Dietetic Assistant Practitioner - Home Enteral Feeding

Job responsibilities

Clinical

Undertake a range of anthropometric measurements of patients already seen by the Specialist Dietitians to assist in monitoring nutritional status.

Monitor and review patients on established feeding regimens using a range of contact methods making changes within assessed competency level

To undertake reviews of care home residents and patients in their own homes, with neurological conditions, already seen by Specialist Dietitians to assist in monitoring nutritional status, including (as appropriate) anthropometric measurements, clinical condition, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score, reported diet history and social circumstances and use clinical reasoning skills to interpret data collected and plan individualised service user care, using agreed care pathways as a basis.

To provide appropriate nutrition treatment plans based on Food First principles & monitor / review dietary needs, involving nursing staff, catering staff and other health care professionals when indicated.

To provide training and support to patients and carers on routine feeding tube care to prevent complications.

To undertake procedures to prevent tube complications, advise on treatment of stoma and tube problems within assessed competency level

To assess problems reported with feeding tubes and provide replacements parts and accessories to ensure feeding at home can be maintained

To assess any short-term issues at review or in an ad-hoc manner and provide advice on a plan within assessed competency level.

Liaise with the multidisciplinary team regarding feeding regimens, stoma and tube management, stock checks and equipment requirements.

Deliver feeding equipment to wards and ensure the correct ancillaries and enteral feeds are provided to patients to ensure the discharge of patients on enteral feeds is effectively planned and co-ordinated.

Liaise with the Home Enteral Feeding Company Nurse to organise pre discharge enteral feed pump training.

Liaise with out of area teams to ensure a smooth discharge for individuals who are not remaining in the Trusts boundaries.

Carry out stock checks in patients homes ensuring the correct equipment; ancillaries and feed are being used.

Inform the Specialist Dietitians if any inappropriate items have been delivered and are being used and take appropriate action as instructed by the specialist dietitian

Communicate complex information including changes required to the patient / carer and relevant healthcare professionals as per competencies or as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians.

Arrange for any equipment or ancillaries that are not required to be uplifted by the Home Enteral Feeding Company and amend equipment / ancillary regimens.

Clerical

Book home visit appointments as agreed with the Specialist Dietitians.

Register patients on the electronic Home Enteral Feeding System as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians to facilitate the commencement of deliveries.

Make changes to patients equipment or feeding regimens using the electronic Home Enteral Feeding System as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians.

Complete correspondence as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians to relevant healthcare professionals / Home Enteral Feeding Company

Check invoices received relating to enteral feed, equipment and ancillaries delivered to patients homes against electronic patient databases, querying any discrepancies with Home Specialist Dietitians, patients and carers either by telephone or by carrying out a home visit.

Inform the Home Enteral Feeding Company and Dietetic Manager re any invoice discrepancies, keeping record of any errors and ensuring credit notes are received.

Maintain the departmental Home Enteral Feeding Database and the BANS (British Artificial Nutrition Survey) Register.

Enter patient activity on the Trusts electronic patient information system and maintain patient records as per Trust Policy.

Stock Control

Ensure department stock levels of enteral feeding equipment and ancillaries are maintained by liaising with the Home Enteral Feeding Company.

Ensure department stocks of nutritional products are maintained including checking use by dates and to liaise with Companies providing Nutritional Products to order Nutritional Products.

Training and Education

Assist the Specialist Dietitians to prepare organise & deliver training relating to Enteral Feeding.

Assist in the induction of new staff and dietetic students within the dietetic department as appropriate.

Provide training on enteral feeding equipment and processes on an ongoing basis with staff, dietetic students, nursing home staff, carers and patients.

To training patients and carers on routine tube care and prevention of tube and stoma complications

Clinical Governance

Plan and organises own workload and evaluate own practice with supervision from the Specialist Dietitians as required.

Actively participate in keeping up to date, attend relevant learning activities, mandatory and statutory training and participate in the Personal Development Review process working to achieve agreed set objectives.

Ensure relevant training is attended to maintain competency regarding medical devices required within the job role.

Complete dietetic electronic patient records in accordance with clinical records policy.

Assist in clinical audit projects particularly those relating to Home Enteral Feeding.

Follow department and trust clinical guidelines, policies and procedures.

Raise local and national incidents regarding medical device failures and liaise with the Trusts Patient Safety and Risk Manager to ensure reports are provided in a timely manner. Collate information for monitoring trends and disseminate this information.

Qualifications

Essential

• Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A - C English and Maths or equivalent
• Minimum Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent Higher Apprenticeship or willingness to work towards attaining it
• Care Certificate or willingness to work towards attaining it

Experience

Essential

• Experience delivering care and working in a health or social care or education setting
• Experience working as part of a team.

Desirable

• Experience using online databases
• Experience working with adults and / or children with long term illnesses and disabilities, some of whom may be terminally ill
• Previous experience of enteral feeding
• Experience in supporting others at work

Skills

Essential

• Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Able to complete nutrition assessments including taking anthropometric measurements
• Able to monitor and evaluate established treatments and make changes as per agreed competency level
• Able to undertake tube and stoma care as per agreed competency level
• Able to advise and support regarding replacement or repair of feeding tubes as per agreed competency level
• Able to communicate information in an understandable form to patients and their carers using motivational and negotiation skills
• Able to collect and record information accurately
• Good customer care skills face to face, by telephone and email
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Able to delegate appropriately
• Able to work autonomously

Desirable

• Able to use a computer and have basic knowledge of word processing, e-mail, dietary analysis packages and electronic patient records.
• Experience using online databases
• Clinical supervision skills

Personal Qualiites

Essential

• Able to work as part of a team
• Aware of own limitations
• Able to recognise when escalation to a registered professional is required
• Committed to client centred, non- discriminatory practice
• Committed to personal and professional development

Other

Essential

• Passes pre-employment checks
• Able to undertake activities requiring light / moderate physical exertion e.g. moving and handling enteral feeding equipment, ancillaries and training materials using appropriate manual handling techniques and equipment
• Able to frequently concentrate to cross check invoices against electronic databases and when carrying out stock checks
• Able to be occasionally exposed to distressing or emotional situations whilst visiting patients with long term illnesses and disabilities, some of whom may be terminally ill.
• Able to be occasionally exposed to unpleasant working conditions
• Must have independent means of transport
• Must be willing to work flexibly within the requirements of the service

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).