Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Clinical

Works autonomously to manage own caseload of inpatients whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Utilises advanced skills of assessment, interprets complex psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs.

Enables patient choice and involvement and initiates appropriate action.

Co-ordinates inpatient care pathway and liaises across organisational boundaries.

Plans specialised programmes of care and provides highly specialised advice to inpatients, relatives/carers and staff.

Ensures each inpatient is placed in the correct treatment pathway at the appropriate time and that necessary investigations and treatments are organised.

Provides clinical advice and support to healthcare professionals within and across organisational boundaries.

Develops and plans specialist nursing service provision.

Refers to other disciplines/professionals unsupervised.

Accepts referrals from other disciplines/professionals unsupervised.

Reviews inpatients independently and initiates changes in management of care.

Understands complex situations and information in relation to diabetes and endocrine care.

Provides clinical advice in accordance with current evidence based practice.

Provides appropriate patient equipment to support diabetes care.

Participates in nurse-led clinics, consultant led clinics and multidisciplinary team meetings.

Participates in case conferences in relation to future management or discharge arrangements.

Ensures inpatients and their families are given appropriate verbal and written information regarding planned care and day to day general diabetes management.

Maintains accurate inpatient records and ensures all relevant information is documented in the patient’s medical and nursing records.

Assists with timely and complex discharge requirements aiming to avoid any increased length of stay.

An extended part of this role would be to work as an independent non-medical prescriber (adhering to Trust policy) with the ability to commence and adjust medication within their field of expertise

Education

Develops specialist educational and training programmes for healthcare professionals.

Works collaboratively with local education providers including the University of Plymouth.

Provides clinical supervision and mentorship to junior or new clinical nurse specialists / nurses / medical staff as required.

Develops and provides specialist educational and training programmes to inpatients and carers.

Identifies, assists, and meets the educational needs of the patient and their family.

Maintains own professional development.

Maintains and updates evidence-based knowledge and skills.

Fulfils all mandatory training requirements for the trust and assists others within the department to do so.

Undertakes health promotion across organisational boundaries.

Management

Supports development and implementation of policies, protocols, and procedures in accordance with local and national standards.

Manages own caseload and coordinates inpatient journey across divisions and organisational boundaries.

Works in close collaboration with consultants across organisational boundaries, to ensure the service meets patient’s needs.

Works with patients and users to develop services.

Be a member of relevant professional association, attend and present at regional / national / international meetings and conferences.

Assists with the recruitment and induction of new staff.

Completes performance review and clinical supervision of staff within the Inpatient team. 

Acts as a clinical supervisor to staff within the department.

Acts as a mentor to pre and post registration nurses, assisting in meeting their learning needs.

Represents University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust as an expert practitioner in diabetes care.

Contributes to the development of local policies in relation to the implementation of National Guidance.

Supports risk management for diabetes, monitors inpatient risk and implements risk management strategies.

Coordinates the review and outcomes of medication errors involving insulin never events reported via Datix.

Coordinates and responds to any diabetes related unsafe practice reported via Datix.

Independently performs monthly reviews of Datix reports involving insulin and reports to Safe Use of Insulin Steering Group with proposals for improving safety.

Provides an annual report of inpatient workload, including areas identified for improvement with proposals for action.

Ongoing representation of diabetes concerns at local and national levels (e.g., NDISA harms reporting / Contamination Safety Group / Service Improvement / EPMA).

Research

Participates in and undertakes clinical audit and contributes to the development of knowledge within specialist field of practice.

To identify topics and carry out nursing research in relation to specialist area of practice.

Completes daily inpatient work log.

Supports the yearly national inpatient diabetes audit.

Undertakes evidence-based practice and ensures dissemination of relevant research and best practice.

Supports and advises junior staff who may wish to undertake audit and research in specialist field.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

 Establish and maintain effective communication channels within and outside the department by:

·        Leading the establishment of a teamwork philosophy, empowering others to take part in the decision-making process.

·        Actively involved in the identified areas appropriate meetings, and participating in:

à                  safety briefs

à                  huddles

à                  board rounds

à                  discharge planning

à                  best interest meetings

·        Playing an active role in the integration of Patient and Public Involvement.

·        Effecting change in order to meet changing patient need.

·        Maintain good relationships between all members of staff, thus developing professionalism through the Trust including Primary Care.

·        Ensure good communication both verbally and via formal documentation with all members of the nursing and multidisciplinary team.

·        Able to communicate effectively in demanding and challenging situations, e.g., end of life issues.

·        Accept responsibility; be aware and able to locate all policies relating to good working practice within the clinical area and able to adhere to both by self and colleagues, and to challenge staff about their location.

·        Ensure carers/family and visitors are aware of policies, standards/guidelines relevant to the patients care or clinical area.

·        Provide specialist knowledge to other areas when assistance/advice is required.

All Job Holders are required to:

• Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive, Listen, learn, and improve.
• Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g., Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc.
• Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.
• Attend statutory, essential, and mandatory training.  
• Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
• Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.
• Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post.
• Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures, and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk. 
• Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.
• Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.
• Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.
• Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.
• Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.

This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust policies, procedures & guidelines.