Highly Specialist Dietitian (Paediatric Diabetes)

Do you have an interest in, or passion for working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) with diabetes, or do you have previous experience in the management of paediatric diabetes that you'd like to develop and share within a new team?

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated specialist dietitian with good knowledge and understanding of the management of childhood diabetes and who is committed to working with and supporting BCYP and their families.

With one of the largest services for BCYP with diabetes in the South East Coast and London network we can offer you a rewarding, flexible and supportive role building long term professional relationships with BCYP and their families. We are on an exciting improvement journey and can offer you a rewarding and supported role with our care group.

With the majority of clients having Type1 diabetes and over 90% currently using integrated insulin pump and sensor technology vast experience in the use of the latest diabetes related technologies is available.

Here at East Kent Hospitals we value diversity in our workforce and as such encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you believe there may be any barriers to your consideration of this role we would encourage you to contact us for a further discussion. Informal enquiries and visits are welcome and encouraged.

Job description

The Highly Specialist Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian will manage a designated clinical caseload.

Use clinical judgment and autonomous decision making about the specialist dietetic management of BCYP with diabetes.

Be clinically competent in all areas of advanced practice and equipment use relating to the current management of childhood diabetes e.g. insulin injection and pump therapy, blood glucose and sensor monitoring.

Adhere to and implement the Trust policy in relation to Child Safeguarding

Support key partners within both the community and acute settings and work collaboratively and effectively with all other health care professionals, those allied to health and those in the third sector services.

Provide leadership and direct line-management for a small team of dietetic staff supporting them to care for a caseload of babies, children and young people.

Facilitate multidisciplinary teamwork to deliver a high standard diabetes service to BCYP, adolescents, families and carers.

Participate in a regular review of the responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team as a service provider, examining the structure and processes against all criteria identified in the Best Practice Tariff, National Paediatric Diabetes Audit and Peer review.

The candidate will work cross-site within East Kent and will participate pro-rata in the Out of Hours telephone on-call service for BCYP and their families ensuring they have access to specialist diabetes advice.

You will mainly work within the hospital setting but the role may entail time within the home and the community; enhancing established links with schools and other community groups and forging new ones. Dedicated childrens diabetes clinics are established in five localities within the Trust whilst inpatient care following diagnosis is provided by the two busy childrens wards on two main sites in Margate and Ashford.

You will be supported by a dedicated specialist team to professionally develop further within the speciality.

Person specification

Qualifications and training

Essential

• oCurrent HCPC registration.
• oDegree in Nutrition and Dietetics or Post -graduate Diploma or equivalent qualification.
• oEvidence of continuing professional development within the specialty.
• oTrained in facilitated learning for Undergraduate Practice Placements.

Desirable

• oMaster's Degree in a health related subject relevant to area of clinical specialty and advanced practice or Masters/L7 programme commenced.
• oNHS Leadership Academy qualification e.g. 'Edward Jenner', 'Mary Seacole'.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential

• oSignificant postgraduate healthcare experience equivalent to L7 demonstrating professional development across the four pillars of practice.
• oExperience in the use of insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring systems including Hybrid closed loop therapy (HCL)
• oExperience of working with patients/service users to resolve concerns and improve their experience.
• oEvidence of effective networking or matrix working.
• oExperience of supervising staff and delivering training.
• oDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of the issues involved with working in a busy acute setting.
• oExperience of assessing complex patients and developing specialised programmes of care.
• oExperience of working with babies, children and young people with diabetes.

Desirable

• oExperience of presenting to groups of staff/public.
• oExperience of working with children and young people with diabetes
• oExperience in supporting both pre-post registration learners to achieve appraisal objectives

Governance

Essential

• oUnderstanding of quality governance, patient safety and patient experience tools to support clinical practice and service improvement.
• oSound knowledge and understanding of national policy and guidance
• oUtilisation of clinical effectiveness tools to deliver quality improvement e.g. risk management and clinical audit.
• oEvidence of innovative practice utilising research and audit.

Desirable

• oExperience of implementing and evaluating improvements in care

Personal/Professional attributes

Essential

• oAbility to work within a team to achieving goals for a shared vision.
• oEvidence of service development and delivery in practice.
• oAbility to problem solve, anticipate and plan, individually and within a team.
• oAbility to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, considering Trust policies and procedures.
• oKnowledge of quality assurance and improvement methodology.
• oAbility to organise and manage own work
• oKnowledge of health policy and application to practice
• oDemonstrate self-awareness and critical reflection

Other requirements

Essential

• oFlexibility in working patterns to meet the needs of the service.
• oCommitment to equity and diversity.
• oSelf-motivated, positive, adaptable and flexible approach.
• oUpholds and role models the Trust values.
• oAbility to travel across sites to meet the needs of the service

About the employer

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.