Dietitian

The Food Chain's Dietitians bring specialist health and nutrition knowledge and skills to the staff team, enabling the running of our charitable services. As the first and regular point of contact for Service Users and referrers you will implement your nutritional expertise to ensure The Food Chain meets the needs of people living with HIV who are experiencing barriers to the nutrition they need to get well, stay well and live healthy independent lives.

Please ensure you have read the below Key Activities and can meet the required Competencies before applying. Please also ensure you have read and understood our Values Statement before applying. 

Key Activities: 

1. To perform Dietetic Assessments* (see competencies below):  

• Coordinate and manage our list of incoming referrals from NHS and community organisations, ensuring contact is made in a timely manner 

• Communicate with referrers in the NHS and community organisations to ensure information is accurate and transparent 

• Interpret information provided to determine the appropriate services for those referred to us  

• Engage with Service Users to understand their nutrition needs and agree personal goals, ensuring they are supported to meet these goals while they are in receipt of our services 

• Arrange tailored grocery deliveries taking in to account clinical, cultural and practical needs 

• Keep accurate records of referrals, outcomes and feedback, and to report on trends  

• Adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of conduct, performance and ethics 

• Ensure communication, conduct and interactions are grounded in compassion, free of judgement and in accordance with the policies and procedures of The Food Chain. 

2. To be actively involved in the delivery of services, both internal and external: 

• To be an active presence at our Eating Together group meals  

• To deliver talks at Eating Together on nutrition and/or general wellbeing related topics  

• To maintain ongoing contact with Service Users at Eating Together and over the phone throughout the duration of their service, listening to and learning from their experiences, ensuring our nutritional input is ongoing, responsive and reflective of changes in their situations 

• To actively participate in peer supervisions with the Senior HIV Dietitian and Services Manager  

• To deliver external talks to partner organisations including charities, community groups, universities, NHS and corporate partners, all with wide and diverse audiences. 

3. To work independently and collaboratively within a small staff team: 

• Actively support the staff team and volunteers to keep HIV nutrition knowledge up to date, relevant and at the forefront of our service delivery  

• Be proactive in monitoring, developing and updating our nutrition resources, talks, website content, menus and recipes, ensuring resources are up to date and in line with good practice  

• Support the Senior HIV Dietitian with research, audit and service development projects 

• Work flexibly as the organisation’s needs grow and develop over time 

• With support from the team, develop continuing professional development (CPD), identify training needs and suggest future developments and/or research opportunities  

 4. To work in line with The Food Chain’s values, mission and strategic aims: 

• Develop and maintain an awareness of HIV-related stigma and the need to respect confidentiality 

• Continually grow and practice an awareness of HIV-related stigma with other issues including but not limited to racism, structural discrimination, homophobia & transphobia, particularly as they relate to health inequalities and social isolation  

• Understand and adhere to The Food Chain’s organisational policies and procedures, especially around safeguarding 

*Dietetic competencies 

Current competencies required: 

• Undertake clinical assessment of nutritional risk and nutritional needs and interpret to make appropriate clinical decisions 

• Gather and interpret psychosocial information e.g. mental health conditions, sleep patterns, living arrangements, support systems, employment status, immigration status  

• Be sensitive to cultural, religious, ethnic, or personal dietary preferences  

• Gather and interpret information on recent or longstanding lifestyle habits, behavioural patterns, motivating factors and barriers to change 

• Interpret results of relevant biochemical and haematological tests related to nutritional care  

• Interpret investigations pertaining to bone disease, lipids and diabetes risk  

• Collaborate with individuals to develop a realistic and achievable patient-centred dietetic care plan which takes into consideration all aspects of their social and clinical status 

• Demonstrate understanding of the nature of the interactions and risks posed by some complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) and advise patients accordingly. Know where to seek more in-depth advice when needed 

Working towards: 

• The above competencies specifically relating to PLHIV 

• Show awareness of the occurrence of drug-nutrient interactions and know how to access advice about these 

• Demonstrate an understanding of how ARVs work (mechanisms of action), drug classes and combinations, administration, timings and dietary requirements 

Experience, Knowledge and Competencies: 

Qualifications/Registrations: 

• Qualified Dietitian (Essential) 

• Current HCPC registration (Essential) 

• Membership of the British Dietetic Association’s HIV Care Specialist Group (Desirable) 

Experience: 

• Working within a small team (Essential) 

• Dietetic management of a wide range of clinical conditions (Essential) 

• Working with diverse and marginalised populations (Essential) 

• Promoting positive behaviour change (Essential) 

• Working within a community organisation consisting of staff and volunteers (Desirable) 

• Research and data analysis (Desirable) 

Knowledge: 

• An understanding of why nutrition is important for people living with HIV (Essential) 

• An awareness of the barriers for people experiencing food poverty in the UK (Essential) 

• Current demographics of and issues affecting people living with HIV in the UK (Desirable) 

Competencies: 

• Time management and identifying own priorities (Essential) 

• High level written and verbal communication skills (Essential) 

• Proficiency and competency in using digital tools & online databases (Essential) 

• Experience of public speaking and leading group education programmes (Desirable) 

• The development and nutritional analysis of menus and recipes (Desirable) 

The Food Chain's operating hours are Monday - Friday 9am to 5.30pm. Flexible working is available and can be discussed. The ideal candidate will be able to work outside of office hours, for example joining our Duty Manager rota for Saturday Eating Together services (once every 6 weeks).