Job Description
Employer heading
Nurse Specialist - Diabetic
Band 6
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job Overview We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) to join our dynamic Inpatient Diabetes Team, providing expert diabetes care across both the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and Freeman Hospital sites.
As a key member of the multidisciplinary team, you will deliver specialist advice and support to inpatients with diabetes, particularly those experiencing complications secondary to their intercurrent illnesses. You will work collaboratively with ward teams to optimise diabetes management, support safe discharge planning, and promote high standards of evidence-based care for people living with diabetes during their hospital stay.
This is an exciting and varied role within a progressive and forward-thinking service, where you will have the opportunity to develop and enhance your clinical and leadership skills across a range of medical and surgical specialities.
The post involves participation in a 7-day service, providing cover across weekends, evenings, and bank holidays, ensuring consistent and responsive diabetes care for inpatients at all times.
If you are a passionate, proactive nurse with any experience in diabetes care and a commitment to improving outcomes for people with diabetes in the acute setting, we would greatly receive your application.
- Interview Date Friday 21 November 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
NO AGENCIES PLEASE Main duties of the job
- Undertaking specialist assessment and management of adults with diabetes across medical and surgical wards.
- Providing expert advice on insulin adjustment, medication management, and treatment planning to staff across all professional levels.
- Delivering patient education and promoting self-management to enhance understanding and confidence in diabetes care.
- Working collaboratively with ward teams to ensure safe and effective diabetes management and reduce avoidable harm.
- Planning and assisting in staff education sessions and study days to develop diabetes knowledge and clinical competence.
- Participating in audit, data collection, and quality improvement initiatives to support service development and patient safety.
- Supporting safe discharge planning and effective communication with community and primary care diabetes teams to ensure continuity of care.
Working for our organisation
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
- Freeman Hospital
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
- Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
- Newcastle Dental Hospital
- Newcastle Fertility Centre
- Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
- Northern Genetics Service
- Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit:
Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities As a Band 6 Diabetes Specialist Nurse within the inpatient team, you will provide high-quality, evidence-based diabetes care for adults admitted to hospital. You will support inpatient’s with diabetes, particularly those experiencing complications secondary to intercurrent illness, ensuring safe, effective, and person-centred care at all times.
You will work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, demonstrating sound clinical judgement and professional accountability. Regular discussion and supervision with senior staff will support your development and ensure the delivery of safe, consistent, and high-quality care. The post requires flexibility within a 7-day service.
You will be a motivated and compassionate nurse with excellent communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills, committed to improving outcomes and maintaining patient safety in all aspects of diabetes care.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust define a nurse specialist as a qualified nurse where the primary purpose of role is to provide guidance and support based on advanced level knowledge to patients, carers and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.
Within The Sphere Of Specialist Practice - Is working towards advanced knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
- Contributes to the facilitation of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.
- Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Contributes to training and education within specialist area.
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy. Person specification
Qualifications & Education Essential criteria
- Registered nurse (appropriate to branch)
- Current NMC registration
- Diploma plus specialist qualifications / experience within specialist area; prepared to take degree level study
- Meets Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for student supervision and assessment (formally Mentorship) if relevant to role
- Current driving licence if relevant to role
Desirable criteria
- Degree in health related subject
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Some post registration experience within related specialist area of practice
- Extended clinical practice underpinned by training supervision & assessment
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
- Has understanding / experience of adult / child safeguarding
- Evidence of on-going continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
- Research or audit experience
- Evidence of contribution towards education and training programmes
Skills & Abilities Essential criteria
- Good IT skills
- Effective report writing skills
- Able to work independently and as a member of a team
- Effective organisation and time management skills
Desirable criteria
- Change management skills and involvement in project work
Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- JD & PS (PDF, 336.4KB)
- Newcastle Staff Benefits (PDF, 274.4KB)
- Behaviour and Civility Charter (PDF, 93.8KB)
Apply online now
Further details / informal visits contact
Name Helen Young Job title Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse Email address Helen.young30@nhs.net Telephone number 0191 2826805
Job Tags
Part time, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,