Job summary
The post is an exciting opportunity to be based across In-Patient mental health care services. You will manage a diverse case load of complex patients in Weight Management with co-morbidity and Nutritional support patients. Regular supervision and support as you gain your confidence and competencies in these areas will be provided.
You will provide daily in-patient ward based clinics to assess and review patients. You will attend MDT's to communicate your treatment care plan and monitoring, this will involve frequent networking with all health-professionals. You will deliver Nutritional Screening training to a variety of staff and will support audit and the objectives in the Nutrition and hydration Strategy.
Using evidence based practice and working within the British Dietetic Association Professional code of conduct is paramount. You will be encouraged to attend training and courses to support and enhance Learning and development and apply skills in your practice.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is responsible for the delivery of clinical care to a defined population.
Supported by senior practitioners, they will deliver care within the boundaries of their role.
They will work effectively and collaboratively within the team to meet the needs of patients, support the delivery of policy and procedures and provide clinical leadership.
Ensure the delivery of the quality strategy within the designated area incorporating establishment of systems and processes.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Mental Health Care Division Dietetic Team is an ever developing specialist Mental Health team and has strong links with all professions including Nursing, Allied health, Dr's and local Dietetics including The British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA. Our dynamic dietetic team is supported by the Lead Dietitian and highly skilled dietitian.
You will work as part of the team and will be professionally accountable for your own caseload of patients, working autonomously in a variety of complex mental health settings including liaising with the service users families and when they transition to other areas. You will develop and implement dietary intervention plans and provide advice to people with a variety of dietetic needs and a range of learning disabilities and/or mental health conditions.
There are regular specialty dietetic team meetings to develop your skills in Mental Health and to provide peer support. The post holder will have access to both formal and informal training. We have a robust clinical supervision structure and, if you are newly qualified, we are able to offer a preceptorship programme.
Dietitians work closely with other health care professionals and Multi-disciplinary team work is integral to dietetic care. 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.
**Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details**
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Mental Health Care Division Dietetic Team is an ever developing specialist Mental Health team and has strong links with all professions including Nursing, Allied health, Dr's and local Dietetics including The British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA. Our dynamic dietetic team is supported by the Lead Dietitian and highly skilled dietitian.
You will work as part of the team and will be professionally accountable for your own caseload of patients, working autonomously in a variety of complex mental health settings including liaising with the service users families and when they transition to other areas. You will develop and implement dietary intervention plans and provide advice to people with a variety of dietetic needs and a range of learning disabilities and/or mental health conditions.
There are regular specialty dietetic team meetings to develop your skills in Mental Health and to provide peer support. The post holder will have access to both formal and informal training. We have a robust clinical supervision structure and, if you are newly qualified, we are able to offer a preceptorship programme.
Dietitians work closely with other health care professionals and Multi-disciplinary team work is integral to dietetic care. 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.
**Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for further details**
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health Professions Council registration for dietetic
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics or relevant degree with post graduate diploma in dietetics
Desirable
- Full member of British Dietetic Association
Knowledge/experience
Essential
- Comprehensive experience at undergraduate level or at . Band 5 of the core competencies within Dietetics
- Experience of working in mental health setting
Desirable
- Preferably with experience in NHS.
- Working with hospital or commercial caterers.
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
Skills
Essential
- Understanding of professional and ethical issues
- Assessment, observation, evaluation and report writing skill
- Knowledge of current best practice in Dietetic
- Ability to work single handed with access to guidance from Dietetic colleagues on site or by telephone
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
- Positive and objective interpersonal skill
- Basic knowledge of health and social care legislation and guidelines e.g Department of Health documents, national clinical guidelines and application to Dietetic practice.
- Awareness of research methods and audit skills to inform and evaluate practice.
- Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
- Basic knowledge of principles of health and safety and risk awareness
- Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality.
- Understanding of team dynamics
- Ability to build effective working relationships
- Effective personal organisational skills
- Portfolio of documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- Written and oral communication skills in English sufficient to communicate effectively with patients to gain consent and explain treatment interventions and gain information required for the patient's medical/ social history relevant to Dietetics
- Basic computer skills e.g word processing, email, internet skills and preferable experience of using electronic patient record systems
- Ability to comply with Trust Policy
- Ability to travel regularly across trust sites
- Willingness to be flexible to deliver unexpected or unusual circumstances relating to patient care.
- A commitment to life long learning
- Willingness to undertake induction and mandatory training sessions, including CPR and MVA (Management of Violence and Aggression training) as required
- Ability to travel across multiple sites within the day across Meresyside and Cheshire
Desirable
- Understanding of local and national quality initiatives.
- Accurate anthropometric skills
- Experience of working in collaboration with other professions to deliver care. Agencies to achieve agreed outcomes for individuals in delivery of treatment outcomes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health Professions Council registration for dietetic
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics or relevant degree with post graduate diploma in dietetics
Desirable
- Full member of British Dietetic Association
Knowledge/experience
Essential
- Comprehensive experience at undergraduate level or at . Band 5 of the core competencies within Dietetics
- Experience of working in mental health setting
Desirable
- Preferably with experience in NHS.
- Working with hospital or commercial caterers.
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
Skills
Essential
- Understanding of professional and ethical issues
- Assessment, observation, evaluation and report writing skill
- Knowledge of current best practice in Dietetic
- Ability to work single handed with access to guidance from Dietetic colleagues on site or by telephone
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
- Positive and objective interpersonal skill
- Basic knowledge of health and social care legislation and guidelines e.g Department of Health documents, national clinical guidelines and application to Dietetic practice.
- Awareness of research methods and audit skills to inform and evaluate practice.
- Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
- Basic knowledge of principles of health and safety and risk awareness
- Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality.
- Understanding of team dynamics
- Ability to build effective working relationships
- Effective personal organisational skills
- Portfolio of documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
- Written and oral communication skills in English sufficient to communicate effectively with patients to gain consent and explain treatment interventions and gain information required for the patient's medical/ social history relevant to Dietetics
- Basic computer skills e.g word processing, email, internet skills and preferable experience of using electronic patient record systems
- Ability to comply with Trust Policy
- Ability to travel regularly across trust sites
- Willingness to be flexible to deliver unexpected or unusual circumstances relating to patient care.
- A commitment to life long learning
- Willingness to undertake induction and mandatory training sessions, including CPR and MVA (Management of Violence and Aggression training) as required
- Ability to travel across multiple sites within the day across Meresyside and Cheshire
Desirable
- Understanding of local and national quality initiatives.
- Accurate anthropometric skills
- Experience of working in collaboration with other professions to deliver care. Agencies to achieve agreed outcomes for individuals in delivery of treatment outcomes
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
