Band 5-6 Progressive Rotational Paediatric Dietitian – University Hospital Southampton

We have a great opportunity for 2 HCPC registered dietitians to join our forward thinking, friendly paediatric dietetic team (approximately 25 dietitians) at Southampton Children’s Hospital as band 5 dietitians, progressing to band 6 after achieving appropriate competencies. These are rotational posts (subject to change) and you will develop skills in general paediatrics and particular specialist areas, working with inpatients and outpatients. Current rotations: 

1.General paediatrics & diabetes
2.Oncology & Neurology 
3.General paediatrics & nephrology
4.Allergy & Gastroenterology 
5.Cardiology & allergy

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

The  paediatric team is part of the University Hospital Southampton NHSFT Dietetics and Speech and Language Therapy department, (approximately 130 staff ),with clinical experts working across a range of specialties, providing both acute and community services in adults and paediatrics. 
We 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 are a registered training site for student dietetic placements and the paediatric team won the University of Winchester Placement Educator of the Year Award 2023.

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. 

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.

All UHS staff have access to the staff Wellbeing Hub and the free onsite staff gym. There is an efficient Park and Ride Scheme. 

 Our Department operates Monday to Friday 8-5pm

You will:
Work within Southampton Children’s Hospital as part of the Paediatric Dietetic Team to provide general dietetic inpatient & outpatient services
Assist with the provision of the Dietetic Service to designated areas assigned to band 5 rotations
Assess nutritional status, to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of diet history, biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physical parameters.  
Make clinical judgements and decisions, select and evaluate appropriate treatment plans
Liaise with local and regional colleagues to ensure continuity of care and appropriate transfer/discharge communication
Participate actively as a member of multidisciplinary clinical teams  
Participate in the training of student dietitians following successful completion of required training
Draw on a range of communication skills to effectively negotiate nutritional goals with in and out patients where there are barriers to understanding e.g. emotional distress, physical illness
Achieve speciality specific competencies and undertake defined projects as agreed with your line manager

Experience and skills required:
You must be an HCPC (Health and Care professions Council) registered dietitian (RD)
Experience of paediatric dietetics is an advantage but not essential. We are looking for someone with a keen desire to work in paediatrics and a can do attitude.
You must have  the ability to cope with unpredictable events and varying workload pressures and be able to plan and prioritise  your workload within agreed boundaries