Dietitian - Diabetes

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To be professionally, ethically and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the dietetic management of patients, practising in accordance within the framework for dietetics within the Health Professions Council and the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Professional Standards for Dietitians, and within the scope of your own practice. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for patients under your management, and support less experienced staff members.

2. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients specifically those with diabetes, other endocrine and lipid disorders, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of resources.

3. To make a judgement of the appropriateness of patient referrals and advise accordingly.

4. To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients and formulate individualised dietetic management and treatment plans throughout their care pathway, with support of senior colleagues and mentor. This will mainly involve out-patients:

(a) Assessments of nutritional intake using recall discussion, observation and monitoring.

(b) Assessment of nutritional status from weight, height, Body Mass Index, weight history, anthropometrics, subjective global assessment, biochemistry and visual assessment.

(c) Assessment of nutritional requirements using established assessment tools and calculations, with consideration to patients biochemistry, medical and physical condition, and social situation, to make a justifiable assessment of patients needs, their prognosis and risks to their health in the short and longer term.

(d) To continually monitor, re-assess and evaluate dietetic intervention.

(e) Promote understanding of the aims of dietetic intervention, discussing and agreeing the assessment outcomes with the patient, their carers and members of the MDT, as appropriate.

(f) Referring patients to other health professionals when needs and/or risks are beyond own scope of practice.

5. Plan, deliver, co-ordinate and evaluate programmes to address the complex and changing health, nutrition and dietetic needs of your patients, as an integral member of the MDT. As applicable:

(a) Discussing and agreeing with patients the options for dietetic intervention and goals and setting timely targets. Educating the patient to empower them to make changes to their diet and lifestyle. Supporting and encouraging the patient as they make changes to their diet and lifestyle. Evaluating the effectiveness of the goals set and suggesting any necessary modifications.

(b) As indicated by your assessment, advising on best methods of nutritional support in patients unable to meet their nutritional requirements.

(c) Co-ordinating dietetic care by liaising with dietitians in other clinical areas, the community and outside the trust to ensure continuity of care.

6. Inform, advise and teach patients, carers, healthcare and catering personnel, dietetic assistants, student dietitians and the general public. As applicable, communicate, the complex nutritional requirements of patients in your designated area, using a range of communication skills and tools.

(a) Communicating effectively with a wide range of people including the patient, relatives and carers, dietetic, medical, nursing, allied health professionals, catering and other healthcare colleagues.

(b) Exploring the complex issues that may impact on advice given, including cultural and social situation.

(c) Changing the method of communication to enable people to understand what is being communicated (e.g. Using pictures, interpreters, larger print leaflets)

(d) Encouraging people to communicate using appropriate communication tools such as cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing skills

(e) Training and teaching groups of people including patients, carers, health professionals and catering staff especially in the area of diabetes.

(f) Evaluate talks and group sessions, and adapt sessions accordingly in agreement with the team leader.

(g) To develop facilitation skills to deliver both individual and group education.

(h) To participate in the delivery of structured group education for patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes (Diabetes2gether) or existing diabetes (Diabetes4ward).

(i) To deliver a structured group education programme on weight management for patients with diabetes at risk of hypoglycaemia.

(j) To contribute to case review clinics and education and training meetings with all members of the diabetes team.

7. Contribute to the development of all written information to assist patients understanding of dietetic advice given, as well as other resources and referral guidelines, in line with current evidence and needs assessment

8. All staff are expected to work cross-site and in different community locations

1. Develop knowledge and skills by taking responsibility for own continuing professional development (CPD) and performance and maintaining own portfolio.

2. Participate in annual appraisal, identifying own development needs in relation to current practice and future plans, and produce an annual report setting personal development objectives.

3. Be an active member of the in-house training programme by the attendance and active involvement at staff meetings, tutorials, journal club, case studies, training sessions, external courses and reflective practice.

4. To actively contribute to the training of student Dietitians.

5. Acting as the patients advocate for all nutrition and dietetic related issues.

6. To work collaboratively with medical, nursing and other health professionals to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning.

7. To maintain accurate, comprehensive documentation, in both dietetic and medical records, including departmental statistics. This must be in line with legal, trust and departmental standards. Collect data as required by the department, trust and other agencies.

8. After a period of induction, contribute to the development of services. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices against departmental and trust policies and through the use of evidence based practice projects, clinical audits and patient satisfaction surveys, either individually or with more senior dietitians. Make recommendations for change and seeking opinion from dietitians more experienced in that area if necessary.

9. Develop a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to individual situation.

10. Support peoples equality, diversity and rights. Interpreting the rights of people in a way that is consistent with legislation, trust policies and professional standards. Considering individuals beliefs and preferences when advising on diet and lifestyle changes.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Recognised Dietetics degree or equivalent
• Registration with Health Care Professions Council as a Dietitian
• Demonstrates good clinical reasoning skills

Desirable

• Member of the BDA

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Uses reflective practise to enhance practise
• Able to prioritise workload and manage own time
• Demonstrates excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Aware of political climate and new developments in the NHS and the profession
• Remains calm under pressure
• Adaptable and flexible, confident/articulate
• Demonstrates ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Demonstrates good IT skills

Other Requirements

Essential

• Is able to easily and efficiently travel across sites which may be in different towns, to provide a dietetics service
• Use of a car for work purposes

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).

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

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Churchill Hospital

Old Road

Headington, Oxford

OX3 7LE

Employer's website

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