Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a paediatric dietitian to provide maternity leave cover at the Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust.
We require an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated dietitian to join our friendly and innovative Paediatric Dietetic Team. We are a small team of 3 Paediatric Dietitians.
If successful, you will be responsible for dietetic input into our children's ward along with carrying out paediatric dietetic outpatient clinics, including the delivery of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy Parent Group Education sessions.
Clinics will include those children referred for advice regarding faltering growth, allergies, fussy eating, restrictive / selective eating, coeliac disease, micronutrient deficiencies, and complex feeding difficulties. We also deliver a home enteral tube feeding dietetic service to the whole of West Essex.
We are a friendly department, offering excellent support for personal development and engagement in student training in which you will play an active role.
Main duties of the job
Provide a comprehensive dietetic service to paediatric in-patients. We have one children’s ward and one neonatal unit (usually covered by the paediatric team lead).
Cover regular out-patient clinics, with referrals from a range of specialities and also the local child development centre (could include children with neurodisabilities such as cerebral palsy, or social development or communication disorders such as autism)
Review children on home enteral feeding and make amendments to their feed deliveries as required. Liaise with community nursing team regarding changes to feeding equipment needs.
Educate and train other health care workers and professionals to give evidence based nutritional advice.
We take dietetic students from the University of Hertfordshire and the whole department takes part in student training
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention,
early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.
This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.
We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.
Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* In conjunction with the Paediatric Team Leader, provide a dietetic service to wards, out-patient clinics and enteral feeding patients.
* Develop, implement, evaluate and improve one’s own practice to an advanced level on the basis of research and evidence based on the best practice.
* Work within Trust clinical guidelines and BDA guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and protocols, monitoring quality of practice as appropriate.
* Be aware of current advances in dietetic practice and ensure own practice is up to date and evidence based.
* Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as BDA Special Interest Groups and other professional development activities.
* Be responsible for maintaining own competency and participate in IPR. To practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development including a PDP.
* Participate in and support others in the development of a clinical supervision programme.
* Work with other members of the Nutrition & Dietetic department to update and develop evidence-based resources such as guidelines, leaflets and diet sheets.
* Manage a clinical caseload of paediatric patients requiring dietary treatments, including inpatients, outpatients and home visits as necessary
* Assess, plan and deliver individual dietetic diagnosis, education and effective treatment programmes for paediatric patients of all age groups with a wide range of health and medical problems.
* Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment plans if required.
* Be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise.
* Undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualised nutritional management and treatment programmes.