Dietitian (XR05)

Job description

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:

3.1 Manage own case load to a level agreed with supervisor/line manager.

3.2 Be involved in the provision of education and training to healthcare staff, patients, care providers and students.

3.3 Liaise with the multidisciplinary care team to provide integrated dietetic

Care

3.4 Be an active member of the out of hours service

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

5.1 BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent.

5.2 HCPC Registration as a Dietitian.

5.3 Willing to undergo any training as required to enable performance in the job.

5.4 Awareness of current issues in Dietetics.

5.5 Good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.

5.6 No previous dietetic experience required.

5.7 Able to work within a team, demonstrate initiative, time management and organisational skills.

8. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

8.1 Demonstrate good office practice in accordance with departmental and professional policies and procedures.

8.2 Be an active team member of the Dietetics department at LTHT by participating in departmental development projects, attending departmental meetings and clinical updates.

8.3 Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy and understanding.

8.4 Demonstrate the ability to motivate patients to achieve behavioural change using counselling skills.

8.5 Demonstrate the ability to analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate nutrition care plans

9. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

9.1 Ability to perform nutritional assessment and plan relevant dietetic care programmes.

9.2 Knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology.

9.3 Understanding of the calculations required in dietetic assessment.

9.4 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.

9.5 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.

9.6 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of safe discharge planning.

10. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

10.1 Clinical and professional

10.1.1 Be an autonomous practitioner, clinically, legally and professionally responsible for own caseload.

10.1.2 Responsible for undertaking dietetic clinical duties in assigned clinical areas under the supervision of the line manager, following departmental standards and procedures.

10.1.3 Collect, analyse and record relevant patient information from clinical and patient sources, and consider these in the development of effective nutritional care plans.

10.1.4 Communicate the nutrition and dietary treatment of patients to healthcare staff, other professionals and patient carers.

10.1.5 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.

10.1.6 Responsible for developing and maintaining an agreed level of expertise by updating own clinical knowledge and skills.

10.1.7 Participate in the appraisal process as an appraisee and develop a strategy for personal and continuous professional development, encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation.

10.1.8 Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested/ agreed with the line manager.

10.2 Education and training

10.2.1 Devise and implement nutritional care plans for inpatients and outpatients. This will involve advising patients, relatives or carers, individually or in a group setting.

10.2.2 Provide effective oral and written dietetic advice and information to patients and their carers, to enable achievement of dietary aims.

10.2.3 Assist with the development of resources used in the education and training of patients, health professionals and the public.

10.2.4 Participate in informal talks on nutrition and dietetics to health care staff as required; this may include presentations at department meetings.

10.2.5 Participate in supervising the training of dietetic and other students to graduate level as assigned after an appropriate induction period/supervisory training course.

10.2.6 Train ward staff to use dietetic resources appropriately.

10.3 Managerial

10.3.1 Disseminate Dietetic information to other members of the multidisciplinary team. This could include attendance and participation in ward rounds and case conferences.

10.3.2 Responsible for ordering and cancelling additional snacks, nutritional supplements and feeds from catering and pharmacy according to patients clinical condition and requirements.

10.3.3 Contribute to the planning, setting and monitoring of departmental objectives and standards as assigned.

10.3.4 Participate in surveys, research and audit as required/assigned.

10.3.5 Participate in the collection of data for management information purposes as requested.

10.4 Organisational

10.4.1 Provide appropriate diet sheets/patient education material for ward discharge and outpatient use.

10.4.2 Responsible for liaison with medical and nursing staff to ensure integrated dietetic care.

10.4.3 Liaise with the catering department and pharmacy to ensure the correct provision of meals for patients on therapeutic diets.

10.4.4 Responsible for participating in the development of a dietetic resource manual as required.

10.4.5 Participate in departmental and multidisciplinary meetings as required.

10.4.6 Provide cover for annual leave, sickness, bank holidays etc as require

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

11.1 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.

11.2 Responsible for motivating patients to accept and adhere to treatment and make behavioural changes where there may be significant barriers to understanding.

11.3 Demonstrates empathy and understanding of social, psychological, ethnic and religious factors which affect compliance in order to facilitate long term dietary changes.

11.4 Responsible for communicating the requirements, progress and outcome of nutritional care plans to patient care team members on a regular basis.

11.5 Responsible for communicating patients nutritional care information to nursing, medical staff, therapy staff and community personnel including GPs, social care workers and other health professionals, as required.

Internal

Head of Dietetics

Clinical Dietetic Managers

All Grades of Dietetic Staff

Dietetic Assistants

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

12. 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 weigh 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

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Awareness of current issues in Nutrition and Dietetics

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
• HCPC registration

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Able to work in a team demonstrate time management skills and initiative
• Good written and oral communication 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)