Specialist Paediatric Home Enteral Feeding Dietitian, Band 6

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties of Post

Clinical Duties

- To use specialist knowledge and clinical expertise to assess, diagnose, agree, plan, implement and monitor a nutrition and dietetic care plan based on a range of treatment options for paediatric patients who have complex medical, nutritional and psychological needs that are enterally fed within the community. To prescribe the appropriate feed for the patient.

- To use proven communication/ behaviour change skills and motivational techniques to negotiate with the patient and/or their parent/carer the necessary lifelong changes to both their diet and care of Gastrostomy, Nasogastric Tubes and stoma sites, adapting according to age.

- To overcome resistance to dietary change by motivating and delivering to the patient and their families the appropriate information and skills needed to meet their nutritional requirements, empowering the patient and carers to control nutritional wellbeing. This includes patients with multifaceted dietary needs of differing age groups with a wide range of medical conditions.

- To overcome barriers to communication due to social and emotional issues as well as cognitive or physical impairment e.g. dysphasia, deafness, blindness and depression. Being able to work with parents and carers to develop a shared goal in the best interest of the child when views and opinions may differ.

- To undertake an extended role, following training, providing care/repair of gastrostomy tubes and care of stoma sites for paediatric patients in their own homes, escalating complex enteral tube and stoma site issues to the Paediatric Enteral Nutrition Nurse Specialist or Childrens Community Nursing Team, helping to avoid the patient returning to hospital.

Quality and Clinical Governance

- To work alongside other health professionals as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT); communicating the dietetic treatment of paediatric patients to nursing, medical staff, and other health professions by providing appropriate verbal and written instructions to ensure they understand and can support the patients treatment plan

- To update the MDT on the paediatric patients progress and changes to the feeding plan, including changes to swallow, prescribed feeds or medical condition.

- To recognise other medical and social problems that the paediatric patient may have, identify the appropriate professional and refer the patient appropriately.

- To work to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, escalating concerns in line with trust processes and attending relevant meetings.

- To ensure patient information is accurately completed for departmental and nationwide reports.

- To ensure all written information regarding prescribed feeds is completed accurately and updated whenever changes occur.

- To maintain clear and accurate patient records in the department record systems and medical notes, writing letters to outside medical referrers, in line with department and trust policies.

- To undertake audit projects identified by the HEFT to provide information to influence service change and service development.

- To provide up to date feeding plans to respite agencies, care agencies, care homes and schools.

- To work to identify risks and appropriately escalate in line with trust procedures.

- To have an awareness of changing practices within the area of paediatric HEF, but remain compliant with statutory bodies, trust policies and frameworks

Education and Training

- Though continuous professional development, develop and maintain a high-level of clinical knowledge in HEF by undertaking clinical supervision, in-service training, external courses and reflective practice.

- To develop and deliver formal training to NHS and other care giving staff based on up to date policies and procedures for HEF in the county.

- To develop and deliver training on the specialist area of paediatric home enteral tube feeding to student Dietitians as part of the HEFT training program.

- To help develop staff with the HEF Dietetic Assistant Team

- To assist in the development of HEFT policies and assist in the implementation of (and comply with) trust/national policies.

Communications and Working Relationships

Communicate and work with:

- Patients

- Parents/carers.

- Clinical staff including Consultants and Primary Care Teams.

- Nursing staff including Nutrition Nurses, School Nurses and the Community Childs Nursing Team.

- Allied health professionals.

- Social workers.

- The HEFT contracted supplier(s).

- Patient support groups.

- External organisations e.g. Nutrition companies.

- British Association for Parenteral Enteral Feeding.

- British Artificial Nutrition Survey.

- Schools and colleges.

- BDA Paediatric group.

- Dietetic Departments in tertiary centres

-Respite service

Most Challenging Part of the Job

- Responding to unpredictable work patterns in many different situations and environments some of which may be unpleasant, carry a risk or be distressing. To work in these areas whilst remaining non-judgemental.

- Undertaking an extended role not normally associated with dietetic practice such as gastrostomy and stoma care and repair.

- Working with emotionally distressed, aggressive, anxious or terminally ill patients, their parents and carers.

- Exposure to distressing situations including palliative and end of life care of paediatric patients

Person Specification

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Degree/post graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Registered with the Health Professions Council
• Extensive post registration experience with experience of nutrition support and Paediatric Dietetics
• Specialist clinical knowledge around enteral feeding
• Develop and deliver training materials to a variety of audiences
• Clinical supervision of junior staff and students
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults
• Use of software packages including Word, Excel, nutritional assessment packages, statistical packages
• Experience of developing and implementing policies, procedures and risk assessments
• Full UK driving license and access to roadworthy vehicle that can be used for work

Desirable

• Understanding of Nasogastric and Gastrostomy tubes and knowledge of stoma care
• Post graduate training in Paediatric Dietetics (eg:- British Dietetic Association accredited course)

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

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust

Gloucester

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

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