Enhanced Practitioner - Diabetes in Whitehaven

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Enhanced Practitioner with a specialism in Diabetes to join our team. Our enhanced practice professionals use clinical decision-making within their scope of practice; participate in decision making amongst the wider MDT; and contribute specific knowledge of their area of practice (Diabetes). The Enhanced level of practice includes freedom to act with autonomous practice within the professional scope of the specialism.

The post holder will have highly developed specialist skills and advanced knowledge in diabetic care. They will have significant clinical experience in their area of practice. As an autonomous practitioner, they will undertake independent consultations with patients attending with specific symptoms within the post holder's specialist scope of practice. They will assess, examine, investigate, diagnose, treat and follow up patients within their scope of practice.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a specialist and advanced professional contribution to the clinical management of patients attending within their specialist area (diabetes).
• Use a combination of skills, knowledge, values and self-esteem to manage change and move beyond competency, moving from experienced to expert in area of specialism.
• Practice with autonomy and accountability.
• To assess selected patients taking a full comprehensible history, carrying out comprehensive clinical examinations, making diagnosis and providing treatment where necessary.
• To be responsible for the follow up of the patients under their care.
• Adhere to the NMC/HCPC/professional body Code: Standards of Conduct, Performance and ethics for nurses/professional body at all times.
• To undertake assessments for clinical risk within the service and ensure all staff are aware of responsibilities and related policies.
• To participate in the identification, development, implementation and dissemination of local clinical protocols, policies, procedures, guidelines relating to individualised specialist service; which includes their management ensuring clinical governance is maintained.

Professional development

• To provide leadership by acting as a role model for other nurses within the service and provide specialist and up to date relevant diabetes information to other Nurses and Health Professionals.
• Lead and develop local clinical policies and procedure in relation to specific skill set.
• To ensure that clinical and educational practice within their scope of practice adheres to recent research findings, clinical governance and professional guidelines.
• To participate in regular clinical supervision and personal staff review.
• Maintain a portfolio of evidence aligned to competency frameworks to showcase education and ongoing skills, knowledge, competencies and attributes.
• Keep up to date with professional body/Organisational and national Guidelines, policies and protocols.
• Maintain your own professional and personal development, attending mandatory trainings as required.
• To support and encourage the clinical supervision process for all nurses within their services and actively be involved in the process.
• To organise, develop, deliver and facilitate formal and informal teaching sessions to staff, Primary Care and other members of the health care team such as medical students, student nurses/midwives and trainee GPs.

Quality

• To provide expert advice to their patients on clinical issues and follow relevant guidelines.
• Follow best practice for safeguarding.
• To be a flexible, effective member of the team and provide cover for other relevant staff during absence as appropriate.
• To report to the Manager, progress in the assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring of national strategies ensuring targets are met within the Service.
• To identify to the Manager future service requirements.
• To respond to daily problems faced by the service and ensure issues are resolved as swiftly as possible.
• To manage, contribute and participate in audit of clinical practice and service delivery within the Service.

Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include acting in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.

Personal/Professional Development

The postholder will participate in all training programmes implemented by the Practice, including annual performance reviews and competency assessments, and will take responsibility for their own ongoing development, learning and performance.