Health care professional roles - resources
Here are links to evidence-based resources relevant to role development. You may also want to refer to information about the national service frameworks and strategies across the UK.
Some of the resources listed below are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Cochrane Review: Specialist nurses in diabetes mellitus
This review aimed to assess the effects of diabetes specialist nurses / nurse case manager in diabetes on the metabolic control of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to usual care in hospital clinics or primary care with no input from specialist nurses.
Department of Health (2002) Workforce matters: A guide to role redesign for diabetes care
This guidance, published by the Department of Health, was developed by the NHS Modernisation Agency against a backdrop of rising demand. It discusses what job or role redesign can involve and describes seven steps to role redesign.
NHS Diabetes: Case studies
This area of the NHS Diabetes website shares stories and examples of good practice some of which focus on specific roles.
National Diabetes Support Team Diabetes Workforce Executive Groups (2007) Workforce planning and development in diabetes (PDF 778.6KB)
This document is particularly aimed at diabetes networks, commissioners of services and provider organisations. It provides guidance on designing and planning a workforce to facilitate the development of new roles and new ways of working across professional boundaries. Case studies and worked examples illustrate how some of the challenges identified can be overcome.
Royal College of Nursing (2009) Integrated core career and competence framework for registered nurses (PDF 1.50MB)
The RCN has developed a core career and competence framework for senior nurses working at bands five to eight. It helps to achieve the above and assists nurses with their career progression. The framework is divided into topics covered by the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) and guides nurses to determine which dimensions and at what level they should be at that point in their career. The framework also directs users to the National Occupational Standards/National Workforce Competences developed by Skills for Health for specific functions of health care.
Royal College of Nursing (2006) Specialist nursing services for children and young people with diabetes (PDF 1.4MB)
This document sets out the role and qualifications of nurses who specialise in paediatric diabetes care and makes recommendations about educational preparation. It also reinforces the necessity for these nurses to be at the forefront of providing services for children with diabetes.
Skills for Health diabetes competences
Skills for Health has developed a range of competences on aspects of diabetes care in children, young people and adults. The competences describe "what individuals need to do, what they need to know and which skill they need to carry out an activity".
TREND-UK (2010) An integrated career and competency framework for diabetes nursing second edition.
The framework is the product of a collaboration between the professional bodies representing nurses who work in diabetes care co-ordinated by TREND-UK (Training, Research and Education for nurses in Diabetes-UK). Groups represented include the Royal College of Nursing’s Diabetes Nursing Forum. This is the second edition of the framework updated in line with developments in diabetes nursing roles and responsibilities over the past few years. The competence statements for each area are grouped according to five levels of competency which are: unregistered practitioners; competent nurse; experienced or proficient nurse; senior practitioner or expert nurse; consultant nurse. Many of the specific competencies presented here are common to the Skills for Health competences.