Specialist Lipid Dietitian

University Hospitals Plymouth Nhs Trust; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking a dedicated dietitian to join the MDT Lipid Clinic at Derriford Hospital to assess and manage patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia and other lipid disorders. The role involves outpatient caseloads and collaboration with a wide dietetic team in a busy acute setting.

You will work within a patient‑focussed multi‑professional team, providing specialist dietetic advice, supporting other areas during absences, and supervising dietetic

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in lipid management and dietetic care for lipid disorders.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist dietetic service to outpatients in the MDT Lipid Clinic.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with nurses, dietitians, assistants and other professionals.
• Supervise dietetic assistants, students and junior dietitians; contribute to professional development.
• Deliver evidence-based nutritional counselling and develop practical, realistic diet plans.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to audits and service development.

Skills

Lipid patient experience

Education

BSc in Dietetics

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic dietitian to work within the MDT Lipid Clinic at Derriford Hospital. The role will involve seeing patients referred by the Consultants with Familial Hypercholesterolemia and lipid disorders as part of a multi disciplinary team.

The successful applicant will have an outpatient caseload working closely with a well established dietetic team which comprises of dietitians and dietetic assistants in a wide range of dietetic services. The dietitians work in collaboration with nurses, caterers and Speech and Language therapists to deliver dietetic care to patients in a busy acute environment. You will work as part of a patient focused multi-professional team and act as a source of knowledge and expertise in the nutritional management of lipid disorders. You will be expected to support other areas of the Dietetic service during absence of colleagues/when there are no scheduled lipid clinic patients and supervise the work of dietetic assistants, students and junior dieticians as appropriate. You will be supported by a friendly team and have the opportunity to develop your skills.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a large teaching hospital trust serving Plymouth and nearby areas of Devon and Cornwall.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist evidence-based dietetic service to an allocated workload of outpatients in the MDT Lipid Clinic at Derriford Hospital.

The role will involve seeing patients referred by the Consultants with Familial Hypercholesterolemia and lipid disorders as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

To work as part of a patient focused multi-professional team and act as a source of knowledge and expertise in the nutritional management of lipid disorders.

To support other areas of the Dietetic service during absence of colleagues/when there are no scheduled lipid clinic patients and supervise the work of dietetic assistants, students and junior dieticians as appropriate.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

This post is based in the Nutrition and Dietetic Department at Derriford Hospital.

To provide a specialist dietetic service to outpatients referred by the lipid team.

Work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Work autonomously to provide highly complex nutritional counselling to patients and carers. This will involve nutritional assessment and development of nutritional plans which are both realistic, practical and evidence based (based on assessment of medical, social, economic, cultural and psychological factors).

To provide expert evidence-based advice to patients and carers on the dietary management of lipid disorders.

To translate complex information into an appropriate format for patients and carers.

Has the knowledge and skills required to facilitate dietary behaviour change to support patients in long-term self-management.

To act as a clinical resource, providing specialist knowledge to members of the dietetic department (and other staff as required) on lipid disorders and the dietary management of these patients.

Able to deliver a service user centred approach.

Manages own caseload and administrative responsibilities.

You will be expected to support other areas of the Dietetic service during absence of colleagues/when there are no scheduled lipid clinic patients.

Participate in education, training, and supervision of junior dietitians, dietetic assistant and dietetic students.

Monitor the delivery of the service and participate in audit, evaluation quality monitoring as advised by the Lipid team, Line Manager, or Head of Department.

To participate in the production and review of evidence-based resources and ensure that they are produced in line with Trust Document Control Policy.

Communicate accurately in writing and verbally with patients and other health professionals.

Record all assessments and interventions in line with BDA and Trust guidelines.

Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development to improve patient centred care.

Be aware of and adhere to all trust policies and procedures, the Health and Safety at Work Act and Data Protection Act.

Professional

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To determine your own work priorities, balancing clinical, professional and organisational demands.

To take a flexible approach to supporting colleagues in times of caseload pressure, including working with colleagues to maintain clinical cover across the team within the resources available. Adapt to changing demands of the job to provide a dietetic service in the absence of co-workers.

In collaboration with other members of the Nutrition and Dietetic team, develop and implement department practice changes, policies, protocols and guidelines as required.

To attend, and contribute to Dietetic Department Meetings.

To participate in departmental appraisal on an annual basis.

Any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by line manager or Professional Lead.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

It is essential that the post holder is able to communicate effectively with a wide range of personnel:

• Patients, relatives and carers. This post requires developed communication and counselling skills to communicate complex advice to patients and their carers. Involves routine contact with people who are chronically or terminally ill and who may have complex emotional, physical and psychological problems. Patients may include those with learning difficulties, language difficulties, hearing or sight impediment. Requires judgment of appropriate format and level of information giving to ensure patients and carers understand the condition, its treatment and implications of non-adherence. Consent must be gained and changes negotiated using counselling skills, motivational interviewing and behaviour change skills to enable them to achieve medical and dietary targets even when there are complex barriers to change.
• Department colleagues, student dietitians, local/regional dietitians and occasionally other dietitians nationally
• Medical, nursing, paramedical, catering and administration staff
• Gaining consent and understanding from patients or their family/carers of the treatment plans required. This will involve patients or family/carers who have complex emotional, physical and psychological problems
• Community GPs, district nurses, nursing home staff
• External agencies e.g. primary care, education, social services
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team

All Job Holders are required to

Work to the Trust values: we put people first, we take ownership, we respect and value others, we are compassionate, and we listen, learn and improve.

Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc.

Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.

Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.

Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of UK Data Protection Act 2018/UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) or Data Protection legislation.

Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.

Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post.

Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk.

Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.

Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.

Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.

Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.

Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registration as a Dietitian
• BSc in Dietetics or equivalent
• Evidence of recent CPD

Desirable

• Completion of Heart UK Nutrition Academy E-learning/Webinars
• Completion of a Behaviour Change/Motivational interviewing course

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working with lipid patients
• Sound knowledge of lipid management dietetics including relevant clinical guidelines
• Practical experience in applying behaviour change strategies with patients.

Desirable

• Computer skills in database use and statistical packages.
• Demonstrable experience of teaching groups of patients and staff

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

• Able to work autonomously and organise a varied workload
• Effective communication skills with all levels of healthcare staff as well as patients and carers
• Capable of producing high quality written information for patients and staff

Desirable

• Critical appraisal skills
• Effective teaching and presentation skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.