Senior Specialist Dietitian - Paediatric Diabetes

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust; Coventry; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated Dietitian within our Paediatric diabetes dietetic service at UHCW.

About you:
The successful candidate will already have solid clinical skills in Paediatric Diabetes Dietetics. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop clinical skills and transform patient care for the Paediatric Diabetes cohort at a Band 7 level.

You will work alongside the current service lead for Paediatric Diabetes Dietetics and join our wider Paediatric diabetes MDT consisting of Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurses and Doctors.

You will be supported in your own personal development by a strong Dietetic Management Team. There is a strong emphasis on training at UHCW, and you will have access to our own bespoke leadership and change management training, plus the opportunity to attend relevant external courses funded by the department. You will also benefit from being part of a passionate peer network within UHCW and with our partnership organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire.

We are looking for someone who is focused on delivering the best care to our patients as well as creating the best experiences and opportunities for our staff. Previous Paediatric Diabetes experience is essential.

About the role:
You will provide clinical support to junior members of the department including a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner based at University Hospital, Coventry.

1. You will jointly manage an inpatient caseload.
2. You will jointly manage an outpatient caseload at University Hospital, Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.
3. Support service development with input from relevant MDTs, as able.
4. Work with senior colleagues across the Dietetic Department on department initiatives.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high-quality patient care at the heart of everything we do. Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care.

To work autonomously to provide specialist dietetic advice to patients, their carers and staff within agreed protocols and guidelines including:

1. Carry out nutritional assessments (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history) to determine any nutritional problems.
2. Development of treatment plans (calculation of nutritional requirements, analysis of nutritional intakes sometimes using specialist IT systems, client centred goals and discharge planning).
3. Prescription of dietary treatment and ACBS products for conditions where there are limited professional/clinical guidelines available.
4. To be clinically competent following appropriate training to give specialist dietetic advice, treatment and dietary counselling to patients in inpatient and outpatient clinic locations including consultant-led clinics and structured group education programmes as appropriate.
5. To communicate nutrition and dietetic information in an understandable form to staff, clients and carers, requiring negotiation, persuasion, motivation and counselling skills including situations where there are barriers to change.
6. To use appropriate communication skills and resources to ensure that suitably accessible information is available to individuals and their guardians on their dietary treatment/care plans.
7. To liaise with catering, nursing and dietetic staff to ensure the provision of a satisfactory meal service for individual patients.
8. To attend and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
9. To participate in the health promotion activities of the department.
10. To work flexible hours to meet the needs of the patients and the service as required.
11. To cover the work of colleagues and deputise for senior colleagues during periods of absence or peak workloads.

Management
To participate in forward planning and development of the dietetic department with particular reference to the Paediatric Diabetes team.

1. To lead and contribute to the development and updating of evidence-based clinical guidelines, policies, procedures and patient information particularly for those required for use in Paediatric Diabetes.
2. To propose changes to own working practices and practices relating to nutrition across the Paediatric Diabetes Dietetic Team based on current evidence and best practice.
3. To monitor stock levels of resources such as stationery, diet sheets, patient information, enteral feeding equipment and ensure cost-effective and appropriate use.
4. To plan and prioritise own workload and evaluate own practice which may include clinics, group work, working jointly with other professionals and agencies.
5. To actively participate in the forward planning of the department.

Training and education
To plan and organise the training and clinical supervision of student dietitians and dietitians on attachment including planning and prioritising training programmes, timetables and written assessments.

1. To undertake mentoring of junior members of staff and student dietitians.
2. To initiate and lead the planning and coordination of training on nutritional topics in community nutrition support as appropriate to healthcare staff, and other workers or carers.
3. To regularly initiate and participate in the departmental Clinical Governance programme including presenting research findings, evidence-based practice workshops, clinical audit, and reporting of clinical risks.
4. To develop evaluation criteria and audit clinical practice within the designated specialty to ensure a high-quality, evidence-based effective service.

Professional
To keep up to date with current developments in dietetics and participate in appropriate continuous professional development activities.

1. To actively participate and contribute to departmental clinical supervision group to ensure a regular evaluation of practice through peer review.
2. Ensure that all Trust wide and departmental standards and clinical guidelines are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of total care, to all who come into contact with services provided by University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
3. Participate in personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.
4. To document patient activity data in accordance with Trust and professional standards and to meet any external requirements of the designated specialty.
5. To work as an autonomous practitioner working within the BDA Code of professional conduct and HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency (Dietitians).
6. Contributes to the development and maintenance of the profile of the Dietetic profession.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.