Diabetes Specialist Dietitian

Job overview

Are you ready for the next step in your career? The Diabetes Team at North Bristol NHS Trust is expanding it's well established and cohesive service. We are therefore inviting applicants to join us for a new Diabetes Specialist Dietitian post, working across Diabetes Services.

This role is most suitable for an established band 6 Diabetes Specialist Dietitian, but an experienced band 5 Dietitian looking to develop a career in diabetes will be considered. The successful applicant will share our commitment to providing patient focused care and will be an essential member of our supportive and friendly multi-disciplinary team.

We offer those joining us a new challenge in a forward-thinking, ever-evolving environment. This is supported by a robust orientation and structured development pathway that can be tailored according to the post holders experience. Continued support will be provided accordingly by experienced Band 7 Diabetes Specialist Dietitians and the wider Diabetes multi-disciplinary team.

The team are open to negotiating a flexible work pattern to meet the needs of the successful post holder and the service. We would like to invite applicants to apply for a substantive role, or we are willing to consider a secondment opportunity.

Main duties of the job

At North Bristol Trust we commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.

In this vital role, you will work closely with the multi-disciplinary Diabetes Team to:

• Provide specialist dietary advice and diabetes management guidance to patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and support carbohydrate counting and insulin adjustment skills.
• Provide specialist dietary advice and diabetes management guidance to patients with diabetes in pregnancy, including individuals with Gestational Diabetes and those with pre-existing diabetes.
• Provide specialist education on the use of diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring) and subsequent data interpretation to facilitate beneficial behaviour changes.
• Deliver structured education sessions to patient groups.

There is scope to expand this depending upon special interest and service requirement. You will also be involved in student training.

Dietetic input will primarily be provided through one-to-one consultations via face-to-face, telephone and virtual platforms. Structured education group sessions will be delivered face-to-face or virtually. Continued support will be provided to develop the specialist knowledge and achieve the required competencies to fulfil this post.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities that the post holder is required to undertake.

• To provide an effective, evidence-based dietetic service as a key member of the Diabetes Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).
• Deliver outpatient clinics and structured education sessions for people with diabetes.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments and reviews, including clinical history, biochemistry, anthropometry, nutritional assessment, social history, glucose data interpretation, medication history, other diagnostic tests etc.
• Develop realistic, patient-centred, holistic nutritional care plans considering medical, social, cultural and psychological factors.
• Support behaviour change using counselling and motivational approaches.

• Achieve required competencies in line with organisational guidelines for non-medical prescribers and the BDA competency framework to make recommendations regarding diabetes medication adjustment where appropriate.
• Initiate and support patients using diabetes technology (continuous glucose monitoring).
• Order and interpret blood/urine tests and escalate abnormal results appropriately.

• Deliver education and training to patients, carers, student dietitians and healthcare professionals.
• Liaise with healthcare professionals within and beyond the Diabetes MDT as required to ensure safe and effective patient care.
• Contribute to development and review of patient education resources, and nutrition-related guidelines, policies and procedures within the Diabetes Service.

• Actively participate in Diabetes Service meetings, Clinical Governance meetings and to represent the Diabetes Specialist Dietitians on relevant working groups and committees at the NHS Trust.
• Maintain accurate clinical records in line with professional standards (HCPC and national guidelines).
• Maintain evidence-based practice in line with current guidelines, ongoing Continuing Professional Development and HCPC registration requirements.
• Participate in appraisal and performance review processes.