Weight Management Dietitian in Torquay

Do you have a keen interest in the field of weight management?
The Torbay Specialist Weight Management service is currently looking to recruit a full-time Band 5 Dietitian on a fixed term contract lasting a minimum of 12 months, with the possibility that this will be extended or made permanent. This post will also offer the opportunity for some rotation into acute and community teams to offer you a range of clinical experiences and learning to complement this specialist area of work.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within a dynamic, forward thinking and supportive multidisciplinary specialist weight management service. The post holder will be based in Torbay, supporting clinics and community-based groups within the Torbay and South Devon area and will join a well-established team of Dietitians, Psychologists, Consultants and Physical Activity Specialists.
You will be joining a friendly team of 40 Dietitians, Dietetic Support Workers and admin staff based across our Integrated Care Organisation. Your line manager and team will provide regular supervision and support. We fully encourage participation in our Trust preceptorship programme for newly qualified staff and offer regular CPD opportunities including department education sessions and journal club.
We train student Dietitians on A, B and C placement from the University of Plymouth.
Main duties of the job
To work as an autonomous dietetic practitioner within the specialist weight management service alongside 1.0 wte Band 7 Dietetic Lead and1.2 wte Band 6 Dietitians
To work closely with the wider specialist weight management team including consultant endocrinologists, psychologists, physical activity specialists, support workers and administrative team
To facilitate monthly virtual dietetic education sessions for cardiac rehabilitation programme participants, as part of the wider cardiac rehabilitation service
Attend monthly MDT meetings to participate in the discussion of complex cases, weekly delivery team meetings to participate in logistical planning and monthly weight management dietetic meetings to support ongoing service and personal development
To participate in weekly Tier 3 assessment clinics, run jointly with a consultant endocrinologist, to assess individual patients suitability to engage in a Tier 3 group programme, identifying and signposting for additional support as required
To assist in the planning, development and delivery of multicomponent group education programmes which are delivered both virtually and in a variety of community settings, within the geographical boundaries of Torbay and South Devon
To undertake duties and responsibilities deemed appropriate to the role and wider weight management and dietetic teams as required
Why Work With Us
This post is based at Torbay Hospital with the Nutrition & Dietetic Team.
The wider dietetic team includes Acute, Community, Diabetes, Paediatrics, Weight Management, and Cancer Services. The team has over 40 staff members dietitians, dietetic support workers and admin support.
The team is actively involved with training of student Dietitians from Plymouth University.
Communication and working relationships
To work as an integral member of the specialist weight management MDT
To Communicate And Establish Working Relationships With
Specialist weight management MDT members, including consultant endocrinologists, psychologists, physical activity specialists, support workers and administrative staff
County wide Tier 3 weight management teams
Local dietetic teams, including acute, community and diabetes dietetic teams
Other weight management dietitians, locally, regionally and nationally to share best practice
General Practitioners And Other Primary Care Staff
Allied Health Professionals
Other health and social care professionals
Other private and public organisations
Media
Self-help groups
Patients, relatives and carers
Students dietetic and other professions

• To interpret and communicate the science of nutrition to the community and multi-agency professionals that reflects evidence-based practice at local, national and strategic level
• To actively participate in regular specialist weight management multidisciplinary team meetings
  

Analytical and judgement
To collate evidence to assist evaluation of service provision, patient activity statistics, health outcomes and patient satisfaction (e.g. Friends and Family Tests)
Support the evaluation of the specialist weight management service, in conjunction with the wider Tier 3 MDT and dietetics team
To critically appraise own dietetic practice, identifying learning needs as appropriate
Planning and organisation
Assist in the planning, development and delivery of specialist weight management, multicomponent group education programmes. Programmes may be delivered within a variety of community settings, within Torbay and South Devon
To manage own clinical caseload and service demands as an autonomous practitioner within the specialist weight management service
To plan, deliver and evaluate education and training sessions to a variety of groups including health and social care professionals and patients. Training may be face to face or using Microsoft Teams
Physical skills
Manual dexterity to assess height, weight and anthropometry using a range of measurements

• Ability to undertake the manual handling of group programme resources and equipment, including bariatric seating, IT equipment and teaching resources
• Keyboard, presentation and IT skills
• Dictaphone use for letter dictation
  

Patient and client care
To provide dietetic weight management support to patients with long term medical, psychological and social complexities both individually and within a group setting
To reassess and amend advice dependent on medical, emotional, ethical and social developments and multidisciplinary decisions made on the patients care pathway
To participate in regular multidisciplinary team discussions regarding specialist weight management service patients
To explain nutritional recommendations in an easily understandable way to patients, carers and relatives
To be a patient advocate for individuals engaged in their weight management journey, providing practical and empathic support to patients, carers and relatives
Use behaviour change, motivational interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and advanced communication techniques daily to support patients to make long term, sustainable lifestyle changes
To maintain accurate and timely electronic documentation of patient interactions and clinical care provided in line with record keeping standards
To undertake nutritional assessments by examination and history taking. This includes calculation of nutritional requirements; interpretation of biochemistry results and assessing the efficacy and safety of tailored weight management support plans where appropriate. Assessments and dietetic support may be undertaken either face to face or remotely as clinically indicated and may require participation in joint appointments with medical colleagues
Dietetic advice and support may be provided within a clinic or group setting, both virtually and face-to-face. Face-to-face group support will typically be provided within a variety of community venues within the geographical boundaries of Torbay and South Devon
To provide high quality, individualised dietetic advice enabling patients to make informed choices about their own health
To provide resources such as patient information leaflets, recipes and menu plans as required
To have active involvement in MDT discussions and decisions around nutritional care for medically, socially and ethically challenging patients
To be aware of, identify and raise safeguarding issues observed during clinical practice
To provide support where quality or safeguarding issues have been identified
Some work may need to be done out of normal working hours, for which lieu time may be taken
Policy and service development

• To contribute to the writing of policies, resources and guidelines relevant to this role, with the support of the specialist weight management and wider dietetic teams
• To develop resources such as patient information leaflets, recipes and menu plans as required
• To contribute to the wider service development of the dietetic service
• To follow Trust Policies and Procedures
• To undertake clinical practice in line with local and national policy and guidelines, including NICE and BOMSS
• To promote the role and value of the Dietitian in all aspects of nutritional care
• To attend other relevant team meetings which may include weight management and dietetic team meetings
  

Finance, equipment and other resources
The post carries no budgetary responsibility
To take anthropometric measurements to assess nutritional status, including the use of weighing scales and height stands
To review and update community and clinical venue risk assessments as required
People management and training
Assist in the development, delivery and evaluation of a variety of nutrition education and training programmes for lay and professional people, as required

• To mentor / supervise a Band 3 support worker as required
• To participate in the training of student dietitians and students of other professions
• To actively support own wellbeing, as well as to support the wellbeing of the other members of the team
  

Information technology and administrative duties

• To use Trust IT systems including infoflex, clinical portal, IHCS and ICE
• To use Attend Anywhere or equivalent for virtual patient appointments, when clinically appropriate
• To use MS Teams to attend meetings and in the delivery of virtual group sessions
• To prepare own presentations, reports and documents as required
• Maintain clinical records including dietetic records, in line with professional and department standards. Use electronic patient records, including Infoflex where available
• To work within the requirements of data protection legislation and access to health records
• To communicate via email, social media and other internal IT systems
• Use IT within audits, project management and data collection for service evaluation
  

Research and development
Assist in the ongoing audit and evaluation of all weight management team programmes, initiatives and projects, formulating and implementing action plans as appropriate
Participate in the development and review of nutrition related resources, including departmental diet sheets/information leaflets
To be responsible for own continued professional development and be proactive within annual personal development reviews and monthly 121s with team lead
To maintain and improve professional knowledge through continued professional development, for example, journal review, shadowing, attendance at courses/conferences/webinars as agreed with the weight management team and the wider dietetic department
To liaise with other specialist dietitians both locally and nationally
To work within the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and the BDA (British Dietetic Association) Code of Professional Conduct
To proactively identify and undertake project work to develop the service to provide high quality, evidence based nutritional care to patients
Freedom to act
To deliver dietetic care to a caseload of complex adult patients under the supervision of the dietetic team lead and in collaboration with the specialist weight management MDT and other MDTs as required
To provide a source of expert knowledge and advice on nutrition to the weight management service and other dietetic peers
To carry out other duties as agreed with the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics
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