Job summary
Are you passionate about transforming lives through nutrition and dietary management? We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Highly Specialist Dietitian to join our Primary Care Team and spearhead the delivery of top-notch dietetic services to all service users.
About the Role:
As a Highly Specialist Dietitian, you'll collaborate closely with a band 7 Home Enteral Nutrition Dietitian, providing expert care for malnourished adult patients with gastroenterology needs (including FODMAP diets), specialized weight management, and nutrition support services across the vibrant borough of Greenwich. Our Primary Care Team focuses on supporting adults with clinical conditions related to malnutrition and gastroenterology.
What You'll Do:
Lead the provision of highly specialist care, ensuring excellence in service delivery.
Work with band 8A team manager by Co-managing the Greenwich Malnutrition Service staff (covering Food First, Primary Care, and Home Enteral Feeding) alongside band 7 HEN specialist Dietitian.
Take an active role in training and educating staff and multidisciplinary team members, sharing your expertise and knowledge.
Be a dedicated team player, committed to delivering therapeutic interventions of the highest standard.
If you're ready to make a meaningful difference and be part of a team committed to excellence in dietetic care, we want to hear from you! Apply now and embark on a rewarding journey with us as a Highly Specialist Dietitian.
Main duties of the job
The Primary Care Dietetic Service in Greenwich offers a coordinated practice-based approach, playing a crucial role in the community malnutrition pathway.
The service is dedicated to providing specialized dietary advice for conditions such as malnutrition, coeliac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This includes offering one-on-one sessions for patients with IBS and coeliac disease, as well as those identified as malnourished through the care pathway.
Highly specialized knowledge underpins the service, ensuring evidence-based practice in delivering expert nutritional and dietetic advice to patients referred by GPs and other healthcare professionals.
Additionally, the service actively leads education initiatives, updates medical and support staff on speciality topics, and provides clinical supervision and support to junior team members to facilitate their professional growth.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Support the Service lead and Head of dietetics in the delivery of an efficient, cost effective and high quality Nutrition and Dietetic service, demonstrating and awareness of financial constraints of budgets for supplements / prescriptions in the in and outpatient setting.
- To demonstrate excellent organisational skills and responsible for maintenance of patient records to comply with departmental and trust standards.
- To manage and prioritise own caseload and workload independently.
- To supervise and support the role of the junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students as appropriate within the departmental structure.
- To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
- To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working in the service area of dietetics and maintain up to date HCPC registration.
- Report to the Head of Profession and to contribute to the effective running of the dietetic service and the Nutrition and Dietetic department.
- Working with other Dietitians within the dietetic team to further develop the dietetic services. Contribute and participate in departmental CPD and learning activities e.g. journal clubs and case presentations.
- To jointly develop dietetic/nutrition policies and guidelines for the dietary treatment of patients in the borough of Greenwich in conjunction with the dietitians and Head of Profession.
CLINICAL
- To be an expert source of nutritional advice for patients/carers, nursing and other health professionals and advising on appropriate prescribing of oral nutritional supplements.
- To perform anthropometric measurements including; weight, height and calculating BMI and interpreting and recording this information in the dietary assessment and care plans.
- To develop individual patient centred care plans based on nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition, growth parameters, medication, diet history, family and social history.
- To modify nutritional supplement prescriptions based on the nutritional status of the patient and informing the GP, community medical- and nursing teams of the relevant changes.
- To advise on the safe prescribing of vitamin and mineral preparations for the caseload.
- To educate and support patients and their carers, through planning and organisation, regarding their dietary management.
- To assist in the development of evidence based nutritional education materials in collaboration with other dietitians, which will take into consideration barriers to communication e.g. translating complex nutritional guidelines into simple messages for the general public; addressing particular barriers such as social, cultural, religious, language and economic factors.
- Using highly specialist knowledge and communication skills to contribute to the development and evaluation of complex care pathways / protocols within the multi-disciplinary team.
- To maintain and develop links with the tertiary and secondary care to ensure continuity of care for patients.
- To advise medical, nursing, dietetic colleagues and other professionals on the evidence based principles of nutrition and dietary management of nutritionally related conditions.
- To have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
- To attend specialist short courses, network meetings and advanced training within Dietetics and related to service areas.
RESEARCH
- Participate in departmental and trust wide audit projects eg. Patient satisfaction survey and service delivery.
- To be prepared to initiate and take a lead role in research/ audit and development activities within field of dietetics with the Head of Profession, and to assist in the evaluation of current practice.
- To provide feedback to the Head of Profession and participate in departmental innovations with regard to development of risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness as appropriate.
- To comply with Trust and national guidelines in all audit and research activities, insuring appropriate procedures and assurances are in place.
- To present findings of audit and development activities to the team in order to contribute to service and professional development. Where appropriate to present information to other therapy teams or outside agencies.
- To provide support and encouragement to other staff undertaking research or development activities.
- Continually evaluates own work and current practices through the application of the available evidence base.
COMMUNICATION
- Be skilled in a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools, including the use of interpreters. To communicate effectively with patients and carers/guardians to ensure quality and safe dietary treatment is agreed.
- To provide nutrition counselling skills and to communicate with all service user within a diverse multicultural population where there might be barriers to communication.
- To adapt complex information from different situations and people using negotiating and motivational techniques where there may be barriers to understanding and compliance.
- To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of the client, carer and colleague when managing distressing situations such as safeguarding issues and exposure to terminal illness.
- To write timely accurate reports and letters, reflecting highly specialist knowledge, to all members of the team including liaising with the GPs regarding the on-going treatment and prescribing of nutritional supplements.
- To assist in the development of evidence-based nutritional education materials in collaboration with other dietitians. To take into account barriers to communication e.g. translating nutritional advice and messages for the general public. Ensuring that particularly attention is given to ensure social, cultural, religious, language and economic factors are accounted for.
- Develop and provide nutrition education and training to professionals and community groups within Greenwich and provide effective health promotion/community development activities.
- To have highly developed computer skills for data entry and computer literacy e.g. Word processing, presentation packages incl. PowerPoint and spread sheets e.g. Excel.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND LEADERSHIP
Support the Service lead and Head of dietetics in the delivery of an efficient, cost effective and high quality Nutrition and Dietetic service, demonstrating and awareness of financial constraints of budgets for supplements / prescriptions in the in and outpatient setting.
- To demonstrate excellent organisational skills and responsible for maintenance of patient records to comply with departmental and trust standards.
- To manage and prioritise own caseload and workload independently.
- To supervise and support the role of the junior dietitians, dietetic assistants and students as appropriate within the departmental structure.
- To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions.
- To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working in the service area of dietetics and maintain up to date HCPC registration.
- Report to the Head of Profession and to contribute to the effective running of the dietetic service and the Nutrition and Dietetic department.
- Working with other Dietitians within the dietetic team to further develop the dietetic services. Contribute and participate in departmental CPD and learning activities e.g. journal clubs and case presentations.
- To jointly develop dietetic/nutrition policies and guidelines for the dietary treatment of patients in the borough of Greenwich in conjunction with the dietitians and Head of Profession.
CLINICAL
- To be an expert source of nutritional advice for patients/carers, nursing and other health professionals and advising on appropriate prescribing of oral nutritional supplements.
- To perform anthropometric measurements including; weight, height and calculating BMI and interpreting and recording this information in the dietary assessment and care plans.
- To develop individual patient centred care plans based on nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition, growth parameters, medication, diet history, family and social history.
- To modify nutritional supplement prescriptions based on the nutritional status of the patient and informing the GP, community medical- and nursing teams of the relevant changes.
- To advise on the safe prescribing of vitamin and mineral preparations for the caseload.
- To educate and support patients and their carers, through planning and organisation, regarding their dietary management.
- To assist in the development of evidence based nutritional education materials in collaboration with other dietitians, which will take into consideration barriers to communication e.g. translating complex nutritional guidelines into simple messages for the general public; addressing particular barriers such as social, cultural, religious, language and economic factors.
- Using highly specialist knowledge and communication skills to contribute to the development and evaluation of complex care pathways / protocols within the multi-disciplinary team.
- To maintain and develop links with the tertiary and secondary care to ensure continuity of care for patients.
- To advise medical, nursing, dietetic colleagues and other professionals on the evidence based principles of nutrition and dietary management of nutritionally related conditions.
- To have a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, Working with Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
- To attend specialist short courses, network meetings and advanced training within Dietetics and related to service areas.
RESEARCH
- Participate in departmental and trust wide audit projects eg. Patient satisfaction survey and service delivery.
- To be prepared to initiate and take a lead role in research/ audit and development activities within field of dietetics with the Head of Profession, and to assist in the evaluation of current practice.
- To provide feedback to the Head of Profession and participate in departmental innovations with regard to development of risk management, quality standards and clinical effectiveness as appropriate.
- To comply with Trust and national guidelines in all audit and research activities, insuring appropriate procedures and assurances are in place.
- To present findings of audit and development activities to the team in order to contribute to service and professional development. Where appropriate to present information to other therapy teams or outside agencies.
- To provide support and encouragement to other staff undertaking research or development activities.
- Continually evaluates own work and current practices through the application of the available evidence base.
COMMUNICATION
- Be skilled in a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools, including the use of interpreters. To communicate effectively with patients and carers/guardians to ensure quality and safe dietary treatment is agreed.
- To provide nutrition counselling skills and to communicate with all service user within a diverse multicultural population where there might be barriers to communication.
- To adapt complex information from different situations and people using negotiating and motivational techniques where there may be barriers to understanding and compliance.
- To always maintain sensitivity to the emotional needs of the client, carer and colleague when managing distressing situations such as safeguarding issues and exposure to terminal illness.
- To write timely accurate reports and letters, reflecting highly specialist knowledge, to all members of the team including liaising with the GPs regarding the on-going treatment and prescribing of nutritional supplements.
- To assist in the development of evidence-based nutritional education materials in collaboration with other dietitians. To take into account barriers to communication e.g. translating nutritional advice and messages for the general public. Ensuring that particularly attention is given to ensure social, cultural, religious, language and economic factors are accounted for.
- Develop and provide nutrition education and training to professionals and community groups within Greenwich and provide effective health promotion/community development activities.
- To have highly developed computer skills for data entry and computer literacy e.g. Word processing, presentation packages incl. PowerPoint and spread sheets e.g. Excel.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- HCPC Registration as a Dietitian
- Post- graduate training /short courses or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Registered member of the British Dietetic Association
- Member of a specialist interest group
Experience and Skills
Essential
- Minimum 3 years post qualification experience
- Post-registration experience in a range of clinical areas including nutrition support, IBS, coeliac disease, and the appropriate prescribing of oral nutrition supplements.
- FODMAPS trained
- Experience in clinical supervision of junior members of staff and students
- Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter- agency working
Other requirement
Desirable
- Car Driver for Work purposes
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- HCPC Registration as a Dietitian
- Post- graduate training /short courses or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Registered member of the British Dietetic Association
- Member of a specialist interest group
Experience and Skills
Essential
- Minimum 3 years post qualification experience
- Post-registration experience in a range of clinical areas including nutrition support, IBS, coeliac disease, and the appropriate prescribing of oral nutrition supplements.
- FODMAPS trained
- Experience in clinical supervision of junior members of staff and students
- Experience of multi-disciplinary and inter- agency working
Other requirement
Desirable
- Car Driver for Work purposes
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).
