Job summary
To work within a team of Dietitians to provide a dietetic service to adult services within the Trust.
This role has a specialist focus on providing dietetic care to patients with Diabetes, but the role will not be limited only to this patient group. You will act as a source of expertise to patients, families and healthcare professionals in the dietary management and treatment of a diverse range of clinical conditions.

Main duties of the job
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Dietitian to join our friendly multidisciplinary Diabetes Service. We are looking for an HCPC-registered Dietitian with a passion for supporting people living with diabetes to achieve better health outcomes through evidence-based nutritional care.

Working as part of a well-established multidisciplinary team, you will provide specialist dietetic assessment, treatment and education for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 across a variety of clinical settings. You will work closely with diabetes specialist nurses, consultants, GPs and primary care colleagues to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop specialist diabetes knowledge while contributing to service development, quality improvement and patient education programmes.

This role has a specialist focus on providing dietetic care to patients with Diabetes, but the role will not be limited only to this patient group. You will act as a source of expertise to patients, families and healthcare professionals in the dietary management and treatment of a diverse range of clinical conditions.

About us
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job

• To be a source of expertise regarding Dietetic care for patients living with Diabetes.
• To manage a Dietetic inpatient caseload which will include, but not be limited to, patients living with Diabetes. Other areas are likely to include Medical wards, Surgical wards, Care of the Elderly wards and Acute Admission wards, depending on service needs. To accept clinical responsibility for designated caseload and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical and service priorities, readjusting priorities as situations change and arise. To be professionally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of clinical risk for patients within caseload.
• To manage a regular outpatient Dietetic clinic for patients living with Diabetes.
• There may be the requirement to attend a regular Multi-Disciplinary Foot Team (MDFT) clinic.
• To provide Dietetic input to a weekly Diabetes ward round, with attendance shared between this role and the other B6 Diabetes Dietitian role.
• To work within a team to ensure appropriate cover for the Dietetic service, and to escalate any concerns to senior managers when appropriate.
• To effectively raise concerns with regards to safeguarding and/or the safety of patients or staff members through the appropriate channels.
• To conduct nutritional assessments and implement individualised, evidence-based treatment plans. This will include the calculation of nutritional requirements and the gathering and interpretation of relevant anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, environmental, social and functional information. This will require analysing highly complex, and sometimes conflicting information, liaising with other healthcare professionals, and will include ethical decision making as part of a team.
• To set appropriate timescales for patient reviews, to evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment plans if required.
• To advise on the appropriate use of nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals, and other borderline substances as listed in the British National Formulary, after the assessment of patients’ nutritional status’ and in accordance with Trust prescribing guidelines. To be aware of changes to nutritional product formularies.
• To advise and liaise with catering staff concerning the specialist dietary needs for patients, and to assist in advising the catering department regarding the preparation of special meals as required.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and to communicate assessments appropriately, in the form of reports and letters.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and personal specification for the role. We welcome telephone conversations for further information. Please conact Adele Ward on 01279 827443.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree relating to Nutrition & Dietetics.
• Registered as a Dietitian with the HCPC.

Desirable

• CPD in relevant areas to job description, such as diabetes and/or line management.
• BDA membership.

Experience
Essential

• Experience of providing dietetic advice to patients with diabetes.
• Experience training and supporting junior staff and/or students.
• Experience working in an acute setting as a Dietitian.

Desirable

• Experience with delivering a service improvement.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.