Specialist Renal Dietitian

To work with the renal MDT and the dietetic team to provide dietetic care to kidney patients under the care of the UHP Renal Directorate. These may include pre-dialysis, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplant patients, many of whom have multiple co-morbidities To work autonomously to provide highly complex nutritional counselling to patients, carers and healthcare professionals. This will involve nutritional assessment (based on interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, dialysis adequacy, clinical condition and dietary history) and development of nutritional care plans which are both realistic, practical and evidence based (based on assessment of medical, social, economic, cultural and psychological factors) To communicate with empathy and understanding where dietary change may be difficult to accept. To adapt communication methods and implement motivational interviewing skills where appropriate to overcome barriers to change To monitor and review the outcomes of nutritional care plans and adjust to facilitate achievement of the desired goals in the light of changing medical treatment and personal circumstances To act autonomously to assess risk and take appropriate action to ensure patient safety, for example, in patients with hyperkalaemia To make recommendations to the medical team regarding adjustment of medications relating to management of CKD mineral bone disorder To manage out-patient renal dietetic clinics and report on clinic activity statistics To provide clinical support and cover for other staff as requested by the Renal Team Leader To represent the renal dietetic service in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure that dietetic expertise contributes to multi-professional decisions on care To advise on appropriate use of prescribable nutritional products within the renal service and to general practitioners. For further information please see attached job description