Senior Specialist Dietitian (Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disorders)

Are you looking for a clinical leadership development opportunity and a new challenge? Are you an enthusiastic, strongly motivated Dietitian with a proven record in paediatric dietetics, then this opportunity may be for you.

Due to recent additional funding and growth in the paediatric inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) caseload, a rare but exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated Paediatric Dietitian to work within the Specialist Metabolic Team at Leicester Children's Hospital based at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The successful applicant will work alongside the dedicated Dietetic ACP for the speciality, another Senior Specialist Dietitian, a rotational Senior Dietitian, a dedicated Dietetic Assistant Practitioner and administrator.

There is opportunity for full time band 7 work through other dietitian vacancies within our team. Please contact us for more information.

Job description

To be an expert Dietitian for children on metabolic diet treatment.

To have a diagnostic and autonomous role in ordering, assessing and interpreting biochemistry results and setting individualised care plans.

To inform on clinical decision making, treatment selection and evaluation of treatment.

To make treatment recommendations after nutritional assessment; to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical conditions and other parameters.

To have an expert knowledge of prescribed nutritional feed products and the ability to determine when a modular feed may be necessary. To calculate feeding regimens within precise nutritional parameters for inpatients and outpatients. To advise on the prescription of specialist nutritional supplements.

To be responsible for the provision of emergency regimens, used during illness, for specific metabolic conditions.

The post holder will provide nutrition and dietetic input into dedicated outpatient clinics (MDT and Dietetic led), inpatients, day case and emergency department referrals.

To liaise with the UHL Trust catering services to ensure appropriate nutritional provision to paediatric IMD inpatients.

To provide education and support where appropriate to nurseries and schools for children under the UHL paediatric IMD caseload.

Under special circumstances, deliver training via home visits to children with metabolic conditions.

To inform on clinical decision making, treatment selection and evaluation of treatment.

To lead on developing and reviewing dietetic clinical guidelines and resources relevant to paediatric IMD and undertake audit of practice.

To work as an expert, autonomous and senior specialist dietitian in paediatric IMD and share local and national developments across the service and externally at regional, national and international level.

To raise safeguarding concerns where dietary non-compliance by carers can lead to irreversible damage to the child in their care. To co-operate with all aspects of the Safeguarding Children UHL Policy.

To deliver training and supervision to the metabolic and paediatric dietetic teams.

Please see attached job description for more information.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• An Undergraduate or Post Graduate Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics or similar non-UK qualification.
• HCPC Registration
• Completion of a Clinical Teaching Skills Course.
• Evidence of having completed an accredited course or equivalent level of professional experience at Masters Level in evidence based paediatric dietetics

Desirable

• Completion of an Advanced Clinical Supervisory Skills Course

Experience

Essential

• Dietetic experience in a varied dietetic environment
• Dietetic experience in the specialist field of paediatric IMD.
• Has developed expert practice in paediatric dietetics to include different ways of caseload management and delivering services.
• Can demonstrate evidence of continued professional development (eg. keeps a professional portfolio, professional involvement in clinical research).
• Is able to give examples of ability to initiate and complete quality improvement projects leading to improved patient care.
• Previous involvement with the pre-registration practice training for Dietitians.
• Can demonstrate the required competency in the post
• Working knowledge of local and national clinical and professional policies, guidelines and procedures

Desirable

• Previous experience of line management or co-ordination of clinical supervision or providing coaching / mentoring role.

Communication

Essential

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Can demonstrate confidence, leadership and self-motivation
• Has a good understanding of team work and how this can be used to improve patient care and able to provide examples of own experience in this.
• Can use different approaches to communication with a wide variety of patients, both as individuals and in groups, and with the public
• Is aware of the different communication needs within a culturally diverse community and how this may impact on both own professional practice and others
• Is able to use different techniques for motivating individuals and groups to make behavioural change
• Able to liaise with professionals at all levels, can demonstrate a role in influencing multi-professional practice and can provide examples of this.

Desirable

• Has undertaken post-registration training in behavioural change and motivational interviewing.

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

• Uses analytical and problem solving skills in own practice and when planning a work programme.
• Is able to support and take a key role in the professional development of others.

Planning and organisation skills

Essential

• Can demonstrate excellent organisational and supervisory skills
• Can work independently and use a high level of initiative
• Can give examples of quality initiatives to improve patient care and identify own involvement and role in specific initiatives
• Is able to prioritise workload and manage a safe caseload and workload and is flexible in approach, and has an influence on developing these skills in other staff and students

Desirable

• Has vision for new ways of working in healthcare delivery and has evidence of change management skills

Physical and Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

• Able to carry clinic and teaching equipment unaided or use correct aids e.g. Trolley
• Mobility - able to work in a variety of hospital and community settings and able to access transport as required to deliver services on and off site eg home visits
• Working knowledge of local and national clinical and professional policies, guidelines and procedures e.g. BIMDG emergency guidelines, NICE guidance/British Dietetic Association/Health Care Professionals Council Code of Conduct/Ethics, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Equality and Diversity, Confidentiality, Data Protection

About the employer

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals: