Clinical Specialist Dietitian

NHS; Sefton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A health service provider is seeking a specialist dietitian to deliver clinical services at hospital sites within a teaching hospital trust. The successful candidate will manage a nutrition support caseload, provide clinical support to junior staff, and have a keen interest in adult nutritional support. Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills are essential, along with the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Extensive clinical post-graduation experience in a specialist area within acute wards.
• Knowledge of the physical and psycho-social impact of critical, acute illness.
• Experience working with multi-professional groups.

Responsibilities

• Clinical responsibility for a complex nutrition support caseload.
• Provide specialist clinical support to junior staff and students.
• Assess and manage patient care using advanced knowledge.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Conflict resolution

Evidence-based practice

Education

BSc Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

HCPC registered Dietitian

Professional Practice Educator Training

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a specialist dietitian with experience in Nutrition Support to deliver a specialist clinical service at Southport & Ormskirk Hospital sites within the Mersey West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and contribute to supervision of the team of dietitians and support staff.

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and time management skills, together with an ability to be flexible and a commitment to MDT working. In return, you will have opportunity to further develop and extend your leadership and clinical skills. The post holder will have a specific interest in adult nutritional support and service/quality improvement. We are looking for someone who can work as a specialist, autonomous dietitian with strong organisational, communication and leadership skills and a drive for service development.

Acute care is provided at Southport and Formby and Ormskirk District General Hospital, including accident and emergency, intensive care and a range of medical and surgical specialities.

Responsibilities

• Clinical responsibility for a complex nutrition support caseload on the Spinal Injury Unit.
• Provide specialist clinical support to junior staff and students.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills to motivate, develop and guide dietetic skills within the team to provide a high quality acute dietetic service.
• Provide specialist assessment and management advice for patients, working closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Accept clinical responsibility for and manage a caseload of patients using advanced knowledge and evidence-based, client-centred principles to plan, implement and evaluate interventions across the acute wards.
• Assist in meeting Therapy and Rehabilitation/Trust Objectives in relation to patient care.
• Support the clinical lead in risk assessment for the dietetic team.
• Coordinate, organise, assess and deploy dietetic students on clinical placements.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9,000 across 21 sites. We aim to provide Five Star Patient Care.

Services

• Acute Care: Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across sites.
• Primary Care: Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre, St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services: Adult community services for St Helens, a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire, inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital for rehabilitation, and an Urgent Treatment Centre in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services: Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital.

Qualifications and Experience

• BSc Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics (or equivalent); HCPC registered Dietitian.
• Professional Practice Educator Training/qualification; membership/participation as appropriate.
• Desirable: relevant management qualification or managerial specialist course; Masters level clinical courses or equivalent (e.g., PENG Clinical Update).

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience (Essential): Extensive clinical post-graduation experience in specialist area and within acute wards; extensive knowledge of the physical and psycho-social impact of critical, acute illness; experience of working with multi-professional groups; operational management and supervision of junior staff, students and therapy assistants; experience of teaching; service evaluations and audits; CPD portfolio; joint working with external organisations; awareness of NHS issues and quality indicators.

Skills (Essential): Commitment to development; ability to work with others and pass on skills; maintain judgement under pressure; motivation and enthusiasm; conflict resolution; empathic communication; self-directed learning; ability to represent the service; good computer/telephone skills; evidence of advanced communication; initiate evidence-based practice and develop care pathways; awareness of clinical governance in therapy.

Other (Essential): Ability to assess complex critically ill patients; adaptable work pattern; ability to manage distressing situations; ability to travel as required.

Other information

Disclosure and Barring Service check and UK registration requirements apply. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a Disclosure to the DBS may be required. Applications from job seekers requiring skilled worker sponsorship will be considered. Full details on sponsorship and criminal records checks can be found in the job posting materials.