Specialist Dietitian

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a permanent Band 6 position, on a full-time basis, within the St. Georges dietetic team. You will be working within the Senior Health and Acute Medicine Dietetic team based at St George's Hospital to support the increased inpatient caseload associated with winter pressures and frailty. The Team consists of a Band 7, rotational Band 6 and rotational Band 5, with support from a Dietetic assistant.

The Senior Health and Acute Medicine Dietetic team provide cover across 8 different wards, including a 58 bedded admission ward including an acute dependency unit. We provide an active role within the MDT. The role requires strong nutrition support skills, especially in enteral feeding, taking a holistic approach to patient management. We are looking for a self-motivated individual who is flexible, enthusiastic, and dynamic, with excellent communication, time management and problem-solving skills. The successful candidate will be expected to follow evidence-based practice, engage in education and development of nutrition policies and guidelines, and participate in audit and research to improve health outcomes and develop the role and service.

Main duties of the job

o Practice autonomously, providing high quality clinical practice in specialist area, using enhanced clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge of service users in specialist area.

o Be proactive in clinical decision making underpinned by an enhanced level of theoretical and practical knowledge.

o Undertake specialist holistic nutritional assessments including the calculation of nutritional requirements on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physical parameters in those with complex needs.

o To provide expert dietetic advice to the multidisciplinary team, through attendance and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.

o To be responsible for the performance management and/or clinical supervision of band 5 dietitians/ Dietetic assistants within specialist dietetic team, with support from band 7's.

o To ensure safe practice through development of a caseload management plan and to monitor workload of the band 5's in the team, including waiting lists, referrals and discharges, contributing to activity reports as requested.

o Regularly undertake audit and service evaluation to inform service improvement.

o Disseminate evidence based practice and audit findings through local presentation to professional groups.

o To actively participate in the departmental working groups to improve dietetic services as required.

About us

Improve clinical outcomes based on monthly reports on patients admitted via the admissions ward.

Foster effective working relationships with MDT colleagues in the acute/ community.

Ensure effective collaboration with other MDT colleagues in the review of patients with high acuity.

Ensure patients are nutritionally optimised prior to discharge.

Reduce the cost of malnutrition/ length of stay with earlier identification of nutritional anomalies.