Job Description
Job overview
We are expanding our current Diabetes Specialist Team to meet the needs of our ever-increasing patient group, as well reducing inequalities currently experienced by the local adult population of Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE) that we serve.
In line with the specialty, Trust and System strategic direction and compliance with national mandate and guidance (including NICE guidelines), we are developing an Adult insulin pump and hybrid closed loop service within adult Type 1 diabetes for FY 2026/27, which includes offering a service to:
- transfer 19 year-olds already on Insulin Pumps from Paediatric transition service to Adults
- Pregnant women already on Insulin Pumps and those seeking to conceive who would benefit from Pump therapy
This has resulted in an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced Band 7 Diabetes Specialist Dietitian with an interest in Type 1 Diabetes to join our forward thinking and dynamic diabetes team. This role will be to support the Adult insulin pump Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) service.
Working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will focus on developing and implementing local and national diabetes care standards, protocols and initiatives for insulin pump and other technologies across the Trust.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as part of the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust Specialist Diabetes Service to provide and facilitate a comprehensive service for all people with diabetes and their carers.
The role will involve working individually and as part of the multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of specialist diabetes service providing expertise and evidence-based diabetes care for people with all types of diabetes especially those on insulin pump therapy.
Areas of education provision include Type 1 and Type 2 patient education, people with diabetes using insulin pump therapy and bespoke programmes for other areas as the need arises. It is envisaged that whilst team members might specialise in a particular area of expertise, opportunities to develop skills in a good range of these areas will be available.
An integral part of the role is to focus on promoting a close working relationship between primary and specialist service providers to implement local and national guidelines for diabetes through positive leadership, communication, and expert knowledge of diabetes to support best practice and high standards of diabetes care throughout the Trust.
The post holder will provide expert knowledge, education, advice and support to healthcare professionals as part of the management of people with diabetes and contribute to the development and implementation of guidelines and procedures across the ICS.
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 Wave—a 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
- Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team within the Diabetes outpatient department
- To act as an expert resource, providing specialist dietetic advice and support to healthcare professionals that provide care for people with diabetes.
- To ensure that the diabetes dietetic services are delivered to a high standard and meet the needs of the patients and commissioners.
- To support the nationally recognised and expanding insulin pump therapy service based at Princess Alexandra Hospital by delivering structured education, supporting insulin pump starts and changeovers and reviewing patients on insulin pump therapy.
- To provide specialist dietetic services as part of a multidisciplinary team, liaising and working closely with diabetes consultants, diabetes specialist nurses, GPs and community nurses to provide seamless and consistent care for people with diabetes.
- To provide advice and support for all people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes requiring specialist advice.
- To become an expert in diabetes technology.
- To advise patients, families and carers on appropriate dietary intervention using a range of developed communication and teaching skills to ensure understanding and promote the effective management of their condition.
- To undertake a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s condition understanding drug treatments and other clinical test results with relevance to the dietary intervention required.
- To plan and deliver individualised nutritional care plans based on the comprehensive assessment of the patients needs. Where appropriate, liaising with other health professionals to advise on changes and treatment / medication or requests of further investigations.
- To participate and evaluate on evidence-based specialist education and support to GPs, practice nurses, district nurses and other health professionals. This education will be provided in both formal and informal settings, such as local study days, update meetings, exhibitions and the facility for health professionals to observe the specialist dietetic clinics.
- To lead in the delivery and evaluation of the newly developed innovative education programmes for people with type 1 diabetes.
- To evaluate outcomes of dietetic intervention through the monitoring and review of nutritional care plans and adjust care plans to facilitate achievement of goals.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of people with diabetes in your care, keeping accurate patient records and activity data.
- To work in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to develop, implement and evaluate local evidence based guidelines, protocols and care pathways.
- To develop and review evidence based written information material and resources for patients and carers to support dietetic intervention. To ensure information material meets the needs of different social, ethnic and client needs, i.e. people with learning disabilities.
- To use current evidence and best practice to recommend and implement alternative approaches to dietetic intervention for the management of diabetes.
- To develop and maintain skills required to practice at an advanced level, using an extended scope of practice, including carbohydrate counting, insulin adjustment, blood glucose monitoring and utilising diabetes technology.
- To participate in clinical risk assessment, clinical audit and research activities for the purpose of ensuring clinical effectiveness, measuring positive health care outcomes and the promotion of a quality service provided to people with diabetes.
- To provide the training, supervision and assessment of undergraduate and post-graduate student dietitians as part of the B and C placement dietetic training. In addition to provide support and training, when appropriate for student nurses and other student allied health professionals.