Job overview

We are looking for  a highly skilled  HCPC registered paediatric dietitian, to join the Paediatric Dietetic Team (approximately 25 dietitians) at Southampton Children's Hospital as a band 7 paediatric dietitian for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD).You will be an integral member of the regional Paediatric PCD service, working closely with other members of the MDT.

The Paediatric Dietitians are a large, diverse team and there are excellent opportunities for CPD and career development. We have access to the paediatric grand round education events and have strong links with Southampton University. Audit, service evaluation, QI and research projects are actively encouraged.

We offer protected CPD time and you will have regular one-to-one supervision.

We are a registered trainer for student dietetic placements and the paediatric team won the University of Winchester Placement Educator of the Year Award 2023.

The department of dietetics and speech and language therapy employs approximately 130 staff, working across a range of specialties, providing both acute and community services in adults and paediatrics. We are supported by a large admin team and our teams work closely together on shared initiatives.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Southampton General Hospital is one of three national primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) diagnostic centres in England. We offer a diagnostic service for both adults and children.

The centres work closely to ensure that best practice and an excellent service is provided throughout the country. In Southampton, we provide a diagnostic service for most of southern England; when other centres are busy we take referrals from anywhere in the country. 

We are one of four centres commissioned to provide specialist care for children diagnosed with PCD in England. We work closely with the other centres - Leicester, the Royal Brompton and Leeds/Bradford - to provide excellent standardised care. In Southampton we primarily care for children from the south of England. 

Annual reviews are carried out by a team of ENT and respiratory PCD specialists. Patients are then seen every three months by the PCD team in Southampton, or at their local hospital. Specialist advice is available to local professionals involved in the care of patients with PCD.

All  UHS staff have free  access to the onsite  Wellbeing Hub and  gym. There is a low cost, secure and efficient park and ride scheme.

The Dietetic and SLT Department is open  Monday to Friday  8-5.

Specific to this role is the suitability for agile working which is a mixture of on-site and remote working. In addition, we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service

Role and Responsibilities

You will:

•    Work as an autonomous practitioner, providing highly specialist clinical dietetic expertise to a 
        case-load of  infants and children with PCD.
•    Provide advanced dietetic assessments and individualised treatment plans for a complex 
        specialist caseload
•    Support the clinical and professional development of junior dietetic staff and students
•    Support the development of policies and resources to support delivery of evidence-based 
        dietetic advice
•    Identify and lead service improvement, audit and research, and disseminate results and best 
        practice through publication and presentation

Experience and skills needed

•      You will be a highly skilled  paediatric dietitian with recent and significant experience of 
        working in acute paediatrics, with an excellent working  knowledge of paediatric nutrition 
        support.
•    You must be able to demonstrate advanced analytical thinking, show attention to detail and 
        possess excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. 
•    You must be able to voice your professional opinion and provide advice and guidance to 
        dietetic and other health care professional colleagues.
•    Experience of leading or co-ordinating audit or research is desirable
•    You will be required to travel to other hospitals in the region, along with your MDT colleagues, 
        to provide 3-monthly clinics. Some flexibility regarding working hours will therefore be needed.

Person specification

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience
• HCPC (Health and Care professions Council) registered dietitian (RD)
• Evidence of post-graduate training in relevant speciality
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience and involvement with training
• Evidence of extensive dietetic knowledge and highly specialist expertise in relevant specialist area with recent experience demonstrating this
• Ability to carry out physical anthropometric measurements and assess nutritional status
• Demonstration of understanding of clinical governance and its implications for service delivery

Desirable criteria

• Member of British Dietetic Association (BDA) and relevant specialist groups
• Experience of leading or co-ordinating audit or research work.
• Clinical supervisory skills training

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Presentation skills
• Teamwork
• Microsoft Office skills
• Communication
• Prioritisation
• Numeracy skills
• Leadership
• Report writing
• Advanced analytical thinking
• Mentoring skills

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.