Specialty Dietitian - (Diabetes and Endocrinology)

Do you have a passion for supporting people with long term health conditions and are looking to expand your clinical skills and develop your leadership skills in a well-established adult diabetes and endocrinology service? Due to the current post holder commencing maternity leave an opportunity has arisen for a dietitian to take on a fixed term Band 6 role in our diabetes and endocrinology team. Our supportive diabetes MDT comprises of consultants, SpR's, specialist nurses, psychologists and podiatrists. Working within diabetes and endocrinology is highly varied and will allow you to maintain and develop skills in delivering structured education for people with type 1 (DAFNE) and type 2 diabetes and facilitating group sessions for people newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, carbohydrate counting with insulin adjustment as well as our weight management programme specifically for people with diabetes. You will have the opportunity to work individually with people managing diabetes in pregnancy, young people with diabetes and with people with other endocrine conditions and disorders of lipid metabolism. As a valued member of ourteam,you will receive :

• Flexible working , including opportunities for home working.
• Clinical supervision and support from experienced dietitians.
• Dedicated time for professional and service development.
• Regular appraisals and personalised development plan.
• Opportunity to attend educational events
Main duties of the job To have shared responsibility for providing a diabetes and endocrinology dietetic service for people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes as well as other endocrine conditions and disorders of lipid metabolism. The role involves :
• Delivering structured education for people with type 1 diabetes (DAFNE standard, remote and insulin pump programmes) and type 2 diabetes (Diabetes2gether and Diabetes4ward local programmes)
• Delivering diabetes and nutrition education in groups :
• Weightwise - weight management groups specifically for people with diabetes
• Newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes groups
• Pre-conception groups
• Carbohydrate counting workshops
• Gestational diabetes groups
• Individual dietetic consultations in clinic for :
• Young adults with diabetes
• Pregnancy and diabetes
• People with type 2 diabetes commencing insulin
• People with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily injections of insulin
• Working as a member of the dietetic department by taking the lead on corporate departmental projects
• Advising and teaching medical and nursing staff on the dietary management of diabetes, weight management and other endocrine conditions
• To advise and teach patients and carers how to manipulate their diet to best achieve their individual goals and good nutrition
• Furthering best practice by current clinical evidence and develop departmental guidelines and standards of best practice
• The post holder will have responsibility for providing dietetic support for other specialities as required, To work as part of a diabetes and endocrinology dietetic team and as an integral member of the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure a holistic approach to patient care. This involves close liaison with the medical and nursing teams within the specialist areas of diabetes, endocrinology, lipid metabolism, diabetes and pregnancy as well as working closely with the Community Diabetes Nursing service, GPs and practice nurses. This is supported by attending regular dietetic team meetings as well as the weekly MDT meeting where possible.
Organise own workload : prioritising and balancing patient-related and professional demands and contributing to the effectiveness of the diabetes and endocrinology team. To assess and prioritise referrals made by members of the MDT, Primary Care and the Community Diabetes Nurse Service in order to ensure effective use of time and resources. Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources including electronic patient records, the client, staff and / or carers, in order to make a comprehensive assessment of the patients diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plans so that a decision on the most appropriate dietetic treatment to support this can be made in the short and long term. Interpret and monitor biochemical data generally and specifically in relation to people with diabetes, other endocrine conditions or lipid disorders. Assess patients nutritional status by weight history, fluid balance, nutritional intake, stool output, vomiting and physical signs of deficiency. Estimate nutritional requirements using specific assessment tools and calculations. To remain up to date with the literature and ensure that this is an evidence-based process and clinically relevant to people with diabetes, other endocrine conditions or lipid disorders. Formulate individualised patient care plans, artificial feeding regimens, taking into consideration factors which may affect requirements or help / hinder provision of nutrition support such as : prescribed drugs, biochemical derangements etc. Within the care plan this would include nutritional supplements, specialist feeds, need for added micronutrients. Evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional goals and modify these goals and care plans as necessary based on ongoing analysis, assessment of information available and changing patient needs. Address and monitor their changing nutritional needs over the course of their disease and advise other members of the multidisciplinary team. Modify dietary advice according to biochemistry, lifestyle, treatment undertaken, drugs and associated medical conditions adding to complexity of dietetic management. Use communication techniques behavioural change and motivational interviewing to work with the patient to adapt their diet. Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, carers and other health professionals. Skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining consent may be used in a wide variety of different, sometimes sensitive, situations. It is important to be able to communicate complex information at an appropriate level. Barriers to communication may be evident loss of sight, loss of hearing, lack of English, both written and spoken, requiring the use of translators. Deal with patients with chronic conditions and those with poor outcomes / terminal conditions. To be sensitive to the religious and ethnic needs of patients' dietary requirements. To be actively involved with the development of evidence based, trust-wide guidelines - to be a resource to other dietitians as specialist diabetes and endocrinology practitioners, writing and compiling diet sheets, protocols and advice. To provide specialist training and supervision of dietetic colleagues and students using skills of reflective practice. To cover for other dietitians when sickness or leave necessitates. PROFESSIONAL Be accountable for own actions within the professional, ethical and legal framework for dietetics set out in the Health and Care Profession Councils code of practice for Dietitians and the British Dietetic Associations professional standards for Dietitians. To take responsibility for own continuing professional development and providing evidence for this by maintaining a CPD portfolio. CPD involves critical evaluation of scientific papers, attending professional development meetings, working as a reflective practitioner and attending relevant internal / external courses. Participate in annual appraisal, identifying own developmental and training needs and setting personal developmental objectives. To participate in departmental audits and initiate audit within own work area in order to monitor and evaluate whether local / national / international standards are being met and make recommendations for change. To be involved with the planning of departmental clinical effectiveness and audit strategies. Actively contribute to the dietetic student training program, facilitating the development of skills and knowledge, being involved in the assessment process and acting as a mentor to students. To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to dietetic colleagues, students or members of the multidisciplinary team, regarding the nutritional management of patients, particularly with respect to people with diabetes and other endocrine conditions. To have a detailed understanding of medical conditions / drugs and nutritional implications. To take the lead on corporate departmental projects. Person Specification Essential Essential


• BSc (Hons) Nutrition / Dietetics degree or post graduate diploma or equivalent
• Registration with HCPC
• Demonstrates basic skills and knowledge in the dietetic management of diabetes
• Completion of relevant post registration clinical courses ( BDA diabetes courses, clinical supervisory skills, behavioural change)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to communicate with compassion and respect in highly sensitive situations
• Experience of service development, research or audit
• Able to travel to a clinical site, which may be in a different town, to provide a dietetics service
• Car driver and use of a car for work purposes
  
  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.