Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 individuals to join the South East London (SEL) Dietetic Prescribing Support Service as a Band 6 Prescribing Support Dietitian (PSD).Two roles are being advertised, 1 x 10 month fixed-term maternity cover, and 1 x 6 month fixed-term secondment cover until January 2026.
This opportunity lends itself to individuals looking to widen their skillset, build their CV with more varied and diverse experiences or for those wanting to be actively involved with service development.
The role offers a wide range of benefits including the opportunity for flexible working, hybrid working, professional development opportunities and initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance.
The service has been commissioned by SEL ICS and provides dietetic prescribing support services across the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley.
The adult PSD team is comprised of a Principal Prescribing Support Dietitian (B8), x2 Senior Specialist PSDs (B7), and x3 Specialist PSDs (B6). These posts are supported by x2 Advanced Dietetic Assistants (B4). The service also provides paediatric prescribing support with 3 x Paediatric PSDs.
Main duties of the job
The aim of this service is to improve and standardise care pathways for patients requiring oral nutrition support in SEL. As well as reviewing patients who have been prescribed nutrition supplements, the team work collaboratively alongside Primary Care Networks, acute care dietetic teams and community care homes to ensure that patients are receiving optimal nutritional care along their treatment pathways.
The service provides training and guidance to GPs, pharmacists and other community healthcare teams on the identification and treatment of malnutrition in the community and appropriate use of oral nutrition support prescription products.
The service will improve the quality of nutritional care that patients at risk from malnutrition receive whilst at the same time ensuring local healthcare resources are used effectively and efficiently.
You will need to be a motivated self-starter who can engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders. You will need to be good at analysing data and will be expected to complete reports to regular deadlines as well as having excellent clinical dietetics skills.
About us
You will be joining a dietetics department of well over 120 staff working across Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina Children Hospital and community services. The department has a strong commitment to staff development and you will enjoy the benefits of being part of one of the biggest Nutrition and Dietetics Departments in Europe who as an organisation are at the forefront of healthcare service development and research.
We are a large Academic Health Sciences Centre with King's College London and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced clinicians and leading researchers in the Trust and at King's College London.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role descriptor:
- To be a member of the prescribing dietetic team responsible for providing advice and guidance on use of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) to patients and clinicians within a designated area.
- To be responsible for reviewing patients on prescribed oral nutrition supplements in an outpatient setting and advising GPs and practice pharmacists on optimal prescribing of nutrition supplements.
- To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home.
- To use local prescribing systems and GP notes to identify patients being prescribed ONS, review their nutrition care plans and modify these appropriately in conjunction with the GP / practice pharmacist.
- To update GPs and meeting to provide education sessions and discuss patient care plans.
- To provide expert advice to clinicians, patients and carers regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This will involve nutritional assessment, to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry clinical condition and other physical parameters.
- To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental and multi-disciplinary team procedures.
- To deliver post hospital discharge clinics for patients recently discharged from hospital
- To provide clinical cover for colleagues within the prescribing support dietetic team - including cover for clinics, audits or presentation delivery
- To support Band 4 dietetic assistants with clinical service and project delivery
- To supervise dietetic students on placements 1, 2 and 3
- To support the wider needs of the dietetic department as required
Job description
Job responsibilities
Role descriptor:
- To be a member of the prescribing dietetic team responsible for providing advice and guidance on use of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) to patients and clinicians within a designated area.
- To be responsible for reviewing patients on prescribed oral nutrition supplements in an outpatient setting and advising GPs and practice pharmacists on optimal prescribing of nutrition supplements.
- To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home.
- To use local prescribing systems and GP notes to identify patients being prescribed ONS, review their nutrition care plans and modify these appropriately in conjunction with the GP / practice pharmacist.
- To update GPs and meeting to provide education sessions and discuss patient care plans.
- To provide expert advice to clinicians, patients and carers regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This will involve nutritional assessment, to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry clinical condition and other physical parameters.
- To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental and multi-disciplinary team procedures.
- To deliver post hospital discharge clinics for patients recently discharged from hospital
- To provide clinical cover for colleagues within the prescribing support dietetic team - including cover for clinics, audits or presentation delivery
- To support Band 4 dietetic assistants with clinical service and project delivery
- To supervise dietetic students on placements 1, 2 and 3
- To support the wider needs of the dietetic department as required
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Broad post registration experience within Clinical Dietetics
- Working as part of a team
- Experience in specialist area
Desirable
- Conducting audit and or research
- Experience of training student dietitians
- Experience in Prescribing Support Dietetics
Skills
Essential
- good communication
- organisational skills
- Presentation skills- including talking to large groups
- time management
- Maintain confidentiality
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Degree in Dietetics or equivalent
- Current state registration (HCPC registered dietitian)
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Experience in Prescribing Support
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Broad post registration experience within Clinical Dietetics
- Working as part of a team
- Experience in specialist area
Desirable
- Conducting audit and or research
- Experience of training student dietitians
- Experience in Prescribing Support Dietetics
Skills
Essential
- good communication
- organisational skills
- Presentation skills- including talking to large groups
- time management
- Maintain confidentiality
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- BSc (Hons) Degree in Dietetics or equivalent
- Current state registration (HCPC registered dietitian)
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Experience in Prescribing Support
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
