About this role
Job summary
Role Purpose
The Primary Care Diabetes Specialist Nurse provides expert clinical care, education, and support to patients with diabetes within primary care settings. The role focuses on improving glycaemic control, preventing diabetes-related complications, and empowering patients to self-manage their condition.The role contributes to reducing health inequalities by supporting earlier diagnosis, optimising long term management, and improving outcomes for underserved or high-risk populations.The nurse supports GP practices by providing specialist diabetes expertise, reviewing complex cases, optimising treatment plans, and helping practices meet national diabetes care standards.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist assessment, management and support for patients with Type 1, Type 2, gestational and other forms of diabetes, including LADA, MODY and secondary diabetes. Undertake comprehensive reviews covering glycaemic control, cardiovascular risk, medication optimisation and lifestyle. Initiate and titrate diabetes medication, including insulin where appropriately trained, and support use of CGM/flash monitoring.
Identify and manage acute issues including hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia and DKA risk, providing safety-netting and sick-day advice. Monitor and manage risk of long-term complications including cardiovascular, renal, neurological and retinal disease.Provide personalised education on self-management, nutrition, weight management, physical activity, glucose monitoring and medication adherence.Provide specialist advice, education and training to GPs, practice nurses and primary care teams, supporting complex diabetes management, insulin initiation/titration and care planning.Identify and proactively manage high-risk patients and contribute to personalised care plans, audit, quality improvement and service development.Work collaboratively with primary and secondary care MDTs and facilitate appropriate referrals. Maintain competencies through CPD, reflective practice and training.
About us
Banbury Cross Health Centre is owned and operated by Principal Medical Limited (PML), which works in partnership with the NHS to deliver primary care services in GP practices and community settings.
Founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit organisation by local GPs, PML was established to enable healthcare professionals to develop and deliver innovative services at scale. Today, 70% of GP practices in Oxfordshire and 22% in Northamptonshire are associated with the Federation.
PML is the largest GP Federation in Oxfordshire and South Northamptonshire, serving nearly 800,000 patients. We believe local providers are best placed to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care that meets community needs.
With over 20 years of experience, PML has a strong track record of delivering NHS, ICB and Public Health services. Our work is guided by five core values: being Compassionate, Competent, Courteous, Collaborative and Committed. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role Accountabilities
Specialist Clinical Care
Provide specialist assessment and management for patients with:Type 1 Diabetes primarily managed within OCDEM; however, some individuals will attend primary care for ongoing support, reviews, or shared care management.Type 2 Diabetes.Gestational Diabetes postpartum follow up within primary care.Other forms of diabetes, including:Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY).Steroid induced hyperglycaemia and diabetes.Secondary diabetes (e.g., pancreatic disease, endocrine disorders).Drug induced diabetes (e.g., antipsychotics, immunosuppressants).Support patients using diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and flash glucose monitoring.Provide safety netting advice including sick day rules and escalation pathways.Review and rationalise medication regimens, including deprescribing where clinically appropriate.Conduct comprehensive diabetes reviews, including:Glycaemic control.Cardiovascular risk assessment.Medication optimisation.Lifestyle review.Interpret and monitor glycaemic markers such as HbA1c.Initiate and titrate diabetes medications, including insulin where appropriately trained.Identify and manage acute diabetes issues such as:Hypoglycaemia.Hyperglycaemia.Early identification of Diabetic Ketoacidosis risk.
Chronic Disease Management
Provide structured diabetes care aligned with national diabetes guidelines.Support achievement of key diabetes care processes within GP practices.Monitor patients for long-term complications including:Cardiovascular disease.Kidney disease.Neuropathy.Retinopathy.
Patient Education and Self-Management
Deliver personalised diabetes education to individuals and families.Promote lifestyle interventions including:Diet modification.Weight management.Physical activity.Support behaviour changes to improve long-term outcomes.Educate patients on blood glucose monitoring and medication adherence.Digital literacy support.
Practice and Primary Care Support
Provide specialist advice to GPs and practice nurses on diabetes management.Support primary care teams with:Insulin initiation and titration.Complex medication regimes.Difficult-to-control diabetes.Contribute to development of diabetes care pathways within the practice.
Population Health and Case Management
Identify high-risk patients through practice diabetes registers.Prioritise patients with poor glycaemic control or complications.Support proactive care planning and personalised care plans.
Multidisciplinary Working
Work collaboratively with:Endocrinology specialists.General practitioners.Practice nurses.Dietitians.Podiatrists.Pharmacists.Community healthcare teams.Facilitate referrals to secondary care when appropriate.
Quality Improvement and Service Development
Participate in clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.Support practices in meeting diabetes quality indicators.Contribute to development of integrated diabetes services across primary and secondary care.
Education and Training
Provide training and mentorship to practice nurses and healthcare assistants.Deliver diabetes education sessions within the primary care team.Promote best practice in diabetes management.Maintains and updates competencies through CPD, reflective practice and training.Position Purpose
The Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) provides expert clinical care, education, and support for patients with diabetes. The role focuses on improving diabetes management, preventing complications, and promoting patient self-management through specialist assessment, treatment planning, and multidisciplinary collaboration.The DSN acts as a key resource for patients, families, and healthcare professionals regarding diabetes management and current best practice.
Additional Accountabilities
Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients with Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes.Provide specialist advice on:Insulin therapy.Oral and injectable diabetes medications.Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).Monitor and manage complex diabetes cases including:Poor glycaemic control.Recurrent hypoglycaemia.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).Support inpatient diabetes management and provide consultation to ward staff.Deliver structured diabetes education programs.Teach patients:Blood glucose monitoring.Insulin administration.Diet and lifestyle management.Hypoglycaemia recognition and treatment.Support behaviour changes to improve long-term diabetes control.Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team including:Endocrinologists.Dietitians.Podiatrists.Pharmacists.Primary care MDT.Contribute to clinical audits and service evaluations.Implement evidence-based diabetes guidelines and protocols.Participate in development of diabetes care pathways and policies.Provide training and guidance to healthcare professionals on diabetes care.Mentor junior nursing staff and students.Promote best practice in diabetes management across healthcare settings.Maintain awareness of advances in diabetes treatments and technology.
Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge Essential
Advanced understanding of diabetes management in community settings. Insulin therapy initiation and adjustment. Interpretation of blood glucose monitoring and continuous glucose monitoring data. Ability to deliver complex health information clearly to patients and clinicians. Motivational interviewing and behaviour change skills. Clinical Decision-Making. Autonomous assessment and management of complex diabetes cases.
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Post-registration experience in diabetes management. Evidence of continuing professional development in diabetes care. Postgraduate qualification in diabetes care.
Desirable
Independent prescribing qualification. Advanced clinical assessment training. Certification in insulin pump therapy or diabetes education. Experience in research, audit, or service development.
Leadership Essential
Acts as a clinical role model within the primary care team. Supports and mentors other nurses and healthcare assistants. Encourages best practice in diabetes care across GP practices and Primary Care Networks. Contributes to service improvement and innovation in diabetes management.
Behaviours and Attributes Essential
Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and respect when supporting people living with diabetes. Promotes shared decision-making and encourages patient autonomy in managing conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes and Type 1 Diabetes. Recognises the psychological, social, and cultural factors affecting diabetes management. Always maintains dignity and confidentiality. Works effectively within multidisciplinary teams in primary care. Values the contribution of GPs, pharmacists, dietitians, podiatrists, and other healthcare professionals. Supports integrated care between primary and specialist diabetes services. Contributes positively to team discussions and care planning.
Experience Essential
Experience working in primary care or community nursing. Experience managing patients with complex diabetes. Experience providing patient education and lifestyle support. Experience in patient education and chronic disease management. Minimum 23 years of clinical experience in diabetes.
Desirable
Experience supporting diabetes registers or population health initiatives. Experience with insulin pumps or diabetes technology.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Banbury Cross Health Centre
Address Banbury Cross Health Centre
6 Oxford Road
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX16 9AD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.banburycrosshealthcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)