About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting new role for a clinician interested in developing their skills and knowledge in diabetes. The post holder will provide a high quality, evidence based dietetic service to adults with diabetes in an outpatient setting. The post holder will support patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as providing support for the antenatal service.
The role includes delivering both individual and group education and working as part of a larger multidisciplinary team .
The post holder will have clinical experience in diabetes, provide sound clinical expertise to their team and more junior staff and coordinate and deliver high quality patient care. They will be a role model for expert clinical care, and lead on specific projects / service developments and management functions, as delegated by the Band 7 Dietitian or Clinical Lead Dietitian. They will role model the identified Trust values at all times.
The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner in providing dietetic assessment, treatment and management to their own designated caseload of patients and to maintain up to date dietetic records. They will use evidence based principles and current best practise to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dietetic interventions.
The post holder will provide supervision, teaching and support to more junior staff, dietetic assistants and students on placement.
Main duties of the job
To be professionally and legally accountable for managing an individual clinical caseload, ensuring all patient care and administrative tasks are completed promptly in line with HCPC, BDA, and NHS Trust standards. This includes maintaining accurate, clear, and contemporaneous documentation to support effective clinical decision-making and communication.
Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking comprehensive dietetic assessments. This involves obtaining detailed diet histories, interpreting medical and nutritional data (including biochemistry, anthropometrics, medication, and clinical conditions), and calculating nutritional requirements to develop patient-centred care plans.
Ensure patients understand proposed interventions to obtain informed consent, and work within legal frameworks when capacity is impaired. Communicate dietetic plans and patient progress effectively to the multidisciplinary team through documentation and active participation in meetings.
Apply clinical reasoning to plan and adapt interventions, particularly in complex cases, while recognising when to seek senior support. Monitor and evaluate treatment outcomes, adjusting care plans as needed.
Contribute to patient and staff education, CPD activities, service development, audits, and multidisciplinary working. Support colleagues, supervise junior staff and students, and liaise with community teams to ensure continuity of care.
About us
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical
To be professionally and legally responsible for the management of own clinical caseload and completion of related patient administrative tasks in a timely manner in line with HCPC and BDA (record keeping standards) and NHS trust policies/standards
Manage and prioritise your own designated clinical caseload and work as an autonomous practitioner with a level of direct supervision
Demonstrate autonomy with obtaining diet histories, interpreting medical /nutritional diagnosis (e.g. biochemistry, anthropometrics, drug treatment and clinical condition), calculating nutritional requirements (and interpreting any other relevant information) to develop patient centred goals and dietetic treatment
To determine the patients understanding of the dietetic intervention in order to gain valid, informed consent and to be able to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
To communicate patients dietetic treatment and progress of this to medical, nursing and other professional staff, through clear and accurate documentation in medical and nursing notes and dietetic records, in line with Trust and Dietetic department policies and through regular participation in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure specific patient needs are met
To use clinical reasoning, understanding of the medical diagnosis, previous experience and knowledge of treatment options to plan and implement individual dietetic interventions for all patients including those with complex conditions whilst being able to recognise when advice/assistance from supervisor is required
Monitor and evaluate dietetic treatment to measure progress and effectiveness of the intervention, and be able to identify when treatment requires modifying
To participate in the development and delivery of education sessions including group sessions for patients (and their carers), such as DAFNE or pump education
To participate in the development and delivery of nutritional teaching/education for staff within the trust, if and when required
Play an active role in the CPD/ Journal club meetings
During staff absence to monitor caseloads of other staff and contribute to service cover arrangements
Demonstrate accountability for personal CPD to include; maintaining up-to-date knowledge and skills in diabetes management and sharing relevant information with the team
To attend and contribute to the multi-disciplinary team meetings, ward rounds (and any other relevant meetings) to provide expert dietetic advice and/or information about individual patient progress, discuss concerns and prognosis
Play an active role in identifying and contributing to audit and service improvements and audits within the diabetes pathways
Ensuring there is efficient communication and liaison with the GPs and community teams regarding nutrition related prescriptions and the nutritional management of patients
Participate in the supervision and training of more junior members of staff and dietetic students
To provide comprehensive documentation of assessment and treatment according to departmental, professional and legal standards
Promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients, their families and staff, according to national and local Infection Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation, safeguarding legislation and procedures and Trust policies and objectives
Understand the Trust clinical governance framework, and participate in the promoting and safeguarding of high standards of care, through effective risk management & governance, and adherence to the Trust values
Professional
To maintain professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and trust policies at all times
To be responsible and accountable for keeping accurate and timely records and completing patient related letters in line with local hospital, HCPC and BDA record keeping standards
To be responsible for personal continuous professional development by the use of self-education, reflective practice, active participation in the in-service training program including giving presentations and attendance at postgraduate courses as agreed in your personal development plan and to maintain an up to date CPD portfolio
To ensure that all mandatory training is completed within the required timescales
To carry out an evidence-based project during specified time, communicate findings to other therapists in that team and make recommendations for change.
Have an awareness of current professional and clinical developments within your area of practice and promote this to others
To participate in the appraisal system as appraisee and be responsible for fulfilling your agreed objectives and personal development plan
To ensure adherence to Trust policy and guidelines at all times
To role model Trust values at all times
Organisational
To demonstrate good time management and organisational skills during daily management of own workload and to be able to adapt flexibly to sudden changes in workload
To ensure timely communication of assessment findings, treatment and outcomes to other involved disciplines through the provision of social services reports, discharge letters etc
To make appropriate and timely referrals to other members of the multidisciplinary team when required
To keep accurate and up-to-date patient records and statistics at all times in line with departmental, professional and legal standards
To be responsible for the safe use of all dietetic equipment e.g. enteral feeding pumps
To delegate specific tasks to dietetic assistants in line with departmental and professional guidelines
To understand and apply clinical governance principles to your own caseload and to be involved in departmental clinical governance sessions
To contribute to service and policy developments
To develop and maintain effective communication and working relationships with other professional groups, and staff generally within the Division and the Trust
To assist in the delivery of induction / orientation of new staff
To provide clinical support and guidance to staff and to act as a resource for clinical knowledge to staff
To understand and manage local change with team members, including the embedding of new projects
Communication
Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward
Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions
These duties are not exhaustive and will be reviewed with the post holder, allowing for amendments within the broad scope and band level of the role
This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager
All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
Person Specification
From personal specification Essential
Relevant post registration experience at Band 5 level in diabetes BSc or Diploma in Dietetics HCPC registration Experience of working as part of an MDT and able to demonstrate an understanding of other professionals roles Evidence of effective self-management including time, prioritisation, clinical caseload and stress Experience of presenting nutritional information / education to large groups of people in a formal setting (patients, staff, carers)
Desirable
Experience in the management of patients living with type 1 diabetes Experience of audit and service improvements Member of the British Dietetic Association
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship 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).
Employer details Employer name Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)