Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated and experienced part time Band 7 Renal dietitian to join our friendly team working in the Renal Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

This is a fixed term post working 15 hours/week for 8 months to cover a career break.

You would provide telephone based outpatient care to those undergoing treatment for renal disease.

Previous NHS experience at advanced level in all apsects of renal dietetics is essential for this post

The Renal Unit is a busy, purpose built unit providing tertiary cancer services for the South East. We cover all aspects of care including inpatients, pre-dialysis, haemo, PD and transplant care.This is a great place to work and our input is highly valued. There is an excellent MDT and our renal dietitians share a busy office with other members of the renal MDT.

You would be part of a well-respected, supportive and enthusiastic team.

Main duties of the job

As an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, you will take the lead and demonstrate an advanced level of expertise within the highly specialist area of Renal. You will play a key role in the nutritional management of this patient group and will provide highly specialist and advanced advice, education and support to patients, carers and other health professionals. In addition you will actively be involved in the trusts clinical governance programme and quality framework agenda by taking lead responsibility for ensuring continuing professional development, audit and research activities within this specialist area.

About us

Join us at UHSussex , every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops

At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a clinical lead specialist you will be responsible for the development and provision of a comprehensive and effective specialist service to a regional adult renal centre.

To work autonomously providing expert dietary advice based on clinical evidence to:

• Inpatients receiving care on the renal ward
• Patients receiving outpatient or day care as part of their Haemodialyisis, Home Haemodialysis, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Nephrology therapy.
• Regional renal satellite units and community based clinics
• Domiciliary visits as required

To undertake the nutritional assessment of patients, and using the results, plan and prescribe their dietary care by:

• Conducting detailed verbal nutritional and clinical histories of patients
• Investigating and obtaining patient information
• Interpreting highly complex and sensitive medical and social information.
• Requesting and interpreting biochemistry, anthropometry and other physical parameters.
• Performing anthropometric and metabolic calculations
• Clinical observations

Utilise highly developed and advanced communication and teaching skills to support nutrition counselling to suit the individual patients needs. Exceptional skills are needed with regards to:

• Overcoming and negotiating barriers to change
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• The use of reassurance and motivation skills.

To communicate highly complex information in a manner that is culturally sensitive and takes into account communication difficulties, language barriers, cognitive and physical abilities.

To take the lead in providing highly specialist dietetic advice to the relevant multidisciplinary team members:

• Through the attendance and participation of multidisciplinary team meetings,
• Ward rounds
• Case conferences
• Discharge planning meetings
• Home enteral feed meetings and
• Dialysis meetings

To initiate the prescription and modification of nutritional supplements and medications based on the patients nutritional status and dietary needs:

• These may include vitamins and minerals, total parenteral nutrition, enteral feeds, gluten free foods and pancreatic enzymes.
• Be responsible for appropriate prescribing taking account of clinical needs, budgetary constraints and cost implications.

To advise on prescription changes for the management of renal bone disease based on the interpretation of complex biochemical markers and diet.

Use the specialist nutritional analysis package as a diagnostic tool or to provide a plan of action and a method of monitoring progress.

Have highly developed skills for managing complex calculations over periods of time (e.g. clinics) as part of nutritional assessment and prescribing.

To advise and liaise with the catering team with regards to:

• The dietary requirements of patients and assist in the instruction of diet chefs on the preparation of therapeutic meals.
• To implement up to date food policies such as Better Hospital Food Standards.
• To support with menu compilations to ensure they meet the needs of hospital and renal population.

To manage appropriately, distressing and difficult situations involving the treatment of complex patient groups such as the terminally ill and very unwell, patients with a chronic disease, those with life changing conditions and with mental health problems. This results in exposure to complex situations and distressed patients and relatives.

To be responsible for the safe and effective discharge planning of patients receiving artificial nutrition support who are being transferred to their own homes or other care facilities.

Person Specification

Qualification & Registration

Essential

• Registered Dietitian with HCPC

Experience

Essential

• Acute NHS Experience
• Community exp
• Renal

Desirable

• Communtiy clinics/satellites

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Nutrition support - EN

Desirable

• NHS or similar acute experience in cancer

Teaching/training

Essential

• student dietetic training

Desirable

• experience of teaching/training at undergraduate level
• group education / telemed experience

Line management

Essential

• experience of supervising/supporting junior dietitians

Desirable

• line management experience

audit/reseach

Essential

• evidence of audit

Desirable

• research/publications

other relevant experience

Essential

• other

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

279-E5306677-MAY23