Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE
To provide part of a professional Nutrition and Dietetic care service, which includes advice to in-patients, out-patients, all healthcare staff and participation in the training of student dietitians
To work within the Dietetic Service providing effective interventions to specific clinical areas.
To provide a patient focussed service using Dietetic core skills
The post holder will be professional accountable to the HCPC and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions
3.JOB DIMENSIONS
The post holder will:
Manage own case load to a level agreed with supervisor / line manager
Be involved in the provision of education and training to healthcare staff, patients, care providers and students.
Liaise with the multidisciplinary care team to provide integrated dietetic care
Be an active member of the out of hours service
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
HCPC Registration as a Dietitian
Willing to undergo any training as required to enable performance in the job
Awareness of current issues in Dietetic
Good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
No previous dietetic experience required
Able to work within a team demonstrate initiative, time management and organisational skills
8.CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Demonstrate good office practice in accordance with departmental and professional policies and procedures
Be an active team member of the Dietetics department at LTHT by participating in departmental development projects, attending departmental meetings and clinical updates
Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy and understanding
Demonstrate the ability to motivate patients to achieve behavioural change using the counselling skills.
Demonstrate the ability to analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate nutrition care plans
9.CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Ability to perform nutritional assessment and plan relevant dietetic care programmes.
Knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology
Understanding of the calculations required in dietetic assessment
Ability to correctly interpret nutritional impairment, biochemical parameters and fluid balance. This will involve nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet histories
Demonstrate knowledge in interpretation of clinical information to develop, monitor and complete nutritional care plans. This will include the prescription of dietary treatment and ACBS products
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of safe discharge planning.
9.PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical and Professional
Be an autonomous practitioner, clinically, legally and professionally responsible for own caseload
Responsible for undertaking dietetic clinical duties in assigned clinical area under the supervision of the line manager, following departmental standards and procedures
Collect, analyse and record relevant patient information from clinical and patient sources, and consider these in the development of effective nutritional care plans
Communicate the nutrition and dietary treatment of patients to healthcare staff, other professionals and patient carers
Responsible for providing relevant dietary advice within an in-patient, out-patient setting in verbal and written forms in a format which is understood by patients and carers
Responsible for developing and maintaining an agreed level of expertise by updating own clinical knowledge and skills
Participate in the appraisal process as an appraise and develop a strategy for personal and continuous professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation
Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested / agreed with the line manager
Education and training
Devise and implement nutritional care plans for inpatients and outpatients. This will involve advising patients, relatives or carers, individually or in a group setting
Provide effective oral and written dietetic advice and information to patients and their carers, to enable achievement of dietary aims.
Assist with the development of resources used in the education and training of patients, health professionals and the public
Participate in informal talks on nutrition and dietetics to health care staff as required, this may include presentations at department meetings
Participate in supervising the training of dietetic and other students to graduate level as assigned after an appropriate induction period / supervisory training course
Train ward staff to use dietetic resources appropriately
Managerial
Disseminate Dietetic information to other members of the multidisciplinary team. This could include attendance and participation in ward rounds and case conferences
Responsible for ordering and cancelling additional snacks, nutritional supplements and feeds from catering and pharmacy according to patients clinical condition and requirements
Contribute to the planning, setting and monitoring of departmental objects and standards as assigned
Participate in surveys, research and audit as required / assigned
Participate in the collection of data for management information purposes as requested
Organisational
Provide appropriate diet sheets / patient education material for ward discharge and outpatient use
Responsible for liaison with medical and nursing staff to ensure integrated dietetic care.
Liaise with catering department and pharmacy to ensure the correct provision of meals for patients on therapeutic diets
Responsible for participating in the development of a dietetic resource manual as required
Participate in departmental and multidisciplinary meetings as required
Provide cover for annual leave, sickness, bank holidays etc as required
COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Responsible for communicating complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to patients including adaptation of oral and written advice appropriate to the individual. This may include communicating unwelcome news in a sensitive way or giving advice / information which is hard to accept.
Responsible for motivating patients to accept and adhere to treatment and make behavioural changes where there may be significant barriers to understanding
Demonstrates empathy and understanding of social, psychological, ethnic and religious factors which affect compliance in order to facilitate long term dietary changes.
Responsible for communicating the requirements, progress and outcome of nutritional care plans to patient care team members on a regular basis
Responsible for communicating patients nutritional care information to nursing, medical staff, therapy staff and community personnel including GP s, social care workers and other health professionals as required
Internal
Head of Dietetics
Clinical Dietetic Manager
All Grades of Dietetic Staff
Dietetic Assistant
Nursing
Consultants and Medical staff
Multi-disciplinary teams
Internal agencies
Catering
Support Staff
External
Dietetic Students
University staff
Colleagues employed by other NHS Trusts
Colleagues employed by other agencies
Patients and carers
11.SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
The post holder will be subject to a combination of walking, standing, sitting and climbing stairs and travelling between sites for short periods during working hours.
The post holder is required to carry record cards, a supply of diet sheets and additional stationery to wards and clinical areas. Folders weight approximately 3kg
The post holder may occasionally be required to carry feeding equipment e.g. infusion pumps to, or between wards. Pumps weigh approximately 2kg
ii)MENTAL EFFORT:
Caseload that needs re-prioritising throughout the day as new referrals are received and patients are reassessed. Telephone calls, bleeps interruptions from other healthcare professionals. Complex calculations are done at least once daily, these require concentration to ensure accuracy and patient safety. Writing up medical notes and dietetic notes in a busy ward environment where distractions / ambient noise can be frequent
iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
The post holder may frequently be exposed to distressing situations e.g. counselling terminally ill patients, aggressive and/or emotional patients or in working in critical care areas such as cardiac care
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS:
The post holder may occasionally be exposed to unpleasant working conditions e.g. unpleasant smells and sights when working with patients.
The post holder may frequently be exposed to distressing situations e.g. counselling terminally ill patients, aggressive and / or emotional patients or in working in critical care areas such as cardiac care. The post holder may be required to discuss dietetic care issues with other health care professionals who disagree with the chosen course of dietetic action.