Diabetes/Acute Medicine Dietitian

Job overview

Band 6 Diabetes / Acute Medicine Dietitian, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics

Salary: £38,682 – £46,580

Hours: up to 25.5 hours / week

Contract: Fixed term contract or secondment opportunity – 1 year

All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working / part time working

This vacancy is for a Band 6 post; however, we will also consider applications from Dietitians currently working at Band 5 who would develop through a competency programme to Band 6.

We are looking for an enthusiastic dietitian with an interest in diabetes and acute medicine, to join our acute team as a band 6 dietitian, covering maternity leave.

The post is suitable for an experienced band 5 dietitian or band 6 dietitian looking to widen their skills and experience, working with inpatients, and also providing an outpatient service.

Previous experience of diabetes and nutritional support including enteral feeding is essential. Experience of carbohydrate counting is beneficial, but not essential.

We will give you all the support you need as you join a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, you will be well supported by an acute team leader.

Interviews are due to take place 13th January unfortunately; only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

For further details / informal visits contact: Acute Adult Dietetic Team Leaders, Zulaika van Aar, Helen Tozer or Ana Wermelinger on 01908 996004

This role can not be sponsored.

Main duties of the job

We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute

''NHS Survey, 2024''Allied Health Professionals experience a high diverse and equal work environment, supporting this with 8.33 out of 10.

You should have excellent clinical and communication skills, and can demonstrate an ability to be flexible, manage time effectively and have a strong commitment to teamwork. The successful candidate will work close with supportive multi-disciplinary teams to provide holistic and patient-centred service.

You will be joining our wider team of over 30 registered dietitians, dietetic support workers and admin staff, covering acute, community, paediatric and learning disability services.

We have excellent secretarial and dietetic assistant support and take students for clinical placements from the University of Surrey and Oxford Brookes University. On site accommodation is usually available.

As a Department and Trust, we will provide support and opportunities for clinical and leadership CPD, we also committed to supporting external education and career development opportunities. We have a dedicated Therapy Practice Education team to support staff development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To develop and maintain a high standard of knowledge and practical experience in general dietetics, and to provide specialist expertise in areas as diabetes and acute medicine.
• To manage a highly diverse caseload
• To draw up treatment plans for patients on caseload, this may include acute medical patients and patients with diabetes.
• To provide nutritional therapy, education and support to people with diabetes, who may have complex social and dietary needs and may be resistant to dietary change.
• To take an active role in the multidisciplinary care team [including meetings/ ward rounds/safeguarding] and to liaise with nursing, medical and other health professionals as required.
• To act as an advocate for the patient on nutritional matters where necessary.

Leadership

• To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
• To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
• To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
• To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.

Leadership

• To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
• To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
• To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
• To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.

Clinical governance

• To access, critically appraise and use best practice/evidence-based information to contribute to the production and review of clinical guidelines, and to inform care pathways for patients.

Organisation/administrative responsibilities

• To keep accurate and timely electronic notes for patients. These will be completed within the guidelines of the organisation and professional body, ensuring legibility and accessibility.
• To be aware of confidentiality issues and to ensure organisational and departmental policies are adhered to.

Communication

• To communicate with patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals across the local healthcare environment.
• To communicate with dietetic colleagues across the region on a regular basis.
• To use special communication systems (e.g., pictorial or adapted aids) when dealing with people with additional learning needs and those with communication difficulties due to age, illness or trauma.

General

• To assist in the identification of problems where changes to practices and systems or additional resources are required to support caseload and to discuss these with line manager.
• To review own practices and systems.
• To communicate clearly and sensitively to all key working relationships, using educational material, writing reports and presentations to groups.

Committee Membership

The post holder will be required to represent the Dietetic Department at internal or external meetings as appropriate including attendance at:

• Departmental Quality Meetings
• Acute Adult Team Meetings
• Safeguarding Meetings
• Multidisciplinary meetings

Please refer to the job description for further details.