Paediatric Dietitian

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based healthcare provider is seeking an enthusiastic Dietitian to join their innovative Paediatric Dietetic Team. The successful candidate will manage complex cases in childhood obesity and provide specialized nutrition care within the Complications of Excess Weight clinics. You will need significant clinical paediatric experience and the ability to work within multidisciplinary teams. This role offers a chance to make a meaningful impact in child health while providing expert dietetic services.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years postgraduate experience with at least 2 years in Paediatrics.
• Evidence of varied clinical experience with children aged 0-16 years.
• Trained in facilitated learning for under-graduate practice placements.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously within the field of Paediatric Dietetics.
• Provide dietetic advice for conditions related to severe excess weight.
• Undertake comprehensive dietary assessments as needed.

Skills

Ability to work safely and effectively without direct supervision

Good communication skills - verbal and written

Problem solving and decision making skills

Leadership skills and qualities

Counselling skills

Education

Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics

Registered Dietitian with HCPC

1st and 2nd Modules of qualification in Paediatrics

Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education

Job description

We require an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated dietitian to join our friendly and innovative Paediatric Dietetic Team. You will join a team of 6 Paediatric Dietitians, but will providea specialist Paediatric Dietetic service as part of the Complications of Excess Weight (CEW) clinics. This role is an integral part of the CEW MDT, as defined by NHSE.

You will act as a source of expertise and to provide specialised nutrition and dietetic care to help with the management of severe obesity and the related complications.

This is an MDT service, which Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust provide for Kent & Medway.

Within your clinical role you will work in different settings and work closely with the multidisciplinary paediatric teams across primary, secondary and tertiary care, so excellent communication skills are essential. You will already have clinical paediatric experience and will be the dietetic clinical lead for this service.

Main duties of the job

To work autonomously within the field of Paediatric Dietetics with no supervision and lead on the organisation of dietetic care of children in the CEW clinics.

To provide dietetic advice for the conditions related to severe excess weight such as impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidaemia, fatty infiltration of the liver etc.

To accept clinical responsibility for this designated caseload of children and to organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and time management

To undertake comprehensive dietary assessments in accordance with protocol specifications, analysing dietetic diaries, providing energy prescriptions and calculations of macro/micro nutrient content of diets as required. Where appropriate to provide on-going support in clinic for referred children, their parents/carers. To report to General Practitioner / HV or Community Nurse as needed. This involves a high level of technical and practical skill

To undertake comprehensive assessments of patients, including biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition, diet history and social circumstances to use advanced clinical reasoning skills to interpret data

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all of our staff are double vaccinated against COVID-19, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and our patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Job responsibilities

General responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

Managerial responsibilities

Professional responsibilities

Education and development responsibilities

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, please see the detailed job description and person specification for further information.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

• Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics, Post-graduate diploma or equivalent qualification
• Registered Dietitian with HCPC
• 1st and 2nd Modules of qualification in Paediatrics
• Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education
• Trained in facilitated learning for under-graduate practice placements
• BDA membership
• Member of BDA Paediatric Group and the BDA Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Sub-Group
• 3rd and 4th Modules of qualification in Paediatrics

Skills and abilities

• Able to work safely and effectively without direct supervision
• Able to plan workload and supervise more junior staff, dietetic support workers and students
• Able to work in a team
• Good communication skills- verbal and written
• ability to teach effectively
• ability to undertake anthropometric measurements including body composition
• Problem solving and decision making skills
• Knowledge of CEW and current management guidelines
• Leadership skills and qualities
• Able to audit practice and make recommendation's for change
• Contribute to safe and effective patient care
• Developing service standards
• Counselling skills
• An understanding of Paediatric Service Provision within Community setting

Experience

• Evidence of use of protocols and care pathways for specific interventions and conditions
• Varied clinical experience with paediatrics (0-16 years)
• Minimum of 5 years postgraduate experience of which at least 2 years Paediatrics

Knowledge & Interest

• Motivation and interest towards extending skills and knowledge
• Knowledge of personal accountability and responsibilities as laid down by the rules of professional conduct
• Evidence of awareness of need for professional development and responsibility
• Able to plan and deliver workloads to support requirements of the post
• Evidence of implementing ideas and developing services
• A knowledge of and experience in working with different cultures and religious beliefs

Dispostition

• Polite, pleasant and understanding manner.
• Ability to be adaptable to meet changing requirements and needs
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and to plan and action patient focused care pathways
• An innovative and holistic approach to patient care

Other requirements

• Able to work within an acute NHS Hospital/ community setting
• Current driving licence
• Own transport
• An understanding of Paediatric service provision within the community

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.