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Job summary

Main area
Diabetes
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (May require to work on weekend as the need arises)
Job ref
418-MED1346-JB
Employer
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Town
Luton
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/08/2025 12:00
Interview date
09/09/2025

Employer heading

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Diabetes Nursing Associate

NHS AfC: Band 4

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join the a dynamic and friendly Diabetes Team consisting of Diabetes Consultants, Diabetes Specialist Nurses, Dietitians, Podiatrists, Diabetes Assistant Practitioners and Admin staff.

The postholder will be required to assist and support the Diabetes Team to provide an effective and efficient service to patients with diabetes, their families and carers and other health care professionals involved in their care.

Main duties of the job

  • Patient, carers  and staff education
  • Undertake collection and basic interpretation of Blood glucose data, and with support and discussion with diabetes specialist provide advice to patient to improve glycaemic control
  • Triage patient calls in order to prioritise their care offering support and advice with this tasks where appropriate
  • Helping deliver both face to face and virtual group patient teaching sessions.
  • Proactively identify patients with poor glycaemic control, with the aim of identifying and subsequently helping to improve their compliance and understanding.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

  • Direct, inform and liaise with patients, relatives, other members of the trust and members of the general public regarding diabetes care
  • Extracts messages from telephone advice line and direct calls as appropriate.
  • Update computer information system ensuring accurate patient information and enter correct glucose and insulin pen device changes into Diamond diabetes database following on from a patient assessment.
  • Maintain and oversee patient three monthly recall system for repeat HbA1c tests
  • Maintain and oversee a six week postnatal glucose tolerance test recall system.
  • Be responsible for training for those requiring new home glucose monitoring including intermittent and continuous glucose monitors
  • To be responsible for the regular ordering of education materials and liaise with relevant sources to maintain adequate stock of educational materials for patients.
  • Be responsible for assessment and training of those requiring a new or change of insulin delivery device.
  • Assist the diabetes specialist nurses when preparing necessary documentation for courses delivered by other health care professionals
  • Be responsible for teaching on the technique and principles of home blood glucose and ketone monitoring to health care professionals
  • Maintain the transfer of ICE results across to the Diamond computer system.
  • The post holder is expected to participate in any developments in computerised administration systems by contributing to the implementation and evaluation process. This is particularly relevant to the forthcoming replacement of the current Diamond system.
  • To check HbA1c measurement, urine for ACR, BP, weight, height and BMI prior to clinic review patients as required.
  • To be responsible for addressing and problem solving queries direct from patients and carers regarding blood glucose meters, continuous glucose sensors and readers and insulin delivery devices.
  • See newly diagnosed pregnant women with gestational diabetes, provide initial information on gestational diabetes, dietary advice and the teaching of HBGM, including the recommended blood sugar range during pregnancy.
  • Assist inpatient diabetes specialist nurses to carry out duties where appropriate but not limited to basic diabetes and new to insulin education to facilitate early discharge.
  • Undertake collection and basic interpretation of Blood glucose data, and with support and discussion with diabetes specialist provide advice to patient to improve glycaemic control
  • Helping deliver both face to face and virtual group patient teaching sessions.
  • Proactively identify patients with poor glycaemic control, with the aim of identifying and subsequently helping to improve their compliance and understanding.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Foundation Level Degree : Nursing Associate Qualification/NMC Registered Nursing Associate
  • Completion of End Point Assessment for applicants who have undertaken an apprenticeship route/Evidence of continuing education
Desirable criteria
  • Essential induction training and experience
  • Previous experience of working with individuals who have diabetes

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of providing training and education to patients and staff
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary team working/Experience of working with a broad range of patients across of a variety of settings
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of training other members of staff

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of the need for confidentiality awareness at all times.
  • Basic understanding of knowledge of diabetes and its signs and symptoms including gestational diabetes and use of glucose monitoring devices
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge on intermittent and continuous glucose monitor as well as dual glucose and ketone meter

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Employer with Heart

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jocelyn Simon Garchitorena
Job title
Lead Nurse Diabetes and Endocrinology
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01582 718050
Additional information

Candidate can arrange for an informal visit via reception desk number 01582 718050