Job summary
We are pleased to be able to offer the opportunity for a band 4 Dietetic Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our dynamic team at Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.
The successful candidate will be confident, professional and enthusiastic, joining the dietetic and multidisciplinary team in working with patients with a variety of cardio-thoracic conditions including the transplant unit.
You will need to be highly motivated and able to work flexibly in a busy environment. You will need good spoken and written English and excellent communication skills. You will liaise with multidisciplinary teams across the Hospital, Catering Department and suppliers. An awareness of the our role and a caring and empathetic approach are essential.We will offer a supportive working environment with in-house training and supervision to help you develop the relevant skills and knowledge for the post.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as an integral and active part of the Cardiothoracic and Transplant Therapy Team (CT+Tx Therapy team). They will be responsible for supporting the Therapy team in the provision of a patient-centred service, in an efficient and cost-effective way.
The post holder will carry out clinical tasks to support the therapy team dietitians, such as dietary assessments, delegated by qualified staff, requiring a wide range of technical ability, as well as an excellent level of interpersonal skills.
They will provide a key role in the management of stable adult in-patients on oral nutritional support and inpatients with food allergy. This will include initial assessment and screening, with regular reassessment and monitoring during the hospital stay. This will also include organising discharge follow-up with local GP and community services.
They will also act as lead for management of dietetic feed stock and their distribution, this will include ordering, regular stock checks and manual handling of boxes and liaison with the catering department and various nutritional product companies. In addition to these regular roles, undertake teaching on health promotion and audit work across the therapy services.
To gain the required knowledge and skills in the relevant technical, clinical and organisational procedures, and to maintain those skills working under the Assistant Practitioner Competency programme under the supervision of Specialist therapy teams.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best-known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guy's and St Thomas' in February 2021 and is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Weprovide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. The post holder will work as an integral and active part of the Cardiothoracic and Transplant Therapy Team (CT+Tx Therapy team). They will be responsible for supporting the Therapy team in the provision of a patient-centred service, in an efficient and cost-effective way.
2. The post holder will assist in the provision of care to patients, supported and supervised by senior therapists.
3. The post holder will carry out clinical tasks to support the therapy team dietitians, such as dietary reviews, delegated by qualified staff, requiring a wide range of technical ability, as well as an excellent level of interpersonal skills.
4. The post holder will carry out clinical assessments independently, within their Assistant Practitioner competency framework.
5. They will provide a key role in the management of stable adult in-patients on oral nutritional support and inpatients with food allergy. This will include initial assessment and screening, with regular reassessment and monitoring during the hospital stay. This will also include organising discharge follow-up with local GP and community services.
6. They will also act as lead for the distribution of dietary products, this will include stock check, manual handling of boxes and liaison with the catering department and various nutritional product companies. In addition to these regular roles, undertake teaching on health promotion and audit work across the therapy services.
7. To gain the required knowledge and skills in the relevant technical, clinical and organisational procedures, and to maintain those skills working under the Assistant Practitioner Competency programme under the supervision of Specialist therapy teams.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. The post holder will work as an integral and active part of the Cardiothoracic and Transplant Therapy Team (CT+Tx Therapy team). They will be responsible for supporting the Therapy team in the provision of a patient-centred service, in an efficient and cost-effective way.
2. The post holder will assist in the provision of care to patients, supported and supervised by senior therapists.
3. The post holder will carry out clinical tasks to support the therapy team dietitians, such as dietary reviews, delegated by qualified staff, requiring a wide range of technical ability, as well as an excellent level of interpersonal skills.
4. The post holder will carry out clinical assessments independently, within their Assistant Practitioner competency framework.
5. They will provide a key role in the management of stable adult in-patients on oral nutritional support and inpatients with food allergy. This will include initial assessment and screening, with regular reassessment and monitoring during the hospital stay. This will also include organising discharge follow-up with local GP and community services.
6. They will also act as lead for the distribution of dietary products, this will include stock check, manual handling of boxes and liaison with the catering department and various nutritional product companies. In addition to these regular roles, undertake teaching on health promotion and audit work across the therapy services.
7. To gain the required knowledge and skills in the relevant technical, clinical and organisational procedures, and to maintain those skills working under the Assistant Practitioner Competency programme under the supervision of Specialist therapy teams.
Person Specification
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Has at least one or more of the following in relevant topic area such as health, care, nutrition, life sciences: Minimum 5 GCSEs (including Maths and English) or equivalent NVQ at level 2/3 BTEC or equivalent 'A' levels
Desirable
- Clinical Assistant practitioner certificate/diploma
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Minimum of two years previous experience as a Dietetic Assistant in a healthcare setting
- Knowledge of and good understanding of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
- Demonstrates an understanding of and interest in nutritional support and healthcare.
- Competence in advising on oral nutritional support products
- Knowledge of food allergy
- Experience of working in a team
Desirable
- Previous experience of giving presentations to small groups
- Experience of carrying out audits
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with a wide range of people.
- Ability to work unsupervised as appropriate
- Excellent IT skills
Person Specification
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Has at least one or more of the following in relevant topic area such as health, care, nutrition, life sciences: Minimum 5 GCSEs (including Maths and English) or equivalent NVQ at level 2/3 BTEC or equivalent 'A' levels
Desirable
- Clinical Assistant practitioner certificate/diploma
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Minimum of two years previous experience as a Dietetic Assistant in a healthcare setting
- Knowledge of and good understanding of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
- Demonstrates an understanding of and interest in nutritional support and healthcare.
- Competence in advising on oral nutritional support products
- Knowledge of food allergy
- Experience of working in a team
Desirable
- Previous experience of giving presentations to small groups
- Experience of carrying out audits
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with a wide range of people.
- Ability to work unsupervised as appropriate
- Excellent IT skills
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
