Specialty Dietitian - (Diabetes and Endocrinology)

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

To work as part of a diabetes and endocrinology dietetic team and as an integral member of the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure a holistic approach to patient care. This involves close liaison with the medical and nursing teams within the specialist areas of diabetes, endocrinology, lipid metabolism, diabetes and pregnancy as well as working closely with the Community Diabetes Nursing service, GPs and practice nurses. This is supported by attending regular dietetic team meetings as well as the weekly MDT meeting where possible.

Organise own workload: prioritising and balancing patient-related and professional demands and contributing to the effectiveness of the diabetes and endocrinology team.

To assess and prioritise referrals made by members of the MDT, Primary Care and the Community Diabetes Nurse Service in order to ensure effective use of time and resources.

Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources including electronic patient records, the client, staff and/or carers, in order to make a comprehensive assessment of the patients diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plans so that a decision on the most appropriate dietetic treatment to support this can be made in the short and long term.

Interpret and monitor biochemical data generally and specifically in relation to people with diabetes, other endocrine conditions or lipid disorders.

Assess patients nutritional status by weight history, fluid balance, nutritional intake, stool output, vomiting and physical signs of deficiency.

Estimate nutritional requirements using specific assessment tools and calculations. To remain up to date with the literature and ensure that this is an evidence-based process and clinically relevant to people with diabetes, other endocrine conditions or lipid disorders.

Formulate individualised patient care plans, artificial feeding regimens, taking into consideration factors which may affect requirements or help/hinder provision of nutrition support such as: prescribed drugs, biochemical derangements etc. Within the care plan this would include nutritional supplements, specialist feeds, need for added micronutrients.

Evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional goals and modify these goals and care plans as necessary based on ongoing analysis, assessment of information available and changing patient needs.

Address and monitor their changing nutritional needs over the course of their disease and advise other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Modify dietary advice according to biochemistry, lifestyle, treatment undertaken, drugs and associated medical conditions adding to complexity of dietetic management.

Use communication techniques i.e. behavioural change and motivational interviewing to work with the patient to adapt their diet.

Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, carers and other health professionals. Skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining consent may be used in a wide variety of different, sometimes sensitive, situations. It is important to be able to communicate complex information at an appropriate level. Barriers to communication may be evident e.g. loss of sight, loss of hearing, lack of English, both written and spoken, requiring the use of translators.

Deal with patients with chronic conditions and those with poor outcomes/terminal conditions.

To be sensitive to the religious and ethnic needs of patients' dietary requirements.

To be actively involved with the development of evidence based, trust-wide guidelines - to be a resource to other dietitians as specialist diabetes and endocrinology practitioners, writing and compiling diet sheets, protocols and advice.

To provide specialist training and supervision of dietetic colleagues and students using skills of reflective practice.

To cover for other dietitians when sickness or leave necessitates.

PROFESSIONAL

Be accountable for own actions within the professional, ethical and legal framework for dietetics set out in the Health and Care Profession Councils code of practice for Dietitians and the British Dietetic Associations professional standards for Dietitians.

To take responsibility for own continuing professional development and providing evidence for this by maintaining a CPD portfolio. CPD involves critical evaluation of scientific papers, attending professional development meetings, working as a reflective practitioner and attending relevant internal/external courses.

Participate in annual appraisal, identifying own developmental and training needs and setting personal developmental objectives.

To participate in departmental audits and initiate audit within own work area in order to monitor and evaluate whether local/national/international standards are being met and make recommendations for change. To be involved with the planning of departmental clinical effectiveness and audit strategies.

Actively contribute to the dietetic student training program, facilitating the development of skills and knowledge, being involved in the assessment process and acting as a mentor to students.

To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to dietetic colleagues, students or members of the multidisciplinary team, regarding the nutritional management of patients, particularly with respect to people with diabetes and other endocrine conditions.

To have a detailed understanding of medical conditions/drugs and nutritional implications.

To take the lead on corporate departmental projects.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Nutrition / Dietetics degree or post graduate diploma or equivalent
• Registration with HCPC
• Demonstrates basic skills and knowledge in the dietetic management of diabetes
• Completion of relevant post registration clinical courses (e.g. BDA diabetes courses, clinical supervisory skills, behavioural change)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to communicate with compassion and respect in highly sensitive situations
• Experience of service development, research or audit
• Able to travel to a clinical site, which may be in a different town, to provide a dietetics service
• Car driver and use of a car for work purposes

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Churchill Hospital

Old Road, Headington

Oxford

OX3 7LE

Employer's website

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