Job summary
Band 6 Diabetes / Acute Medicine Dietitian, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
Salary: £38,682 - £46,580
Hours: up to 25.5 hours / week
Contract: Fixed term contract or secondment opportunity - 1 year
All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working / part time working
This vacancy is for a Band 6 post; however, we will also consider applications from Dietitians currently working at Band 5 who would develop through a competency programme to Band 6.
We are looking for an enthusiastic dietitian with an interest in diabetes and acute medicine, to join our acute team as a band 6 dietitian, covering maternity leave.
The post is suitable for an experienced band 5 dietitian or band 6 dietitian looking to widen their skills and experience, working with inpatients, and also providing an outpatient service.
Previous experience of diabetes and nutritional support including enteral feeding is essential. Experience of carbohydrate counting is beneficial, but not essential.
We will give you all the support you need as you join a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, you will be well supported by an acute team leader.
Interviews are due to take place 13th January unfortunately; only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
For further details / informal visits contact:Acute Adult Dietetic Team Leaders, Zulaika van Aar, Helen Tozer or Ana Wermelinger on 01908 996004
This role can not be sponsored.
Main duties of the job
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
''NHS Survey, 2024''Allied Health Professionals experience a high diverse and equal work environment, supporting this with 8.33 out of 10.
You should have excellent clinical and communication skills, and can demonstrate an ability to be flexible, manage time effectively and have a strong commitment to teamwork. The successful candidate will work close with supportive multi-disciplinary teams to provide holistic and patient-centred service.
You will be joining our wider team of over 30 registered dietitians, dietetic support workers and admin staff, covering acute, community, paediatric and learning disability services.
We have excellent secretarial and dietetic assistantsupport andtake students for clinical placements from the University of Surrey and Oxford Brookes University. On site accommodation is usually available.
As a Department and Trust, we will provide support and opportunities for clinical and leadership CPD, we also committed to supporting external education and career development opportunities. We have a dedicated Therapy Practice Education team to support staff development.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To develop and maintain a high standard of knowledge and practical experience in general dietetics, and to provide specialist expertise in areas as diabetes and acute medicine.
- To manage a highly diverse caseload
- To draw up treatment plans for patients on caseload, this may include acute medical patients and patients with diabetes.
- To provide nutritional therapy, education and support to people with diabetes, who may have complex social and dietary needs and may be resistant to dietary change.
- To take an active role in the multidisciplinary care team [including meetings/ ward rounds/safeguarding] and to liaise with nursing, medical and other health professionals as required.
- To act as an advocate for the patient on nutritional matters where necessary.
Leadership
- To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
- To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
- To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
- To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.
Leadership
- To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
- To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
- To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
- To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.
Clinical governance
- To access, critically appraise and use best practice/evidence-based information to contribute to the production and review of clinical guidelines, and to inform care pathways for patients.
Organisation/administrative responsibilities
- To keep accurate and timely electronic notes for patients. These will be completed within the guidelines of the organisation and professional body, ensuring legibility and accessibility.
- To be aware of confidentiality issues and to ensure organisational and departmental policies are adhered to.
Communication
- To communicate with patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals across the local healthcare environment.
- To communicate with dietetic colleagues across the region on a regular basis.
- To use special communication systems (e.g., pictorial or adapted aids) when dealing with people with additional learning needs and those with communication difficulties due to age, illness or trauma.
General
- To assist in the identification of problems where changes to practices and systems or additional resources are required to support caseload and to discuss these with line manager.
- To review own practices and systems.
- To communicate clearly and sensitively to all key working relationships, using educational material, writing reports and presentations to groups.
Committee Membership
The post holder will be required to represent the Dietetic Department at internal or external meetings as appropriate including attendance at:
- Departmental Quality Meetings
- Acute Adult Team Meetings
- Safeguarding Meetings
- Multidisciplinary meetings
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To develop and maintain a high standard of knowledge and practical experience in general dietetics, and to provide specialist expertise in areas as diabetes and acute medicine.
- To manage a highly diverse caseload
- To draw up treatment plans for patients on caseload, this may include acute medical patients and patients with diabetes.
- To provide nutritional therapy, education and support to people with diabetes, who may have complex social and dietary needs and may be resistant to dietary change.
- To take an active role in the multidisciplinary care team [including meetings/ ward rounds/safeguarding] and to liaise with nursing, medical and other health professionals as required.
- To act as an advocate for the patient on nutritional matters where necessary.
Leadership
- To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
- To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
- To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
- To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.
Leadership
- To assist, support and supervise junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students contributing to their professional development including appraisal and personal development plans.
- To build good working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure effective team working between different disciplines.
- To provide nutrition advice to key stakeholders and colleagues, by researching the evidence base and identifying opportunities for development and innovation.
- To collaborate in the development of guidelines, pathways and protocols using research skills and supporting the implementation as appropriate to identified needs.
Clinical governance
- To access, critically appraise and use best practice/evidence-based information to contribute to the production and review of clinical guidelines, and to inform care pathways for patients.
Organisation/administrative responsibilities
- To keep accurate and timely electronic notes for patients. These will be completed within the guidelines of the organisation and professional body, ensuring legibility and accessibility.
- To be aware of confidentiality issues and to ensure organisational and departmental policies are adhered to.
Communication
- To communicate with patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals across the local healthcare environment.
- To communicate with dietetic colleagues across the region on a regular basis.
- To use special communication systems (e.g., pictorial or adapted aids) when dealing with people with additional learning needs and those with communication difficulties due to age, illness or trauma.
General
- To assist in the identification of problems where changes to practices and systems or additional resources are required to support caseload and to discuss these with line manager.
- To review own practices and systems.
- To communicate clearly and sensitively to all key working relationships, using educational material, writing reports and presentations to groups.
Committee Membership
The post holder will be required to represent the Dietetic Department at internal or external meetings as appropriate including attendance at:
- Departmental Quality Meetings
- Acute Adult Team Meetings
- Safeguarding Meetings
- Multidisciplinary meetings
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Registration as a dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council HCPC (UK)
- Documentary evidence of a range of continuous professional development (CPD)
- Sound therapeutic and clinical knowledge
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and awareness of national guidelines relevant to clinical area
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of evidenced based clinical practice for a range of conditions.
Desirable
- Membership of the British Dietetic Association
Experience
Essential
- Post -registration experience in a range of dietetic clinical areas.
- Experience in devising enteral feeding plans.
- Ability to autonomously manage a caseload of complex patients.
- Experience of giving advice to acute medical patients
- Experience of giving advice to patients with diabetes
Desirable
- Supervision and training of students and junior members of staff
Skills
Essential
- High level of written and verbal communication skills including report writing
- Proven time management skills
- Ability to appropriately apply a range of treatment approaches
- Ability to problem-solve and demonstrate clinical reasoning based on experience and knowledge
- Ability to maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation in line with legal and Trust standards
Personal and people development
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable to the demands of the service
- Ability to prioritise own caseload
- Able to reflect and appraise own performance
- Able to maintain effective working relationships
Communication
Essential
- Competent in the use of IT including proficiency with emails
- Ability to deliver sensitive information in a tactful and empathetic manner
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Registration as a dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council HCPC (UK)
- Documentary evidence of a range of continuous professional development (CPD)
- Sound therapeutic and clinical knowledge
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and awareness of national guidelines relevant to clinical area
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of evidenced based clinical practice for a range of conditions.
Desirable
- Membership of the British Dietetic Association
Experience
Essential
- Post -registration experience in a range of dietetic clinical areas.
- Experience in devising enteral feeding plans.
- Ability to autonomously manage a caseload of complex patients.
- Experience of giving advice to acute medical patients
- Experience of giving advice to patients with diabetes
Desirable
- Supervision and training of students and junior members of staff
Skills
Essential
- High level of written and verbal communication skills including report writing
- Proven time management skills
- Ability to appropriately apply a range of treatment approaches
- Ability to problem-solve and demonstrate clinical reasoning based on experience and knowledge
- Ability to maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation in line with legal and Trust standards
Personal and people development
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable to the demands of the service
- Ability to prioritise own caseload
- Able to reflect and appraise own performance
- Able to maintain effective working relationships
Communication
Essential
- Competent in the use of IT including proficiency with emails
- Ability to deliver sensitive information in a tactful and empathetic manner
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
