We welcome applications from experienced diabetes nurses working in community, integrated or secondary-care diabetes services. Appropriate induction, supervision and development will be provided to support a successful transition into primary care.

Main duties of the job
The Diabetes Specialist Nurse will manage an appropriate specialist caseload and provide expert assessment, treatment, care planning and follow-up for patients whose needs extend beyond routine long-term-condition review.

You will:

• 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.

About us
Modality East Surrey Medical Practice is an award-winning training practice committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate and accessible care.

We are part of Modality Partnership, one of the largest GP partnerships in the country. This gives our teams the relationships and community focus of local general practice alongside the professional networks, shared learning and development opportunities available through a larger organisation.

We are proud of our multidisciplinary approach and our commitment to innovation, education and continuous improvement. Our clinical team includes GPs, nurses, healthcare practitioners, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, care coordinators and other primary care professionals, with established links to community and secondary-care services.

The wellbeing of our patients and staff is central to how we work. We want colleagues to feel valued, supported and able to speak openly, develop professionally and contribute ideas.

As an employee with us, you can benefit from:

• Enrolment in the NHS pension scheme
• Minimum 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata)
• Employee discounts and benefits scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Education and career development pathways
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Flexible working options
• Wellbeing support and initiatives

Job responsibilities
Application Process
Modality Partnership is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process

Who we are looking for
We are looking for a confident, experienced and compassionate nurse who is passionate about improving outcomes for people living with diabetes.

You will need:

• 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.

A V300 Independent Prescribing qualification would be desirable but is not essential. Candidates who do not already hold the qualification should be willing to work towards it within an agreed timeframe where required for the role.

Primary-care experience, community diabetes experience, insulin-pump knowledge, diabetic-foot expertise, teaching qualifications and experience of service redesign would also be advantageous.

If you are an experienced diabetes nurse who would value the opportunity to bring specialist care closer to patients, support the development of colleagues and help shape an ambitious primary care diabetes service, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Informal conversations and visits are warmly welcomed.

For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please contact: Clare Jardin, View phone number on meeveem.com or View email address on meeveem.com

Pre-employment Requirements Vaccinations : Mandatory vaccination evidence is required for this role, including Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella.

Right to work : Proof of eligibility to work in the UK is required at interview stage.

References : References must be obtained prior to employment, including one from your current or most recent employer.

Employment history : Any employment gaps of six weeks or more must be declared.

Person Specification
Skills
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.

Personal Qualities
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.

Qualifications
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.

Knowledge
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.

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.

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

Modality Partnership is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.