Senior Specialist Dietitian (Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disorders)
Job overview
Are you looking for a clinical leadership development opportunity and a new challenge? Are you an enthusiastic, strongly motivated Dietitian with a proven record in paediatric dietetics, then this opportunity may be for you.
Due to recent additional funding and growth in the paediatric inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) caseload, a rare but exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated Paediatric Dietitian to work within the Specialist Metabolic Team at Leicester Children’s Hospital based at Leicester Royal Infirmary.The successful applicant will work alongside the dedicated Dietetic ACP for the speciality, another Senior Specialist Dietitian, a rotational Senior Dietitian, a dedicated Dietetic Assistant Practitioner and administrator.
There is opportunity for full time band 7 work through other dietitian vacancies within our team. Please contact us for more information.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced, motivated and proactive team player with excellent communication skills to undertake this specialist role.
You will work as a core and valued member of the Paediatric IMD MDT which covers the areas of Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).
You will be part of a highly regarded and friendly paediatric and neonatal dietetic team. You will have opportunity for line management and clinical supervision responsibilities.
There is a need for excellent communication and organisational skills and a proactive working style, enabling you to think “outside the box”, which equips you to work effectively with patients, carers and a wide range of health and non-health professionals in both the hospital and community.You will also require good all-round IT skills.
You should be able to work autonomously and independently alongside the Lead Medical Consultants to offer specialist advice to hospitals in the region and to take part in regional study days.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- To be an expert Dietitian for children on metabolic diet treatment.
- To have a diagnostic and autonomous role in ordering, assessing and interpreting biochemistry results and setting individualised care plans.
- To inform on clinical decision making, treatment selection and evaluation of treatment.
- To make treatment recommendations after nutritional assessment; to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical conditions and other parameters.
- To have an expert knowledge of prescribed nutritional feed products and the ability to determine when a modular feed may be necessary. To calculate feeding regimens within precise nutritional parameters for inpatients and outpatients. To advise on the prescription of specialist nutritional supplements.
- To be responsible for the provision of emergency regimens, used during illness, for specific metabolic conditions.
- The post holder will provide nutrition and dietetic input into dedicated outpatient clinics (MDT and Dietetic led), inpatients, day case and emergency department referrals.
- To liaise with the UHL Trust catering services to ensure appropriate nutritional provision to paediatric IMD inpatients.
- To provide education and support where appropriate to nurseries and schools for children under the UHL paediatric IMD caseload.
- Under special circumstances, deliver training via home visits to children with metabolic conditions.
- To inform on clinical decision making, treatment selection and evaluation of treatment.
- To lead on developing and reviewing dietetic clinical guidelines and resources relevant to paediatric IMD and undertake audit of practice.
- To work as an expert, autonomous and senior specialist dietitian in paediatric IMD and share local and national developments across the service and externally at regional, national and international level.
- To raise safeguarding concerns where dietary non-compliance by carers can lead to irreversible damage to the child in their care. To co-operate with all aspects of the Safeguarding Children UHL Policy.
- To deliver training and supervision to the metabolic and paediatric dietetic teams.
Please see attached job description for more information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- An Undergraduate or Post Graduate Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics or similar non-UK qualification.
- HCPC Registration
- Completion of a Clinical Teaching Skills Course.
- Evidence of having completed an accredited course or equivalent level of professional experience at Masters Level in evidence based paediatric dietetics
- Completion of an Advanced Clinical Supervisory Skills Course
Experience
Essential criteria- Dietetic experience in a varied dietetic environment
- Dietetic experience in the specialist field of paediatric IMD.
- Has developed expert practice in paediatric dietetics to include different ways of caseload management and delivering services.
- Can demonstrate evidence of continued professional development (eg. keeps a professional portfolio, professional involvement in clinical research).
- Is able to give examples of ability to initiate and complete quality improvement projects leading to improved patient care.
- Previous involvement with the pre-registration practice training for Dietitians.
- Previous experience of line management or co-ordination of clinical supervision or providing coaching / mentoring role.
Communication
Essential criteria- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
- Can demonstrate confidence, leadership and self-motivation
- Has a good understanding of team work and how this can be used to improve patient care and able to provide examples of own experience in this.
- Can use different approaches to communication with a wide variety of patients, both as individuals and in groups, and with the public
- Is aware of the different communication needs within a culturally diverse community and how this may impact on both own professional practice and others
- Is able to use different techniques for motivating individuals and groups to make behavioural change
- Able to liaise with professionals at all levels, can demonstrate a role in influencing multi-professional practice and can provide examples of this.
- Has undertaken post-registration training in behavioural change and motivational interviewing.
Additional Information
Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.
Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.
UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.
UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.
The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.
The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.
COVID 19 Risk Assessment
Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.
The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.
If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.
Covid Vaccination Status
Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve.We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.