Diabetes Specialist Dietitian

at  Central London Community Health Trust

1.To provide specialist assessment and treatment of clients with both Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes, liaise with other agencies and health professionals and maintain accurate clinical records. To be involved in the development and implementation of dietetic clinical standards, policies and procedures for the multidisciplinary Community Diabetes Service. To undertake specific dietetic clinical audit and/or research projects for the multidisciplinary Community Diabetes Service to inform Clinical Governance strategy and service development. Develop and improve professional expertise via continuous professional development.
Key Working Relationships Specialist diabetes colleagues within CLCH Colleagues within Community District Nursing Services Colleagues within the Nutrition and Dietetics Service Colleagues within Acute Trusts GPS and Primary Healthcare Team Voluntary and community groups Diabetes Services user groups Community Pharmacists Clinical Responsibilities: 1.1. To have sole responsibility for providing a specialist clinical diabetes dietetic service to clients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes on oral hypoglycaemic agents, insulin or insulin conversion including appropriate dietary counselling and lifestyle advice in various community settings such as GP practices, health centres and clients homes. 1.2. To work autonomously to provide expert advice to clients, carers and clinicians.
This will involve nutritional diagnosis and assessment (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history) using evidence based guidelines and the development of treatment plans (calculation of nutritional requirements and client-centred goals) using evidence based outcomes. 1.3. To use professional judgement and clinical expertise to independently interpret and analyse complex situations and information to formulate treatment plans according to evidence based practice and modify according to changes in clinical condition. 1.4.
To be clinically competent to give specialist diabetes advice, treatment and dietary counselling to support behavioural change, in adults with complex and diverse healthcare needs across health and social care. 1.5. To provide expert advice to medical practitioners on of the diabetes medication, insulins, weight management medication, ACBS products (e.g. nutritional supplements, gluten-free products), and vitamin and mineral preparations which are available.
1.6. To initiate and participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency collaborative working to promote continuity of care at the multi-disciplinary Community Diabetes team meetings and case conferences. 1.7. To use clinical judgement to refer clients to other services, professionals and Social Services when appropriate.
1.8. To provide timely and informative client reports for GPs, consultants, other Allied Health Professionals, nursing and other staff. 1.9. To communicate highly complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to clients, carers and families from a wide range of backgrounds to gain consent, ensure understanding of condition, treatment options, risks, acceptance and compliance with dietary treatment, which may include unwelcome or difficult to accept information e.g.
long term adherence to a restricted diet, conversion to insulin. 1.10. To be clinically competent to give specialist diabetes advice, treatment, and counselling to support behavioural change, in adults with complex and diverse healthcare needs across health and social care. Resulting in personalized care planning, empowering service users to self-manage their own diabetes 1.11.
To be ultimately responsible for managing a specialist clinical caseload. 1.12. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and to ensure that own work is within professional standards and clinical guidelines. 1.13.
To be responsible for complying with legal and professional confidentiality guidelines at all times. Service Development and Health Promotion: 3.1. To be responsible for the planning, implementation and delivery of local engagement projects, working closely with service users, local community and colleagues in Dietetic Service. 3.3 To present complex information (project proposal, financial implications, implementation and evaluation strategy, project outcomes and relationship between local need and national initiatives) to managers, key stakeholders and decision makers.
3.4 To translate scientific nutritional information into appropriate language for the practical implementation of evidence based nutrition interventions. Management Responsibilities and Shared Leadership 4.1. To work in conjunction with the Dietetic Lead and Diabetes Service Lead in developing the Diabetes Services business plan and a strategic direction for the Service in line with Trust objectives. To initiate and be responsible for audit and research within the Community Diabetes Services (including design and implementation).
To communicate the results, make recommendations for changing clinical practice and ensure changes are implemented and reviewed. 4.4. To participate and lead when appropriate multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working in the Community Diabetes Services to inform service development. 4.5.
To produce Service Development project reports as determined by Diabetes Service Lead. 4.6. To advise Diabetes Service Lead on financial implications relating to client care or project management. 4.7.
To participate in Dietetic Student training programmes and contribute to the supervision and assessment of Dietetic students in area of clinical expertise. 4.8. To produce and interpret statistical information as determined by the Diabetes Service Lead. 4.9.
In conjunction with Diabetes Service Lead to help when necessary with the recruitment and selection of staff members including advertising, short listing, interviewing and working with Human Resources throughout the process. 4.10. To take responsibility for ensuring Trust policy is adhered to in identifying and addressing clinical incidents and complaints. Clinical Governance: 5.1.
To assist the Diabetes Service Lead in developing and delivering a clinical governance strategy for the Service within the clinical governance framework established by the Trust. 5.2. To ensure therapy is based on evidence based practice and recognised guidelines. 5.3.
To undertake clinical audit (initiating, planning, implementing, participating, evaluating and coordinating) in area of clinical speciality using research methodology. 5.4. To present research/audit results at Trust wide level and publish results to promote evidence-based practice. Professional Responsibilities 6.1.
To work within the British Dietetic Association code of professional conduct and Health Professions Council standards. 6.2. To have an advanced working knowledge of clinical guidelines relevant to diabetes, to translate these guidelines into own practice and, through supervision and education, assist staff members to translate these guidelines into practice. 6.3.
To actively participate in the Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trusts Individual Development Review by identifying key performance objectives and continuing education needs. 6.4. To be responsible for maintaining own professional competency to practice through relevant CPD activities which have been identified in the Professional Development Plan and to maintain a CPD portfolio to reflect this. 6.5.
To actively participate in Clinical and Operational Supervision sessions to identify and develop professional, clinical and service needs. 6.6. To be responsible for gaining valid, informed consent for assessment and treatment interventions and sharing of information following legal and professional guidelines and to follow these guidelines in circumstances where clients do not have capacity to provide informed consent. 6.7.
To be responsible for maintaining detailed and accurate client treatment records in line with Service standards, Trust policies and legal standards. 6.8. To be responsible for documenting patient activity data, health promotion, training and education data in accordance with Service standards and Trust standards. 6.9.
To be responsible for effective time management, meeting deadlines and responding to fluctuating workloads and organising, planning and prioritising clinical and non-clinical workload. 6.10. To organise, chair and participate in Community Diabetes Services meetings, Trust wide meetings and multi-agency meetings related to clinical speciality. Educational Responsibilities 7.1.
To act as a Specialist Clinical Diabetes Dietitian, providing education, training and advice to Diabetes Specialist Nurses, GPs Practice Nurses, Community Nursing Staff, Dietitians, Assistants, staff from other disciplines through formal and informal training, advice and joint assessments. 7.2. To participate in Dietetic Practice Supervision programmes and to be responsible for teaching of colleagues in this setting on a rotational basis. 7.3.
To identify, assess, plan and evaluate training and education programmes to deliver complex nutritional information to large groups of professionals working in Wandsworth, e.g. GPs, nurses, medical staff, Allied Health Professionals and pharmacists

Please refer the Job description for details