Metabolic Advanced Assistant Practitioner

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in the UK is seeking an individual to provide dietary education and support to patients with rare inherited metabolic disorders. The role involves meal planning, teaching label reading, and ensuring nutritional adequacy. Applicants should be passionate about patient education and adaptable in a clinical setting. No previous healthcare experience is required. The position is integral to enhancing patient care and improving long-term outcomes for those affected by dietary restrictions.

Benefits

Opportunity to develop expertise in a specialized area

Qualifications

• Passionate about educating patients and improving outcomes.
• Confident in preparing specialist meals.
• Skilled in managing a varied workload.
• Able to work with patients and families who may be anxious.

Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare meals using specialist dietary products.
• Teach patients how to read labels and calculate nutrient allowances.
• Ensure diets are nutritionally adequate for metabolic conditions.
• Conduct group education sessions for staff.

Skills

Patient education

Diet preparation

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Job description

Overview

The postholder will be a highly valued member of the multidisciplinary team, and this role offers the opportunity to work closely with dietitians, metabolic consultants, psychologists, specialist nurses and wider MDT colleagues.

What We're Looking For

We welcome applicants who are passionate about supporting and inspiring others, and who have a desire to expand their knowledge and gain expertise in this very specialised area. Previous experience in a healthcare setting is not essential. We welcome applicants who are:

• Passionate about patient education and improving outcomes
• Confident working in a domestic kitchen environment and preparing specialist meals
• Able to manage a varied workload and adapt to clinical demand
• Skilled in communication, organisation and multidisciplinary working
• Motivated to develop expertise in the field of inherited metabolic disorders
• Supportive of patients and families who may be anxious, distressed or newly diagnosed

You will be fully supported to learn new skills which allow you to work with adults with rare inherited disorders of metabolism (IMD) who require specialist low protein diets to manage their condition. You will play an integral role in practical dietary education and training sessions for individuals, their families and carers, including:

• Meal planning and recipe preparation using specialist dietary products
• Teaching patients and carers how to read food labels and calculate macronutrient allowances
• Ensuring nutritional adequacy in complex metabolic diets
• Group education sessions for staff working in care settings both face to face & virtually
• Supporting clinical research and contributing to service development

About UCLH

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research. We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites: University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing). We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.