Highly Specialist Dietitian (Paediatric Diabetes)

Job overview

Do you have an interest in, or passion for working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) with diabetes, or do you have previous experience in the management of paediatric diabetes that you’d like to develop and share within a new team?

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated specialist dietitian with good knowledge and understanding of the management of childhood diabetes and who is committed to working with and supporting BCYP and their families.

With one of the largest services for BCYP with diabetes in the South East Coast and London network we can offer you a rewarding, flexible and supportive role building long term professional relationships with BCYP and their families. We are on an exciting improvement journey and can offer you a rewarding and supported role with our care group.

With the majority of clients having Type1 diabetes and over 90% currently using integrated insulin pump and sensor technology vast experience in the use of the latest diabetes related technologies is available.

Here at East Kent Hospitals we value diversity in our workforce and as such encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you believe there may be any barriers to your consideration of this role we would encourage you to contact us for a further discussion. Informal enquiries and visits are welcome and encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work at an enhanced level of practice utilising highly developed post graduate experience, knowledge and skills in dietetics. They will manage discrete aspects of a patient’s care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, within their current level of practice and patient group, aligned to the four pillars of practice and aligned to Trust policy, ‘Enhanced, Advanced and Consultant Level Practice- Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).’

The postholder will contribute to AHP Practice to improve the quality of care to patients.

The post will be characterised by the four pillars of practice:

• Clinical Practice
• Leadership
• Facilitating Learning
• Evidence, Research and Development

The potholder will line-manage a small team of Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Dietitians (PDSD) Band 5/6, supporting them to care for a caseload of children and young people.

They will provide expert and specialist paediatric diabetes advice, education, training and support to key partners within both the community and acute settings and work collaboratively and effectively with all other health care professionals, those allied to health and those in the third sector services.

The Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian will be expected to participate in the out of hours telephone on-call service for babies, children and young people (BCYP) and their families ensuring they have access to specialist diabetes advice and support (pro-rata).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Highly Specialist Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian will manage a designated clinical caseload.

Use clinical judgment and autonomous decision making about the specialist dietetic management of BCYP with diabetes.

Be clinically competent in all areas of advanced practice and equipment use relating to the current management of childhood diabetes e.g. insulin injection and pump therapy, blood glucose and sensor monitoring.

Adhere to and implement the Trust policy in relation to Child Safeguarding

Support key partners within both the community and acute settings and work collaboratively and effectively with all other health care professionals, those allied to health and those in the third sector services.

Provide leadership and direct line-management for a small team of dietetic staff supporting them to care for a caseload of babies, children and young people.

Facilitate multidisciplinary teamwork to deliver a high standard diabetes service to BCYP, adolescents, families and carers.

Participate in a regular review of the responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team as a service provider, examining the structure and processes against all criteria identified in the Best Practice Tariff, National Paediatric Diabetes Audit and Peer review.

The candidate will work cross-site within East Kent and will participate pro-rata in the Out of Hours telephone on-call service for BCYP and their families ensuring they have access to specialist diabetes advice.

You will mainly work within the hospital setting but the role may entail time within the home and the community; enhancing established links with schools and other community groups and forging new ones. Dedicated children’s diabetes clinics are established in five localities within the Trust whilst inpatient care following diagnosis is provided by the two busy children’s wards on two main sites in Margate and Ashford.

You will be supported by a dedicated specialist team to professionally develop further within the speciality.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.