Diabetes Specialist Midwife South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The Diabetes Specialist Midwife (DSM) is part of the multidisciplinary team providing and coordinating the care for maternity service users with pre-existing and gestational diabetes within STHFT. The post holder will be a point of contact for maternity service users with preexisting diabetes and those who develop gestational diabetes in pregnancy.

The DSM will be responsible for the support and advice on both diabetes control and midwifery care throughout pregnancy and postnatal period liaising closely with the diabetes specialist nurses, dietitians and consultants specialising in antenatal care.

The DSM will be involved in the development and implementation of clinical protocols and guidelines for maternity service users with diabetes and will work towards developing a structured approach in diabetes care to ensure a comprehensive high quality diabetes service within maternity. The DSM will be expected to undertake clinical audit and provide educational support for healthcare professionals and students and be involved in research projects.

Main duties of the job

To undertake assessments, provide support, education, and advice for maternity service users with pre-existing or gestational diabetes and their families to supplement the care provided by their midwives where necessary, for example working with maternity service users and their midwives to develop individual care plans, and making referrals to additional specialist support where required.

• To accept and triage referrals and prioritise appropriately.
• To review and discuss results from blood glucose monitoring database and prioritise care accordingly.
• Work closely with the Consultant Obstetrician specialising in Diabetes, Consultant Endocrinologist, Diabetes Specialist Nurse and dieticians, in planning, implementing and delivering programmes of care for women with diabetes.
• To provide specialist support and advice for both maternity service users and healthcare professionals on diabetes management in labour and arrange postnatal follow-up care.
• To empower pregnant maternity service users with diabetes to make informed decisions regarding their condition and guide them towards a normal lifestyle detecting and preventing complications for mother and babies, using both verbal and written patient information.
• To continue to develop own diabetes knowledge, competence, and skill level and to keep up to date with continuing changes in diabetes care and research through regular clinical supervision, appraisal, personal development plans and appropriate training programmes.

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