Diabetes Specialist Dietitian

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Brighton is looking for an experienced diabetes dietitian to join their team. The role involves managing patient caseloads, providing dietary education, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates will have advanced knowledge of diabetes management and a commitment to professional development. Competitive salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum is offered.

Benefits

Free parking for staff

Flexible working options

Excellent training and development opportunities

Accredited Living Wage Employer

Qualifications

• Must have postgraduate experience working with patients with diabetes.
• Knowledge of treatments and contraindications in diabetes management.
• Experience in NHS primary care/community services required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of diabetes patients.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Develop and deliver education programs for patients.
• Provide expert dietary advice to patients and clinicians.
• Supervise student clinical placements.

Skills

Advanced knowledge of diabetes dietetics

Team-working

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Presentation skills

Leadership skills

Critical analysis of clinical research

Commitment to professional development

Education

Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

Postgraduate study in diabetes

Registration with the British Dietetic Association

Job description

We are looking for an experienced diabetes dietitian to work as part of our dietetic team within the innovative Diabetes Care For You (DCFY) service who is self-motivated, enthusiastic and dynamic with excellent team-working, communication and organisational skills. You should have advanced knowledge andexperience of diabetes dietetics. This role involves working as part of an MDT with outpatients,delivering patient education sessions and home visits.

Main duties of the job

To carry a highly complex caseload of patients within the clinical area of diabetes. To assess, implement and evaluate treatment plans. Advise on appropriate diabetes medication/insulin dose adjustment recommendations as per local guidance and agreements in respect of diet, activity and target blood glucose levels. This applies to therapeutic care plans already initiated by a nurse or doctor, or as agreed locally if a supplementary prescribing qualification is held

To work as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, liaising with all members providing expert advice on treatment and dietary management of patients with diabetes.To attend and contribute to the multidisciplinary diabetes team meetings, to keep abreast of advances in treatment protocols and service provision.

To provide expert advice to clinicians, patients and carers regarding the provision of nutrition and dietetics to enable informed decisions about the patients' health related behaviour based on nutritional assessment

To make recommendations to the medical/specialist nurse team regarding the adaption of medication for the management of diabetes based on interpretation of biochemical parameters and dietary intake

Using advanced specialist skills be responsible for assessing the physical and psycho-social needs of people with diabetes.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us? Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing; Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex; Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement; Excellent training, development, and research opportunities; Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff; Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton; Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief network; Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

• Free parking available for staff

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work with the Lead Diabetes Dietitian to develop policies and procedures for the Diabetes Care For You service. The post holder will organise and supervise student clinical placements. They will initiate and participate in audits and patient experience surveys. The post holder will manage and prioritise their own workload and provide cover for the Lead Diabetes Dietitian during times of leave and unplanned absence, taking general responsibility for day-to-day management of community diabetes patients as required. The post holder will develop and deliver education and training programmes for patients, carers and diabetes healthcare professionals. They will provide expert knowledge of dietetic management of adults with diabetes. This post does not have any responsibility for managing finance. The post holder will be responsible for the maintenance of equipment used in clinical practice, e.g. standing scales, wheelchair scales, hoist scales, in line with the local medical devices policy. The post holder will work with the Lead Diabetes Dietitian to contribute to the development of the Diabetes Care For You service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent that is recognised as acceptable for registration with the Health Professionals Council
• Evidence of postgraduate study in diabetes
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Registration with the British Dietetic Association

Other

• Car driver (Valid Driving License for use in the UK)
• Access to a vehicle for work purposes
• An understanding of the principles of equal opportunities in relation to staff and patients

Experience

• Post graduate experience of working with people with diabetes
• Knowledge of treatments and effects/side effects/interactions/contraindications of treatments used in managing people with diabetes i.e. insulin, tablets and other oral hypoglycaemic agents
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working
• Formal teaching / training experience
• Experience of managing own complex caseload
• Experience of working in NHS primary care / community services
• Experience of clinical supervision of dietetic students

Skills

• Ability to assess patients with Diabetes in the primary care setting and develop care plans to meet clinical need
• Effective presentation skills and ability to teach groups
• Ability to demonstrate leadership skills
• Competent computer skills and ability to utilise information and information technology
• Comprehensive and specialist assessment skills
• Ability to carry out critical analysis of clinical research and apply this to the work setting
• Ability to maintain knowledge of relevant NHS legislation and policies and apply to practice and organise the dissemination of changes to others
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Specialist knowledge and application of assessment and interventions in diabetes care
• Ability to organise and respond effectively and efficiently to complex information and situations
• Evidence of innovative practice 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.

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata