Specialist Dietitian - Renal

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

Be professionally and legally accountable for own work and caseload.

Work autonomously as the lead clinical specialist, in the provision of a comprehensive nutrition and dietetic service to the OKU and Oxford Transplant Centre at the OUH. This will involve working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team so as to ensure a holistic approach to patient care. This will include:

- To assess and triage referrals made by members of the multidisciplinary team in order to ensure effective use of time and resources.

- Early appropriate management of nutritionally related surgical issues post transplant to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, reduce hospital length of stay and prevent avoidable readmissions.

- Early dietetic assessment and appropriate individualised nutrition therapy/interventions for renal and transplant inpatients, dialysis and low clearance outpatients.

- A dietetic presence at MDT meetings, board rounds and case conferences to provide accurate information on nutritional status, progress and plans.

- Facilitate improved partnerships with renal and transplant staff and the wider MDT.To assess the nutritional status of individual patients based on anthropometric measurements e.g. weight, height, weight history, hand grip strength, as well as biochemical parameters, diet history and other validated methods of nutritional assessment as appropriate.

Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources including: electronic patient records, medical notes, nursing notes, the patient and their carers, ward staff etc, in order to make a comprehensive assessment of the patients needs.

Advise on initiation and titration of certain medicines used within renal medicine for example phosphate binding agents.

Attend regular renal and transplant team meetings when patient care is reviewed, liaison meetings with other multi-disciplinary teams where patients joint care is planned and reviewed, case conferences, ward rounds and governance meetings.

Along with the team lead to have responsibility for all organisation, liaison and monitoring of the dietetic aspect of this service.

To communicate effectively with patients, carers, family and other health professionals. Skills of negotiation, motivation, explanation and gaining consent will be used in a wide variety of and sometimes sensitive situations. The ability to communicate complex information at an appropriate level to allow understanding is essential. Barriers to communication may be evident e.g. loss of hearing, receptive and expressive problems with the formulation and understanding of language or difficulties with speaking. The use of communication aids such as letter/picture boards or games may be necessary.

Be involved in discharge planning of renal patients to other facilities e.g. nursing home, community hospital, and district general hospitals both within and outside of Oxfordshire. Advising members of staff - nursing, dietetic and catering staff on dietary modifications and how this can be achieved within the constraints of their facilities. This includes those discharged into GP and District Nurses care.

Participate in research and audit undertaken by the OKU/Oxford Transplant Centre and/or Dietetic team. Presentation of audit or research results at national or international conferences to promote practise and share expertise with colleagues.

To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to all members of the multidisciplinary team and wider dietetic depart, regarding the nutritional management of renal / transplant patients. This involves regular participation in in-house training of clinicians and both specialist / ward nursing staff and non-renal dietetic staff (Oxford and satellite units).

To be actively involved with the development of evidence based, trust-wide guidelines - to be a resource to other dietitians as specialist renal practitioners, writing and compiling diet sheets, protocols and advice.

ORGANISATIONAL

To determine priorities for own work area based on clinical need and balance patient caseload with professional demands.

Collation of audit data on the outcomes of renal and transplant patients managed in the dietetic service

To collect data as required by the department, trust and outside agencies.

To maintain accurate and up to date documentation of patient interventions on electronic records. To communicate dietetic interventions to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team by documentation within nursing/medical notes or by means of generating a letter/report.

MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Be accountable for own actions working within the professional, ethical and legal framework for dietetics set out in the Health Profession Councils Dietitians Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and the British Dietetic Associations Professional Standards for Dietitians and Code of Professional Conduct.

To remain up to date with the relevant literature and ensure that this informs evidence based practice which will optimise the long term outcomes for each individual patient.

Clinically supervise Band 6 renal dietitians.

To initiate and lead discussions on organisational, professional and clinical issues relevant to the service area. Along with the Service Managers, to be responsible for the dietetic service provided to their clinical area and its development.

To continue to develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to the development of colleagues within the MDT and the Dietetic Service. This involves:

a) taking responsibility for own continuing professional development (CPD) and provide evidence for this by maintaining a CPD portfolio. CPD involves critical evaluation of scientific papers, attending professional development meetings, working as a reflective practitioner and attending relevant internal/external courses.

b) Participating in own annual appraisal, identifying own development and training needs and setting personal development objectives with line manager.

c) Undertaking all relevant statutory and mandatory training

d) Involvement in the dietetic student training programme

e) Providing specialist education and advice to dietetic colleagues in the area of renal and transplant via regular departmental professional update meetings

f) Attending and representing the department and lead area of work at the regional and national meetings as appropriate.

To be responsible for communicating effectively and working collaboratively with the Dietetic team, line managers, other health professionals within the MDT and other organisations to ensure a co-ordinated and evidence based approach to the delivery of dietetic care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Nutrition & Dietetic Degree or equivalent
• Registered with Health Professions Council as a Dietitian
• Evidence of successful completion of significant specialist post graduate training equivalent to Masters level in this clinical area

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of high level of specialist dietetic knowledge/skills in this clinical area
• Demonstrates excellent and up to date knowledge of national policies and guidelines relevant to whole service as well as to specific clinical area
• Evidence of effective leadership skills
• Evidence of research / audit / project work
• Able to organise work load and manage time within conflicting agendas
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member

Desirable

• Is able to demonstrate evidence of clinical service development

Other

Essential

• Able to easily and efficiently travel to satellite units to provide a dietetics service

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

Oxford

OX3 7LE

Employer's website

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