Allergy Dietitian

Job overview

• The principal allergy dietitian will work with the consultant dietitian to manage the highly specialist adult food allergy clinical service. The post holder will see adults with suspected food allergy, both new referrals from primary care and also day case patients admitted for food challenges. They will assess adults newly referred for suspected food allergy, arrange allergy tests, review the results and provide advice on dietary management.  They will also provide the primary support for the food challenge service. The post holder will be part of a multidisciplinary allergy team, with a strong emphasis on collaborative working and equality.

Main duties of the job

• To work with the consultant dietitian to manage the highly specialised adult food allergy clinical service, assessing, diagnosing and managing new food allergy referrals from primary care
• To lead the food challenge service, including the updating of procedures, patient consent forms, and other food challenge documentation
• To interact and advise the multidisciplinary team on the diagnosis and dietary/ nutritional management of food allergy.
• To be responsible for and initiate research and development projects in adult food allergy, disseminating results and best practice through publication and presentations
• To use expert knowledge and extensive clinical experience to develop the food allergy service, by contribution to and evaluation of national/international policies and frameworks and to facilitate their implementation within the trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

• To lead the food challenge service, supervising/undertaking the preparation of challenge materials, supporting the clinical team undertaking the challenge and presenting patient details at MDT
• To undertake food allergy clinics, seeing new GP referrals for suspected food allergy, requesting allergy tests and formulating a diagnosis and management plan
• Provide specialist food allergy knowledge, advice, resource information and  support to clinical staff across the Trust.
• Provide specialist advice/second opinions to other dietitians and professionals nationally and internationally.
• To ensure a consistent and reliable food allergy service for all through assessment of the patient’s history, making clinical decisions regarding diagnostic tests, interpretation of test results, and providing a dietary management plan, to include further testing or food challenges as appropriate. This should take into account any clinical co-morbidities, biochemical parameters, dietary norms, social situation, cultural or religious beliefs and relevant drug treatments.
• To lead in the provision of expert dietary and nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians using evidence-based practice or in the absence of a robust evidence-based practice, advanced clinical judgement acquired through professional expertise.
• To use highly advanced communication skills including active listening, empathy,  emotional engagement, tact, openness, motivation and reassurance to negotiate allergy and dietetic interventions where sensitive information needs to be discussed.
• To translate highly complex scientific, medical, biochemical and nutritional  information into simple and easily understood practical information and advice for  patients and carers.
• To act as a patient advocate, highlighting concerns or issues to the multidisciplinary team and facilitate patient involvement in decision making at all stages of their clinical management
• To maintain patient records to comply with departmental standards
• To provide specialist advice to others involved in the care of the patient including  general practitioners, and community dietitians

Professional Responsibilities

• Freedom to act interpreting the Health and Care Professions Council code of conduct and working to all agreed standards, policies and procedures within the department and the Trust.
• Maintenance and improvement of knowledge about current best practice and developments in food allergy diagnosis and management, employing evidence-based practice wherever possible.
• Recording and reflecting on continuous professional development activities through maintenance of a personal portfolio.
• Attendance at academic meetings and courses as considered necessary with report back to the Allergy team
• Participation, including where relevant taking a lead role in MDT meetings and other key allergy department issues such as re-accreditation by the Royal College of Physicians.
• Writing policies and protocols for the multidisciplinary team determining patient care.
• To critically appraise national and international publications on food allergy
• To participate fully in the appraisal process and develop a strategy for continuing professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation.

Admin and Management

• Have highly developed IT skills requiring data entry and data analysis
• Ensuring there is a suitable library of patient resources including information/diet sheets, allergy action plans and online resources for use by patients and healthcare professionals both within and outside the Trust.
• Recording and collation of activity statistics and other information as required e.g. databases and spreadsheets for patient activity
• To be pro-active in the development of new practices and resources to better meet the needs of patients and the service.
• To work with dietitians at the GSTT allergy service to help harmonise practices and determine how the service may develop closer links and cross-site working

Teaching and Training

• To support the organisation of, and involvement in, the training and support of allergy specialists, including dietitians, trainees and nurses in all aspects of food allergy diagnosis and management.
• Teaching healthcare professionals on all aspects of food allergy through informal tutorials and formal study days.
• Participation in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, including dietitians, nurses, doctors and pharmacists, both in the classroom and on clinical placement.

Research and Development

• To lead clinical audit and research projects that further develop food allergy practice. Presentation of research is expected at national and international meetings
• To use specialist knowledge of current evidence to drive the clinical audit and research programme in area of expertise and identify sources of funding for research where necessary
• To lead in identifying areas of research need and developing clinical guidance in food allergy which may have impact on clinical practice across the trust
• To contribute to the research environment within the service and offer support and guidance to research teams, MSc projects and external agencies using Trust property and patients
• To co-ordinate and supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate students
• To provide specialist clinical opinion, as required, in the development of clinical policy and service development within the multi-professional team and the wider network
• To work with the Allergy team to ensure that the service responds locally to national initiatives (e.g. NICE, NHS England).
• To maintain a database and act as a central source of advice and information in the highly specialised area of adult food allergy