Job summary
Mid Yorkshire NHS Teaching Trust has been
awarded new funding to develop a specialist obesity service and extend the
existing bariatric service to provide an improved, evidence-based service
across Wakefield. It will also reduce inequalities by targeting priority groups
in line with NICE guidelines. The new Specialist Obesity and Bariatric Service
will replace previous T3 and T4 services to provide a patient-centred, needs
based service, which will allow seamless and more timely care for patients who
require specialist interventions like bariatric surgery, injectable drugs and
non-surgical weight-management programmes. Non-surgical weight-management
programmes will include dietetic, clinical psychology and physiotherapy input.
Patients will be able to access all parts of the service that are appropriate
for them, following multidisciplinary team (MDT) assessment and
recommendations.
The service has
been commissioned on a permanent basis, so we are looking to expand capacity in
all areas of the service. The Specialist Obesity and Bariatric Service has been
commissioned to process 250 referrals annually with the aims of contributing to
a long-term healthy weight strategy, reducing obesity in the Mid Yorkshire
Region, and to improve health outcomes by lowering obesity-related disease
risks and support increased life expectancy in Wakefield.
Main duties of the job
This exciting new post will lead the development of the
dietetic aspect of the service, while supervising the Band 6 dietitian and Band
4 Dietetic Assistant who are part of the team. The post-holder will work as
part of the wider MDT, provide a specialist dietetic service for patients with
complex obesity needs through detailed assessment, formulation, and
interventions, on a one-to-one and group basis, in both surgical and
non-surgical parts of the pathway. Excellent communication and multi-disciplinary team
working skills are essential.
The post-holder will be
based at Dewsbury and District Hospital but may be required to run group
sessions and attend meetings at one of the other sites in Wakefield
(Pinderfields). The post-holder may also work remotely for part of the week.
The dietetic
department is fully committed to CPD and clinical supervision. As we take A, B
and C students from Leeds Beckett University, the post holder will also be
expected to take an active role in supporting and supervising our student
training program.
You must
currently be registered with the Health Care Professions Council.
It is essential
that you are able to attend any location required of you, including patients
homes therefore being a car driver with access to a vehicle to support home
visits is desirable.
About us
We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.
We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.
If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.
Application guidance: We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. Its important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
Be
professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects
of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
To communicate highly complex specialised and
sensitive information with empathy and understanding
To provide highly complex nutrition counselling
to patients, using cognitive behavioural therapy skills to overcome barriers to
change
To use analytical skills in prioritising the
best course of dietetic treatment in patients with highly complex clinical
conditions, where nutritional goals may conflict with other on-going physical,
emotional, psychological and medical problems and a range of treatment options
must be assessed and considered
To correctly interpret complex nutritional
impairments, biochemical parameters and fluid balance. This will involve
nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry,
anthropometrics, clinical condition, social factors and diet histories, in
patients with highly specialised and complex nutritional needs
To utilise highly specialist knowledge in
interpreting complex clinical information to develop and monitor nutritional
care plans in a specialised dietetic area.
Assessment
and advice regarding initiation and adjustment of medication and the provision
of appropriate dietary modifications to support medications to promote weight
loss Qualified supplementary or independent prescribers annotated on the HCPC
register may prescribe medicines within scope of practice. This will be within
a defined clinical speciality and will be as per the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS
Trust non-medical prescribing policy
Diagnose over nutrition, vitamin/mineral and
electrolyte abnormalities which require dietetic intervention, and to
independently provide and instigate a dietetic plan
Plan a care programme for individual patients in
conjunction with other professional staff within the multidisciplinary team
(MDT).
To perform advanced nutritional assessments in
respective clinical area, interpreting and planning relevant dietetic care
programmes for patients with highly complex nutritional and medical needs which
requires judgement and consideration of a range of treatment options
Provide specialist clinical expertise to
colleagues within the team and referrers to the service.
To be aware of national guidance and driving
factors in specialised area
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
to maximise rehabilitation potential and ensure understanding of condition.
Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation to encourage
patients to undertake their treatment programme.
Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills to
gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to
effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive or
receptive dysphasia, pain, fear.
Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and
have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who may lack
capacity to consent to treatment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
Be
professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects
of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
To communicate highly complex specialised and
sensitive information with empathy and understanding
To provide highly complex nutrition counselling
to patients, using cognitive behavioural therapy skills to overcome barriers to
change
To use analytical skills in prioritising the
best course of dietetic treatment in patients with highly complex clinical
conditions, where nutritional goals may conflict with other on-going physical,
emotional, psychological and medical problems and a range of treatment options
must be assessed and considered
To correctly interpret complex nutritional
impairments, biochemical parameters and fluid balance. This will involve
nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry,
anthropometrics, clinical condition, social factors and diet histories, in
patients with highly specialised and complex nutritional needs
To utilise highly specialist knowledge in
interpreting complex clinical information to develop and monitor nutritional
care plans in a specialised dietetic area.
Assessment
and advice regarding initiation and adjustment of medication and the provision
of appropriate dietary modifications to support medications to promote weight
loss Qualified supplementary or independent prescribers annotated on the HCPC
register may prescribe medicines within scope of practice. This will be within
a defined clinical speciality and will be as per the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS
Trust non-medical prescribing policy
Diagnose over nutrition, vitamin/mineral and
electrolyte abnormalities which require dietetic intervention, and to
independently provide and instigate a dietetic plan
Plan a care programme for individual patients in
conjunction with other professional staff within the multidisciplinary team
(MDT).
To perform advanced nutritional assessments in
respective clinical area, interpreting and planning relevant dietetic care
programmes for patients with highly complex nutritional and medical needs which
requires judgement and consideration of a range of treatment options
Provide specialist clinical expertise to
colleagues within the team and referrers to the service.
To be aware of national guidance and driving
factors in specialised area
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
to maximise rehabilitation potential and ensure understanding of condition.
Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation to encourage
patients to undertake their treatment programme.
Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills to
gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to
effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive or
receptive dysphasia, pain, fear.
Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and
have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who may lack
capacity to consent to treatment.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Confident, caring and empathetic
- Flexible, adaptable and creative
- Able to work both independently and to promote MDT working
- Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
- Ability to cope working in a stressful environment
- Ability to cope with emotional or aggressive patients and carers
- Able to organise complex information
- Effective problem solver
Desirable
- Able to cope with demands of the patient group
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent
- Masters Degree or equivalent
- Registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent and relevant postgraduate courses
- Clinical Supervisory Skills Course
- Behaviour Change training
Desirable
- Advanced Diploma in Dietetic Practice
- Postgraduate courses for Bariatric surgery &/or Specialist Obesity Management
- Non-Medical Supplementary Prescribing qualification
- Leadership skills
- IM&T Skills
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent Teaching/Presentation skills
- Advanced clinical reasoning skills
- Forward thinking
- Goal setting and negotiation skills
- Ability to take decisions independently
- Communicates complex diagnosis gaining consent and understanding of treatment plans required
- Communicates highly complex information overcoming barriers to understanding
- Accurate nutrition assessment skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with individual patients, public groups, other health professionals and medical practitioners
Knowledge & Awareness
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of complex emotional, physical and psychological problems
- Clinical supervision and leadership skills
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
- Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for services
- Up to date advanced knowledge of nutritional support required for Bariatric patients
- Advanced knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and specialised pharmacology
- Up to date knowledge and awareness of professional ethical issues surrounding Bariatric/obesity patients and their care
- Working knowledge of the NHS
Other
Essential
- Leadership qualities
- Ability to maintain judgement under pressure
- Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality
- Car owner/driver
- Accurate keyboard skills (data inputting, word processing, internet and dietary analysis)
- Able to use equipment for anthropometric measurements
- Able to fulfil occupational health requirements of the post
Desirable
- Member of the BDA
- Membership of Specialist Interest groups e.g. BOMSS or DOM UK
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of comprehensive clinical experience, including Bariatric surgery and adult obesity
- Good experience of working as a dietitian at a senior level
- Experience of working with weight loss medications e.g. Wegovy
- Experience of service delivery in a variety of settings including hospital outpatients and community
- Supervision of more junior and support staff and students; evidence of significant student training experience
- Understanding of a wide range of communication skills and their application in a variety of clinical settings
Desirable
- Participation in audit, evaluation and research.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Confident, caring and empathetic
- Flexible, adaptable and creative
- Able to work both independently and to promote MDT working
- Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
- Ability to cope working in a stressful environment
- Ability to cope with emotional or aggressive patients and carers
- Able to organise complex information
- Effective problem solver
Desirable
- Able to cope with demands of the patient group
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent
- Masters Degree or equivalent
- Registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent and relevant postgraduate courses
- Clinical Supervisory Skills Course
- Behaviour Change training
Desirable
- Advanced Diploma in Dietetic Practice
- Postgraduate courses for Bariatric surgery &/or Specialist Obesity Management
- Non-Medical Supplementary Prescribing qualification
- Leadership skills
- IM&T Skills
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent Teaching/Presentation skills
- Advanced clinical reasoning skills
- Forward thinking
- Goal setting and negotiation skills
- Ability to take decisions independently
- Communicates complex diagnosis gaining consent and understanding of treatment plans required
- Communicates highly complex information overcoming barriers to understanding
- Accurate nutrition assessment skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with individual patients, public groups, other health professionals and medical practitioners
Knowledge & Awareness
Essential
- Detailed knowledge of complex emotional, physical and psychological problems
- Clinical supervision and leadership skills
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
- Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for services
- Up to date advanced knowledge of nutritional support required for Bariatric patients
- Advanced knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and specialised pharmacology
- Up to date knowledge and awareness of professional ethical issues surrounding Bariatric/obesity patients and their care
- Working knowledge of the NHS
Other
Essential
- Leadership qualities
- Ability to maintain judgement under pressure
- Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality
- Car owner/driver
- Accurate keyboard skills (data inputting, word processing, internet and dietary analysis)
- Able to use equipment for anthropometric measurements
- Able to fulfil occupational health requirements of the post
Desirable
- Member of the BDA
- Membership of Specialist Interest groups e.g. BOMSS or DOM UK
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of comprehensive clinical experience, including Bariatric surgery and adult obesity
- Good experience of working as a dietitian at a senior level
- Experience of working with weight loss medications e.g. Wegovy
- Experience of service delivery in a variety of settings including hospital outpatients and community
- Supervision of more junior and support staff and students; evidence of significant student training experience
- Understanding of a wide range of communication skills and their application in a variety of clinical settings
Desirable
- Participation in audit, evaluation and research.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
