Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Dietitianto join our team of 16 dietitians at the Princess Royal University Hospital(PRUH)site of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
This unique post provides across-site dietetic service to the Neurology & Frailty servicesacrossthe PRUH andOrpingtonHospital.
The post holder will work alongside the Acute Frailty and Neurorehabilitation Band 7 dietitian who covers the Acute Frailty Assessment Unit (AFAU) at the PRUH and the two Neurorehabilitationwards at Orpington.Both posts will work closely to provide cover duringleaveto ensure continuity of care and ongoing dietetic support across specialties and hospital sites.
This is a 1.0 WTE position, with 0.5WTEbased atOrpingtonand 0.5WTEbased at the PRUH.Time spent across specialties may vary according to caseload and servicedemands.Thereis a regular internal shuttle bus between sites toallowease of cross-siteworking.
Main duties of the job
Theneurology service atPRUHcovers all neurology outliers across multiple wards throughout the hospital.Thisincludes patients withmotorneuronedisease,parkinson'sdisease,multiple sclerosis,progressive supranuclear palsy, Guillain Barre syndrome and traumatic brain injury. Many of these patients require close multidisciplinaryteamworking,withcomplex oral and enteral feeding discussionsand support.
The frailty service at Orpington Hospital covers threefrailty wards, delivering specialist nutritional assessment and intervention for patients with malnutrition, swallowing difficulties, multiple comorbidities, cognitiveimpairmentand delirium, ensuring care is person-centred, aligned with individual goals and decisions made in patient's best interest.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesDevelopment, application and dissemination of expertise To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work in compliance with the ethicalcode of practice set out by the Health and Care Professions Council. To work with the dietetic and multidisciplinary teams to formulate and deliver individual dietetictreatment plans for patients based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatmentoptions using clinical assessment, critical thinking, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide rangeof dietetic treatments. Contribute to the local development and delivery of structured education programmes. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have thecapacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment regimens as required. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. Work within Trust clinical guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and localstandards and monitor quality of practice as appropriate. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in linewith British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standardsof practice.
Team working, decision making and communication Represent the dietetic service and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensurethe delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate dietetic therapy into the treatmentprogramme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in dischargeplanning. To provide nutrition counselling to patients and carers relating to highly complex treatments using abroad range of counselling techniques and experience, reassurance and motivational skills toencourage change particularly where there is non-compliance. To be responsible for ensuring that patients and carers have consented to dietetic intervention in linewith national professional guidelines. To make clinical decisions in collaboration with the Nutrition Support Team about the appropriate andsafe administration of parenteral nutrition or alternative forms of artificial nutrition support. This willinvolve nutritional assessment and monitoring; including the calculation of nutritional requirementsbased on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physicalparameters. To directly prescribe nutritional supplements, vitamin and minerals as agreed with consultant medicalstaff. To communicate and liaise with the wider healthcare community, locally, regionally and nationally,regarding nutrition prescription and nutritional care of patients. Providing appropriate information,education and professional support to clinicians, patients and carers. This will include deliveringservice and expertise off-site. To be responsible for the discharge planning of patients going home on artificial nutritional support. Liaise with the Catering department to promote optimal nutrition for patients. To demonstrate flexibility in providing cover in times of staff shortage within clinical areas appropriateto the grade with senior support. To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Head of Nutrition andDietetics.
Audit and research Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the useof evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with moresenior dietitians or other healthcare providers. To initiate and participate in regular research and audit within the specialised area. This includescoordination and supervision of research projects for undergraduate dietetic students. Relevantfindings will be published or presented at appropriate conferences. To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. Tomanage and undertake research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery usinga range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives. To research, develop, audit and publish evidence based departmental patient informationliterature for use within and outside the trust. Development will involve involvement of appropriatepatient groups.
Development activities Be actively involved in professional clinical groups such as departments development groups andother appropriate professional development activities To participate in the development, implementation and update of operational and professionalstandards and policies for the specialist dietetic service. To be an active team member of the dietetic department at Kings participating in departmentaldevelopments and attending monthly staff and continuing professional development meetings. To advise and liaise with the catering staff about the dietary needs of patients and to assist ininstructing diet kitchen chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse themenu cycle to ensure suitability for the inpatient population and make recommendations to the siteCatering Dietitian and Manager. Participate in the staff Performance Review scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complyingwith your agreed personal development programmes to meet required knowledge and competencygoals.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the main responsibilities of this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesDevelopment, application and dissemination of expertise To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work in compliance with the ethicalcode of practice set out by the Health and Care Professions Council. To work with the dietetic and multidisciplinary teams to formulate and deliver individual dietetictreatment plans for patients based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatmentoptions using clinical assessment, critical thinking, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide rangeof dietetic treatments. Contribute to the local development and delivery of structured education programmes. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have thecapacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment regimens as required. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. Work within Trust clinical guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and localstandards and monitor quality of practice as appropriate. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in linewith British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standardsof practice.
Team working, decision making and communication Represent the dietetic service and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensurethe delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate dietetic therapy into the treatmentprogramme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in dischargeplanning. To provide nutrition counselling to patients and carers relating to highly complex treatments using abroad range of counselling techniques and experience, reassurance and motivational skills toencourage change particularly where there is non-compliance. To be responsible for ensuring that patients and carers have consented to dietetic intervention in linewith national professional guidelines. To make clinical decisions in collaboration with the Nutrition Support Team about the appropriate andsafe administration of parenteral nutrition or alternative forms of artificial nutrition support. This willinvolve nutritional assessment and monitoring; including the calculation of nutritional requirementsbased on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physicalparameters. To directly prescribe nutritional supplements, vitamin and minerals as agreed with consultant medicalstaff. To communicate and liaise with the wider healthcare community, locally, regionally and nationally,regarding nutrition prescription and nutritional care of patients. Providing appropriate information,education and professional support to clinicians, patients and carers. This will include deliveringservice and expertise off-site. To be responsible for the discharge planning of patients going home on artificial nutritional support. Liaise with the Catering department to promote optimal nutrition for patients. To demonstrate flexibility in providing cover in times of staff shortage within clinical areas appropriateto the grade with senior support. To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Head of Nutrition andDietetics.
Audit and research Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the useof evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with moresenior dietitians or other healthcare providers. To initiate and participate in regular research and audit within the specialised area. This includescoordination and supervision of research projects for undergraduate dietetic students. Relevantfindings will be published or presented at appropriate conferences. To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. Tomanage and undertake research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery usinga range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives. To research, develop, audit and publish evidence based departmental patient informationliterature for use within and outside the trust. Development will involve involvement of appropriatepatient groups.
Development activities Be actively involved in professional clinical groups such as departments development groups andother appropriate professional development activities To participate in the development, implementation and update of operational and professionalstandards and policies for the specialist dietetic service. To be an active team member of the dietetic department at Kings participating in departmentaldevelopments and attending monthly staff and continuing professional development meetings. To advise and liaise with the catering staff about the dietary needs of patients and to assist ininstructing diet kitchen chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse themenu cycle to ensure suitability for the inpatient population and make recommendations to the siteCatering Dietitian and Manager. Participate in the staff Performance Review scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complyingwith your agreed personal development programmes to meet required knowledge and competencygoals.
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the main responsibilities of this post.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc / Post graduate diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics
- HCPC registered dietitian
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of dietetics within the NHS
- Experience working within frailty in the acute setting
- Experience of patients with neurological conditions
- Sound experience of nutrition support within the acute setting including home enteral feeding discharges
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
Desirable
- Experience working within a Neurorehabilitation setting
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
- Ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team
- Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
- Able to maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc / Post graduate diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics
- HCPC registered dietitian
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of dietetics within the NHS
- Experience working within frailty in the acute setting
- Experience of patients with neurological conditions
- Sound experience of nutrition support within the acute setting including home enteral feeding discharges
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
Desirable
- Experience working within a Neurorehabilitation setting
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
- Ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team
- Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
- Able to maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
