Diabetes Support Worker
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Band 3 Diabetes support worker to join our team.
We have a vacancy for a Diabetes Support worker whose role will be to support the Diabetes specialist nursing service in both an inpatient and outpatient setting.
We would like to recruit a keen, enthusiastic member of staff with experience working with patients with Diabetes. You must enjoy working with others and supporting patients to manage their Diabetes safely.
Ideally you will have a good general education and knowledge and experience of using basic IT systems.
The post holder may need to be asked to travel between sites and attend staff meetings.
Clinical supervision and training will be offered.
Please note applicants require a Full UK Driving License and access to own vehicle to be considered for this post.
Main duties of the job
- Provide education to patients and their relatives/carers regarding management of Diabetes (to include blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, hypoglycaemia and ketone management, DVLA rules and Libre).
- To signpost patients to further information and education regarding Diabetes management (e.g. Diet/retinal screening/footcare etc).
- To support within the clinical nursing area of our OPD if required, which will include monitoring patients height/weight/BMI/BP etc.
About us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To assist specialist practitioner with care and education of patients with Diabetes, their families or carers. Working regularly without direct supervision in various care settings including outpatient department, in-patient areas, community and local health centres and in the patients home.
2.To assist patients, families and carers learning how to self-check blood glucose levels with a locally approved blood glucose meter including information on the timing and frequency of testing and the targets for the individual recommended by specialist practitioner.
3.To educate patients, families and carers about hypoglycaemia (hypo) where risk is identified by specialist practitioner. Education would include recognition, treatments and prevention of hypo and when patients, families and carers should seek further help.
4.To educate patients, families and carers how to self-inject subcutaneous diabetes therapies as recommended and prescribed by specialist practitioner. Education would include how to use the prescribed device, where and when to inject and when patients, families and carers should seek further help.
5.To educate patients, families and carers with regard to current DVLA regulation with insulin.
6.To educate patients, families and carers about taking a suitable diet recommended for people with diabetes.
7.To visit diabetes wards to actively find people with diabetes to assess need for basic education in diabetes and liaise with ward nurses directly.
8.Assist where required to prepare patients for medical clinic appointments in the main clinical area.
9.To accurately record and report observations e.g. pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature with the aid of specialist equipment as appropriate to the needs of the work place and record in the patients record.
10.To accurately measure blood glucose with the aid of specialist equipment, recording and reporting the results.
11.To ensure that appropriate moving and handling techniques and equipment are used when manual handling.
12.To accurately test urine samples, recording the results and also ensuring that the results are reported in the patients records.
13.To feedback information gathered from patient interaction, plus care given, to relevant specialist practitioner, entering relevant information into the care records as necessary.
14.To escort patients to other departments within the hospital as requested by the nurse in charge.
15.To chaperone patients requiring clinical examinations as and when required.
16.To ensure all areas are kept clean, tidy and appropriately stocked, including storage areas and medical equipment.
17.To comply with Health and Safety Regulations and to report accidents/untoward incidents/hazards and unsafe equipment to the nurse in charge of the ward immediately, utilising the incident reporting system.
18.To attend mandatory training and such courses/lectures/in-service training, as indicated by the needs of the service and own personal development as identified at appraisal and within personal development plan.
19.The post-holder will be required to supervise less experienced staff as instructed by a registered nurse.*
20.To be familiar with, and comply with, all appropriate Trust policies and procedures.
21.To undertake any other duties as may be required to meet with the needs of the service within the limitations of the grade for the post.
22.At all times to maintain a professional image e.g. applies with the Trusts Uniform Policy.
Person Specification
Application
- Basic knowledge/experience working in Diabetes (3)
- Experience working in a health care setting
Qualifications
- NVQ Level 3 Healthcare
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Employer name
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Address
Diabetes Centre, New Cross Hospital
Wolverhampton
WV10 0QP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.royalwolverhampton.nhs.uk/