Job summary
We are delighted to announce an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Associate Practitioner to work into Ridgeway (Secure Inpatient Service).
The post would suit an enthusiastic and motivated individual, valuingthe opportunity to workcollaborativelywith members of awell-establishedmulti-disciplinary team, where dietetic intervention is an integral part of the management of physical health care within Ridgeway.
This busy and rewarding post will provide a rare opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in the specialist field of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism. This role has a strong emphasis on the management of obesity and associated long term health problems; oral nutrition support; and health promotion.
Our Trust is part of a regional weight management plan "A Weight Off Your Mind" which aims to address the weight management needs of people with mental illness and/or learning disabilities in our care. We recognise this is a health inequality issue and we want to bring the physical health, life expectancy and quality of life of our service users in line with those of the general population.
Main duties of the job
The successful post holder will be enthusiastic about working with this client group; have a warm, compassionate manner and an appreciation of the challenges that individuals with Mental health / Learning Disabilities and Autism. This role requires excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
The successful candidate would work across all the wards within Ridgeway (Roseberry Park Hospital). Will work alongside Dieticians/Nutritionist as well as other Allied Health Professionals with the service and will be supported by regular specific dietetic team meetingsto develop your skills in Mental Health / Learning Disabilities and Autism and to provide peer support.
The post holder will have access to both formal and informal training and will be supported to engage with the complex needs of this client group.
Our Trust is committed to providing regular opportunities to participate in first class Continuous Professional Development (CPD), policy development, audit, research activities, pathway development, staff and student training. There are regular opportunities to network with colleagues; to share best practice; and to celebrate our successes as a profession working within Mental Health and Learning Disabilities.
About us
TEWV provides specialist care across Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, North Yorkshire and the Vale of York. The successful post holder will be a valued part of a supportive, wider dietetic team which covers Adult Mental Health, Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Eating Disorders, Mental Health Services for Older People and Secure Inpatient Services. The TEWV Dietetic Team is the largest and most established specialist Mental Health and Learning Disability dietetic team in the UK and has strong links with the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA. Our dynamic dietetic team is supported by the Professional Head of Dietetics and highly skilled Lead dietitians.
We offer placements for students on the MSc pre-registration course in Dietetics at Teesside University. This is a very exciting new development for our local area. We are keen to support involvement in student training.
Please see our Trust Website to hear about all the benefits of working for TEWV.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description Attached for further details.
Main Responsibilities:
To carry a delegated caseload which remains the responsibility of the Registered Dietitian, often working without direct supervision.
To provide dietetic support to service users who have a range of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities.
To engage service users and their carers compassionately in the implementation of their dietary intervention plan and/or physical activities, to support them in achieving their identified goals and to promote independence and well-being.
To provide the best possible experience for service users and carers.May supervise Dietetic Assistants on a day to day basis.
To show commitment to and participate in quality improvement activities.To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
To promote at all times a positive image of the Dietetic Service and the wider Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description Attached for further details.
Main Responsibilities:
To carry a delegated caseload which remains the responsibility of the Registered Dietitian, often working without direct supervision.
To provide dietetic support to service users who have a range of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities.
To engage service users and their carers compassionately in the implementation of their dietary intervention plan and/or physical activities, to support them in achieving their identified goals and to promote independence and well-being.
To provide the best possible experience for service users and carers.May supervise Dietetic Assistants on a day to day basis.
To show commitment to and participate in quality improvement activities.To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
To promote at all times a positive image of the Dietetic Service and the wider Trust.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
- At least one of the qualifications below should be a no less than Level 4 qualification; if you have a level 4 or above in a clinical / health care qualification / equivalent experience, and level 3 qualification in the relevant specific skills/knowledge base area, there will be an expectation to increase your qualifications in the skills based area to a level 4 once in post
- Clinical/health care qualification Either: Minimum of level 3 qualification or equivalent in healthcare related subject e.g. A level Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC
- Or o Level 4 or above qualification in relevant healthcare related subject Equivalent experience of working in a relevant health and/or social care setting. (Individual can demonstrate considerable understanding of the needs of and issues encountered by those with mental health difficulties or learning disabilities, and demonstrable application of this in practice, helping them to reach their potential.)
- And Specific qualification relating to area of specialism within the role e.g. art, nutrition, fitness, communication, woodwork Minimum of level 3 relevant qualification or above NVQ3 Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC
Desirable
- Certificate in Food Hygiene (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
- Level 4 or above qualification in specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working as a Dietetic assistant or closely related work e.g. nursing/care or AHP assistant.
- Experience of supporting people working with service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
- Experience working as part of a team.
- Experience of actively engaging in a supervision system
Desirable
- Experience of presenting to groups of people
- Experience of running group sessions
- Experience of delivering training packages
Knowledge
Essential
- Basic knowledge of specific eating, drinking and nutritional matters relating to service users in own service area
- Basic knowledge of nutritional analysis
- Basic therapeutic terminology and therapeutic procedures
- Evidence base supporting frequently used assessment & treatment interventions.
- Software packages e.g. Dietplan 6
- Needs and difficulties of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
Skills
Essential
- Communicate complex and sensitive information in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation.
- Good observational skills and ability to describe such observations verbally and in writing.
- Ability to relate therapeutically to the needs of the service user group.
- Ability to adapt treatment using own initiative.
- Ability to lead a therapy group session (within 6 months of commencement in post)
- Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
- Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
- At least one of the qualifications below should be a no less than Level 4 qualification; if you have a level 4 or above in a clinical / health care qualification / equivalent experience, and level 3 qualification in the relevant specific skills/knowledge base area, there will be an expectation to increase your qualifications in the skills based area to a level 4 once in post
- Clinical/health care qualification Either: Minimum of level 3 qualification or equivalent in healthcare related subject e.g. A level Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC
- Or o Level 4 or above qualification in relevant healthcare related subject Equivalent experience of working in a relevant health and/or social care setting. (Individual can demonstrate considerable understanding of the needs of and issues encountered by those with mental health difficulties or learning disabilities, and demonstrable application of this in practice, helping them to reach their potential.)
- And Specific qualification relating to area of specialism within the role e.g. art, nutrition, fitness, communication, woodwork Minimum of level 3 relevant qualification or above NVQ3 Certificate of higher education BTEC professional award, certificate and diploma Access to health and social care Foundation degree HNC
Desirable
- Certificate in Food Hygiene (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
- Level 4 or above qualification in specialist area
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience working as a Dietetic assistant or closely related work e.g. nursing/care or AHP assistant.
- Experience of supporting people working with service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
- Experience working as part of a team.
- Experience of actively engaging in a supervision system
Desirable
- Experience of presenting to groups of people
- Experience of running group sessions
- Experience of delivering training packages
Knowledge
Essential
- Basic knowledge of specific eating, drinking and nutritional matters relating to service users in own service area
- Basic knowledge of nutritional analysis
- Basic therapeutic terminology and therapeutic procedures
- Evidence base supporting frequently used assessment & treatment interventions.
- Software packages e.g. Dietplan 6
- Needs and difficulties of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
Skills
Essential
- Communicate complex and sensitive information in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation.
- Good observational skills and ability to describe such observations verbally and in writing.
- Ability to relate therapeutically to the needs of the service user group.
- Ability to adapt treatment using own initiative.
- Ability to lead a therapy group session (within 6 months of commencement in post)
- Ability to work collaboratively with members of the MDT to provide an effective service.
- Ability to plan and organise a given caseload and prioritise effectively.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
