Diabetes Nurse Visa Sponsorship Uk

Job Description

Specialist Diabetes Nurse – Enhancing Care Across UHSussex

We are looking for a dedicated, highly skilled Specialist Diabetes Nurse to join our team at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. In this pivotal role, you’ll work closely with patients, families, carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues to deliver a responsive, evidence-based diabetes service across our communities.

You will play a key part in delivering Type 1 structured education, supporting the use of diabetes technologies, and providing high-quality inpatient care. This post offers the opportunity to act as both a clinical expert and an educator, supporting colleagues across primary and secondary care to deliver exceptional diabetes management.

This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, provided applicants meet all requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration, including salary and skill thresholds. For full guidance, please check:

• Skilled Worker visa overview: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
• Eligibility and requirements: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/eligibility

What You Will Do

Leadership & Service Delivery

• Lead the inpatient diabetes in-reach service as part of a supportive Band 7 team.
• Coordinate, refine and enhance diabetes pathways to improve patient outcomes.
• Drive service development initiatives and contribute to long-term planning.

Patient-Focused Education & Clinical Support

• Deliver structured Type 1 diabetes education programmes.
• Provide specialist treatment advice, including insulin initiation and optimisation.
• Support patients using diabetes technology such as pumps, flash monitoring and CGM.
• Offer psychological, emotional, and social support throughout the patient journey.

Professional Collaboration & Staff Development

• Educate peers, junior staff, and multidisciplinary colleagues on diabetes care.
• Contribute to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Provide leadership, supervision, appraisals, and mentorship to junior staff.

Assessment, Planning & Clinical Decision-Making

• Perform comprehensive clinical assessments and develop personalised care plans.
• Use diagnostic and therapeutic interventions within agreed protocols.
• Interpret clinical results and initiate treatment changes where appropriate.
• Use professional judgment to triage and prioritise complex caseloads.

Audit, Research & Quality Improvement

• Lead or contribute to clinical audits, research activity and service evaluations.
• Use national and local data to inform improvements and enhance clinical standards.
• Promote a learning culture by sharing good practice and supporting innovation.

Operational & Administrative Responsibilities

• Contribute to budget management, resource planning and stock control.
• Maintain accurate, professional clinical records in line with Trust policy.
• Ensure full compliance with information governance and data protection standards.

Working at UHSussex

At University Hospitals Sussex, we’re proud of our community culture, inclusivity, and our Outstanding rating for Caring by the CQC. Your individuality is valued here—our staff networks, buddy schemes and inclusive policies ensure everyone feels supported. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Employer and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Secondment Applicants

If you currently work for another NHS Trust or within UHSussex and wish to apply for this as a secondment, please obtain approval from your manager before submitting an application. Without prior approval, secondment cannot be guaranteed.

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Communication & Relationship Management

• Provide specialist nursing advice from diagnosis through ongoing treatment.
• Promote seamless communication across primary and secondary care.
• Follow up with patients to ensure informed decision-making about their care.
• Handle sensitive conversations with compassion, particularly around chronic illness.
• Contribute to presentations, publications, and national sharing of best practice.
• Support major incident response alongside senior colleagues.

2. Analytical & Clinical Judgement

• Assess clinical risk, recommend lifestyle adjustments and review treatment options.
• Perform autonomous diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
• Adjust medications, initiate insulin and discontinue oral agents as appropriate.
• Support appropriate use of diabetes technology (CSII, CGM, Flash systems).
• Interpret audit results and make recommendations for service improvement.

3. Planning & Organisation

• Coordinate diabetes education programmes for both staff and patients.
• Attend MDT meetings and support triage of referrals to the diabetes team.
• Manage complex caseloads and transfer patients safely between services.

4. Patient Care

• Lead on nurse-led inpatient diabetes care, advising ward teams where required.
• Provide holistic, compassionate support to individuals and carers.
• Prioritise safe discharge planning, ensuring barriers are identified and resolved.

5. Policy, Pathways & Service Development

• Work within local and national guidelines to deliver safe, evidence-based care.
• Lead development of policies, pathways and guidelines.
• Support patient experience initiatives and use feedback to shape improvements.

6. Finance & Resource Management

• Contribute to departmental budgeting, resource allocation and stock reviews.
• Promote cost-effective practices in partnership with senior nursing leadership.

7. HR Responsibilities

• Line manage junior staff, including appraisals, development and supervision.
• Support recruitment, training and ongoing professional development.
• Uphold HR policies, including attendance and capability procedures.

8. Information Management

• Use Trust IT systems confidently for documentation and prescribing.
• Ensure compliance with information governance and confidentiality standards.

9. Research & Development

• Lead clinical audits, participate in research and attend specialist conferences.
• Promote learning environments and encourage evidence-based practice.

10. Professional Standards

• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records.
• Uphold the NMC Code and ensure ongoing professional revalidation.
• Demonstrate leadership within the department and the wider Trust.

11. Additional Clinical Expectations

• Provide telephone and email triage for patients and healthcare professionals.
• Work as part of the wider MDT to deliver holistic care.
• Hold or be willing to undertake a non-medical prescribing qualification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NMC Level 1 registration.
• Relevant post-registration qualification.
• First degree; working towards Master’s degree or equivalent.
• Non-medical prescriber (or willingness to train).

Experience

• Post-registration nursing experience, including in diabetes care.
• Experience supervising students or junior colleagues.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Desirable: experience with insulin pumps, CGM and digital diabetes tools.

Skills & Knowledge

• Advanced clinical assessment and critical analysis skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload under pressure.
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, with evidence of promoting inclusive practice.

Additional Applicant Information

Use of AI

Applications should reflect your own voice and experience. Heavy reliance on AI-generated answers may lead to rejection.

Early Closure

Vacancies may close early if application limits are reached.

Flexible Working

Discuss options with the recruiting manager if flexibility is needed.

DBS Checks

Roles will undergo appropriate DBS checks in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa

Applicants must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements outlined by UKVI before applying.