Lead Diabetes Nurse in London

This is a senior clinical leadership role within Metabolic Health's diabetes nursing team. The Lead Diabetes Nurse provides advanced, expert care for patients with complex diabetes needs while acting as the strategic and operational lead for a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) and healthcare practitioners.

As Lead Diabetes Nurse, you will hold clinical and professional responsibility for the diabetes nursing team. You will manage a complex caseload, lead specialist clinics for CGM and insulin pump therapy, and use your Independent Non-Medical Prescriber qualification to initiate and review advanced diabetes medications. You will line-manage and mentor CNS staff, oversee clinical governance and CQC compliance to develop and improve local care pathways. This role combines hands‑on clinical excellence with strategic service leadership.

Core Responsibilities

• Clinical Leadership and Team Management
  • Lead, manage, and supervise the diabetes nursing team, including Clinical Nurse Specialists and healthcare practitioners.
  • Conduct probationary reviews and annual appraisals, setting clear performance objectives aligned to patient outcomes and service KPIs.
  • Provide hands‑on clinical mentorship, supporting staff in integrating CGM data, wearable technology, and digital tools into patient consultations.
  • Manage the nursing duty roster and annual leave to maintain safe, optimal clinical coverage.
  • Coordinate nursing services across clinic and community settings to ensure continuity of care.
• Advanced Patient Care and Clinical Operations
  • Hold and manage a complex, high‑risk caseload covering Type 1, Type 2, and complex diabetes presentations.
  • Lead specialist clinics for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pump therapy (CSII), and multidisciplinary diabetes foot care.
  • Oversee daily nursing operations including patient assessments, care coordination, and treatment delivery.
  • Monitor patient outcomes against clinical benchmarks and act promptly on any variation.
  • Evaluate and optimise clinical workflows across the multidisciplinary team to improve patient flow and reduce delays.
  • Escalate complex cases to Consultant Endocrinologists in line with clinical governance procedures.
• Non‑Medical Prescribing
  • Use an Independent Non‑Medical Prescriber (V300) qualification to initiate, adjust, and review complex diabetes medications, including insulin regimens and therapies such as GLP‑1 receptor agonists and SGLT‑2 inhibitors.
  • Prescribe in line with the NMC Code, NICE guidelines, and organisational prescribing policies.
• Education and Training
  • Design and deliver specialist training programmes for patients, carers, and families on self‑management, insulin dose adjustment, and diabetes technology.
  • Develop and deliver structured education for the multidisciplinary team, junior nurses, and student nurses.
  • Oversee BLS and ILS certification compliance across the nursing team, ensuring all staff meet Resuscitation Council UK standards and complete annual refresher training.
• Service Development and Quality Improvement
  • Lead clinical audit programmes, analyse outcomes data, and present findings to drive evidence‑based service improvements.
  • Develop, implement, and review nursing protocols, procedures, and policies, including annual updates.
  • Establish and maintain nursing competency frameworks and regular assessments for the team.
  • Oversee infection control measures, patient safety initiatives, and quality improvement programmes in line with CQC standards.
  • Support service expansion and design work alongside the Clinical Director and operations leads, mapping and improving patient journey efficiency.
• Regulatory Compliance and Documentation
  • Ensure full compliance with NMC registration requirements, CQC regulations, NHS England policies, and internal clinical governance standards.
  • Sign off clinical competencies for all nursing staff, ensuring proficiency in insulin titration, EPR documentation, and digital care tools.
  • Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date clinical records in line with NMC standards, UK GDPR, and the NHS Data Security and Protection (DSP) Toolkit.
  • Conduct regular peer‑review audits of nursing EPR entries and clinical documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness.
  • Track NMC revalidation and mandatory training compliance for all team members.
• Staffing, Finance, and Resource Management
  • Assess and maintain adequate staffing levels, and actively participate in recruitment and workforce planning.
  • Support the Clinical Director in monitoring departmental budgets and resource utilisation.
  • Ensure efficient use of medical supplies, staffing resources, and operational costs without compromising care standards.
  • Provide input into budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning for the nursing department.
  • Supervise the proper use, maintenance, and availability of medical equipment and digital health devices.

Key Requirements and Skills

• Registration
  • Current NMC registration as a first‑level adult or paediatric nurse.
• Qualifications
  • MSc or academic study in diabetes, endocrinology, or advanced practice is desirable.
• Experience
  • Background at Band 7 or equivalent as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN), gained within the NHS or a comparable clinical setting.
  • At least three years working in a clinical leadership or supervisory capacity, with experience managing a nursing team.
  • Exposure to PCN, community, and acute inpatient settings is welcomed but not essential.
• Clinical Skills
  • Demonstrated expertise in managing CGM, insulin pump therapy (CSII), and complex insulin regimens.
  • Experience running multidisciplinary foot care clinics is desirable.
  • Current BLS certification aligned to Resuscitation Council UK standards. ILS or ALS is desirable.
• Knowledge
  • Strong working knowledge of the NMC Code, CQC standards, NICE diabetes guidelines, NHS Information Governance, and UK GDPR.
  • Familiarity with NHS commissioning structures, ICB frameworks, and NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
• Communication and Leadership
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey clinical information clearly to patients, families, and multidisciplinary colleagues.
  • Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a clinical workforce.
  • Strong skills in clinical audit, data analysis, and presenting findings to senior stakeholders.
• Technical Proficiency
  • Confident user of electronic patient record (EPR) systems and digital health tools.
  • Experience with CGM data platforms and remote monitoring software is desirable.

Regulatory and Compliance Context

This role operates within the regulatory frameworks of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The post holder must adhere to the NMC Code, support the organisation's infection prevention and control programmes, maintain compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Security and Protection (DSP) Toolkit, and uphold all relevant NHS and UK healthcare legislation.

Competency What Good Looks Like

• Clinical Leadership
  • Sets the standard for the team. Coaches nurses to grow their skills and delivers consistent, high‑quality patient care.
  • Keeps the patient at the centre of every clinical decision. Manages complex presentations with confidence and care.
• Clinical Governance
  • Proactive about compliance, audit, and quality improvement. Identifies risk early and acts on it.
• Communication
  • Clear and confident across clinical, managerial, and patient‑facing contexts. Adapts style to the audience.
• Prescribing and Clinical Judgment
  • Makes sound, evidence‑based prescribing decisions in line with NICE guidelines and the NMC Code.
• Organisation
  • Manages competing demands across a complex caseload and a nursing team without clinical delay.
• Team Contribution
  • Supports colleagues proactively. Raises issues constructively and contributes to a positive team culture.
  • Looks for better ways to deliver care and develop services. Engages with audit data and national guidelines to drive change.