Adult Insulin Pump Dietician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job overview

We are expanding our current Diabetes Specialist Team to meet the needs of our ever-increasing patient group, as well reducing inequalities currently experienced by the local adult population of Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE) that we serve.

In line with the specialty, Trust and System strategic direction and compliance with national mandate and guidance (including NICE guidelines), we are developing an Adult insulin pump and hybrid closed loop service within adult Type 1 diabetes for FY 2026/27, which includes offering a service to:

• transfer 19 year-olds already on Insulin Pumps from Paediatric transition service to Adults
• Pregnant women already on Insulin Pumps and those seeking to conceive who would benefit from Pump therapy

This has resulted in an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced Band 7 Diabetes Specialist Dietitian with an interest in Type 1 Diabetes to join our forward thinking and dynamic diabetes team. This role will be to support the Adult insulin pump Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) service.

Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will focus on developing and implementing local and national diabetes care standards, protocols and initiatives for insulin pump and other technologies across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as part of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Specialist Diabetes Service to provide and facilitate a comprehensive service for all people with diabetes and their carers.

The role will involve working individually and as part of the multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of specialist diabetes service providing expertise and evidence-based diabetes care for people with all types of diabetes especially those on insulin pump therapy.

Areas of education provision include Type 1 and Type 2 patient education, people with diabetes using insulin pump therapy and bespoke programmes for other areas as the need arises. It is envisaged that whilst team members might specialise in a particular area of expertise, opportunities to develop skills in a good range of these areas will be available.

An integral part of the role is to focus on promoting a close working relationship between primary and specialist service providers to implement local and national guidelines for diabetes through positive leadership, communication, and expert knowledge of diabetes to support best practice and high standards of diabetes care throughout the Trust.

The post holder will provide expert knowledge, education, advice and support to healthcare professionals as part of the management of people with diabetes and contribute to the development and implementation of guidelines and procedures across the ICS.

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 that’s 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 we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team within the Diabetes outpatient department
• To act as an expert resource, providing specialist dietetic advice and support to healthcare professionals that provide care for people with diabetes.
• To ensure that the diabetes dietetic services are delivered to a high standard and meet the needs of the patients and commissioners.
• To support the nationally recognised and expanding insulin pump therapy service based at Princess Alexandra Hospital by delivering structured education, supporting insulin pump starts and changeovers and reviewing patients on insulin pump therapy.
• To provide specialist dietetic services as part of a multidisciplinary team, liaising and working closely with diabetes consultants, diabetes specialist nurses, GPs and community nurses to provide seamless and consistent care for people with diabetes.
• To provide advice and support for all people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes requiring specialist advice.
• To become an expert in diabetes technology.
• To advise patients, families and carers on appropriate dietary intervention using a range of developed communication and teaching skills to ensure understanding and promote the effective management of their condition.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s condition understanding drug treatments and other clinical test results with relevance to the dietary intervention required.
• To plan and deliver individualised nutritional care plans based on the comprehensive assessment of the patients needs. Where appropriate, liaising with other health professionals to advise on changes and treatment / medication or requests of further investigations.
• To participate and evaluate on evidence-based specialist education and support to GPs, practice nurses, district nurses and other health professionals. This education will be provided in both formal and informal settings, such as local study days, update meetings, exhibitions and the facility for health professionals to observe the specialist dietetic clinics.
• To lead in the delivery and evaluation of the newly developed innovative education programmes for people with type 1 diabetes.
• To evaluate outcomes of dietetic intervention through the monitoring and review of nutritional care plans and adjust care plans to facilitate achievement of goals.
• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of people with diabetes in your care, keeping accurate patient records and activity data.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
• HCPC Registration
• Advanced specialist knowledge demonstrated by evidence of post registration courses and experiential learning
• Post-registration course for clinical supervisory skills, training of student dietitians (or equivalent) and / or 6 months experience of supervising students
• Post registration experiences and / or training in psychological approaches to patient care, such as cognitive behaviour therapy course

Desirable

• Postgraduate Certificate in Diabetes Care
• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Teaching Qualification or equivalent.
• Management or leadership qualification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 3 years post registration experience
• Minimum 1 year experience as Diabetes Specialist Dietitian
• Experience with Insulin Pump Therapy
• Experience with Continuous Glucose Monitoring
• Expertise in delivering diabetes education and clinical management to people with diabetes in 1:1 setting.
• Expertise with carbohydrate counting and insulin dose adjustment
• Experience of autonomous & multi-disciplinary working
• Experience in supervising and training student dietitians

Desirable

• Experience in developing and delivering training programmes for other health professionals
• Experience in use of psychological techniques and counselling approach in patient consultations.
• Experience of audit/research /project management
• Expertise in delivering group education programmes for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

Employer's website

https://www.pah.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)