Highly Specialist Dietitian (Paediatric Diabetes)

Job summary
Do you have an interest in, or passion for working with babies, children and young people (BCYP) with diabetes, or do you have previous experience in the management of paediatric diabetes that you'd like to develop and share within a new team?

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated specialist dietitian with good knowledge and understanding of the management of childhood diabetes and who is committed to working with and supporting BCYP and their families.

With one of the largest services for BCYP with diabetes in the South East Coast and London network we can offer you a rewarding, flexible and supportive role building long term professional relationships with BCYP and their families. We are on an exciting improvement journey and can offer you a rewarding and supported role with our care group.

With the majority of clients having Type1 diabetes and over 90% currently using integrated insulin pump and sensor technology vast experience in the use of the latest diabetes related technologies is available.

Here at East Kent Hospitals we value diversity in our workforce and as such encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. If you believe there may be any barriers to your consideration of this role we would encourage you to contact us for a further discussion. Informal enquiries and visits are welcome and encouraged.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work at an enhanced level of practice utilising highly developed post graduate experience, knowledge and skills in dietetics. They will manage discrete aspects of a patient's care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, within their current level of practice and patient group, aligned to the four pillars of practice and aligned to Trust policy, 'Enhanced, Advanced and Consultant Level Practice- Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).'

The postholder will contribute to AHP Practice to improve the quality of care to patients.

The post will be characterised by the four pillars of practice:

• Clinical Practice
• Leadership
• Facilitating Learning
• Evidence, Research and Development

The potholder will line-manage a small team of Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Dietitians (PDSD) Band 5/6, supporting them to care for a caseload of children and young people.

They will provide expert and specialist paediatric diabetes advice, education, training and support to key partners within both the community and acute settings and work collaboratively and effectively with all other health care professionals, those allied to health and those in the third sector services.

The Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian will be expected to participate in the out of hours telephone on-call service for babies, children and young people (BCYP) and their families ensuring they have access to specialist diabetes advice and support (pro-rata).

About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.

Details
Date posted: 09 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 344-8429WCY-D
Job locations: William Harvey Hospital, Kennington Road, Ashford, TN24 0LZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The Highly Specialist Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian will manage a designated clinical caseload.

Use clinical judgment and autonomous decision making about the specialist dietetic management of BCYP with diabetes.

Be clinically competent in all areas of advanced practice and equipment use relating to the current management of childhood diabetes e.g. insulin injection and pump therapy, blood glucose and sensor monitoring.

Adhere to and implement the Trust policy in relation to Child Safeguarding

Support key partners within both the community and acute settings and work collaboratively and effectively with all other health care professionals, those allied to health and those in the third sector services.

Provide leadership and direct line-management for a small team of dietetic staff supporting them to care for a caseload of babies, children and young people.

Facilitate multidisciplinary teamwork to deliver a high standard diabetes service to BCYP, adolescents, families and carers.

Participate in a regular review of the responsibilities of the multidisciplinary team as a service provider, examining the structure and processes against all criteria identified in the Best Practice Tariff, National Paediatric Diabetes Audit and Peer review.

The candidate will work cross-site within East Kent and will participate pro-rata in the Out of Hours telephone on-call service for BCYP and their families ensuring they have access to specialist diabetes advice.

You will mainly work within the hospital setting but the role may entail time within the home and the community; enhancing established links with schools and other community groups and forging new ones. Dedicated childrens diabetes clinics are established in five localities within the Trust whilst inpatient care following diagnosis is provided by the two busy childrens wards on two main sites in Margate and Ashford.

You will be supported by a dedicated specialist team to professionally develop further within the speciality.

Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential

• Current HCPC registration.
• Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or Post -graduate Diploma or equivalent qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development within the specialty.
• Trained in facilitated learning for Undergraduate Practice Placements.

Desirable

• Master's Degree in a health related subject relevant to area of clinical specialty and advanced practice or Masters/L7 programme commenced.
• NHS Leadership Academy qualification e.g. 'Edward Jenner', 'Mary Seacole'.
• Member of BDA specialist group

Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential

• Significant postgraduate healthcare experience equivalent to L7 demonstrating professional development across the four pillars of practice.
• Experience in the use of insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring systems including Hybrid closed loop therapy (HCL)
• Experience of working with patients/service users to resolve concerns and improve their experience.
• Evidence of effective networking or matrix working.
• Experience of supervising staff and delivering training.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the issues involved with working in a busy acute setting.
• Experience of assessing complex patients and developing specialised programmes of care.
• Experience of working with babies, children and young people with diabetes.

Desirable

• Experience of presenting to groups of staff/public.
• Experience of working with children and young people with diabetes
• Experience in supporting both pre-post registration learners to achieve appraisal objectives

Governance
Essential

• Understanding of quality governance, patient safety and patient experience tools to support clinical practice and service improvement.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of national policy and guidance
• Utilisation of clinical effectiveness tools to deliver quality improvement e.g. risk management and clinical audit.
• Evidence of innovative practice utilising research and audit.
• Experience of contributing to quality improvement in safety/quality improvement projects.
• Experience of writing reports and presenting to teams or small groups

Desirable

• Experience of implementing and evaluating improvements in care

Personal/Professional attributes
Essential

• Ability to work within a team to achieving goals for a shared vision.
• Evidence of service development and delivery in practice.
• Ability to problem solve, anticipate and plan, individually and within a team.
• Ability to prioritise care delivery in a professional manner, considering Trust policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of quality assurance and improvement methodology.
• Ability to organise and manage own work
• Knowledge of health policy and application to practice
• Demonstrate self-awareness and critical reflection

Other requirements
Essential

• Flexibility in working patterns to meet the needs of the service.
• Commitment to equity and diversity.
• Self-motivated, positive, adaptable and flexible approach.
• Upholds and role models the Trust values.
• Ability to travel across sites to meet the needs of the service

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).

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