Job summary
Dorset County Hospital's busy and friendly Dietetic Team have an exciting opportunity for a Renal Dietitian development post; commencing as a Band 5 and developing to a Band 6.
Main duties of the job
- As an autonomous HCPC registered dietitian, provide a specialist, evidence-based dietetic services to a caseload of patients within the renal setting covering DCH inpatients, the clinics and dialysis units managed by of South Somerset and Dorset Renal Service,
- The post holder will function as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) delivering advice regarding patients' nutritional status and most appropriate therapeutic diet.
- Contribute to the wider Dietetic Department promoting a quality and patient-focused service and development of the profession.
- Represent the kidney dietitians at MDT meetings, specialist renal meetings and participate in professional forums.
- Participate in Continuing Professional Development, clinical audit and in-service training, as well as the training of student Dietitians, dietetic assistants and dietetic apprentices.
- Build and maintain effective MDT relationships across the professional network
About us
At Dorset County Hospital (DCH) we aspire to providing outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them. Our trust strategy is focussed on three strategic goals: People, Place, and Partnership. It signals our intention to truly value our staff. Our people are our most important asset, and we want them to feel valued, welcomed, respected, they belong and matter. We recognise the link between high levels of staff satisfaction and improving patient experience and outcomes.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Dorset County Hospital has a number of employees from overseas delivering high quality services and we recognise the value of diversity in leadership.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Formulate individualised dietetic management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning, and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a realistic programme of care taking into account patients wishes regarding treatment.
- Discuss with the renal MDT nutritional support plans for patients with complex problems considering patient safety, compliance and self-management.
- Give nutritional advice to patients, carers or clinicians based on the patients diagnosis and the results of any investigations.
- Provide planned advice, teaching and both verbal and written instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of nutrition and diet therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- Identify and overcome barriers to change using interviewing, counselling, and motivational skills. Significant barriers will regularly be evident e.g. loss of hearing, pain and fear or have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.
- Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent, and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Provide sympathetic, sensitive, and appropriate dietetic advice to renal patients and their relatives and carers, taking into account the stage of their disease, their level of understanding, wishes and needs.
- Provide advice on the use of and to authorise the prescription of ACBS prescribed nutritional products based on the interpretation of nutritional status, biochemical and physiological parameters including nutritional supplements where appropriat
- Advise of the safe use of enteral nutrition to include appropriate feeds, feeding regimes and organise the discharge of patients on home enteral feeding, educating patients and carers working alongside the Nutrition Nurses.
- Advise other health care professionals, patients and carers on the appropriate use of nutritional products.
- Identify the need for and request further investigations e.g. blood biochemistry necessary in the dietetic treatment and monitoring of patients.
- Monitor the patients progress using a variety of sources of information including biochemistry, weight, hand grip strength and food record charts and to use these to review and alter treatment as appropriate.
- Accurately record all assessments and interventions in eMed or where required in other hospital record systems in line with HCPC, the Trusts and Department standards.
- To communicate in writing with other agencies for example GPs as required.
- Participate in and contribute to the renal ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings as required.
- Promote the role of the dietitian and importance of nutrition intervention with the multidisciplinary team.
- Arrange the discharge of patients requiring on going nutritional advice with a timely plan for dietetic review.
- Undertake specialist outpatient clinics for patients under the care of South Somerset and Dorset Renal Service. Prioritised according to departmental standards and that any other administrative issues are dealt with.
- Work closely with ward staff to ensure patients nutritional needs are met through ward and catering provision of meals.
- Monitor food service on Prince of Wales ward and act on any issues that arise.
- In conjunction with the chief dietitian, work with the catering department in the planning of menus, to ensure the inclusion of dishes suitable for kidney patients and to ensure the nutritional adequacy of the food given to all patients.
- Manage the stock control of oral nutritional supplements used on Prince of Wales ward and ordering from Pharmacy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Formulate individualised dietetic management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning, and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a realistic programme of care taking into account patients wishes regarding treatment.
- Discuss with the renal MDT nutritional support plans for patients with complex problems considering patient safety, compliance and self-management.
- Give nutritional advice to patients, carers or clinicians based on the patients diagnosis and the results of any investigations.
- Provide planned advice, teaching and both verbal and written instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of nutrition and diet therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- Identify and overcome barriers to change using interviewing, counselling, and motivational skills. Significant barriers will regularly be evident e.g. loss of hearing, pain and fear or have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.
- Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent, and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Provide sympathetic, sensitive, and appropriate dietetic advice to renal patients and their relatives and carers, taking into account the stage of their disease, their level of understanding, wishes and needs.
- Provide advice on the use of and to authorise the prescription of ACBS prescribed nutritional products based on the interpretation of nutritional status, biochemical and physiological parameters including nutritional supplements where appropriat
- Advise of the safe use of enteral nutrition to include appropriate feeds, feeding regimes and organise the discharge of patients on home enteral feeding, educating patients and carers working alongside the Nutrition Nurses.
- Advise other health care professionals, patients and carers on the appropriate use of nutritional products.
- Identify the need for and request further investigations e.g. blood biochemistry necessary in the dietetic treatment and monitoring of patients.
- Monitor the patients progress using a variety of sources of information including biochemistry, weight, hand grip strength and food record charts and to use these to review and alter treatment as appropriate.
- Accurately record all assessments and interventions in eMed or where required in other hospital record systems in line with HCPC, the Trusts and Department standards.
- To communicate in writing with other agencies for example GPs as required.
- Participate in and contribute to the renal ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings as required.
- Promote the role of the dietitian and importance of nutrition intervention with the multidisciplinary team.
- Arrange the discharge of patients requiring on going nutritional advice with a timely plan for dietetic review.
- Undertake specialist outpatient clinics for patients under the care of South Somerset and Dorset Renal Service. Prioritised according to departmental standards and that any other administrative issues are dealt with.
- Work closely with ward staff to ensure patients nutritional needs are met through ward and catering provision of meals.
- Monitor food service on Prince of Wales ward and act on any issues that arise.
- In conjunction with the chief dietitian, work with the catering department in the planning of menus, to ensure the inclusion of dishes suitable for kidney patients and to ensure the nutritional adequacy of the food given to all patients.
- Manage the stock control of oral nutritional supplements used on Prince of Wales ward and ordering from Pharmacy.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential
- BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent qualification as a dietitian
- Current registered dietitian status with HCPC
Desirable
- Basic training in communication and behaviour change
- Critical appraisal skills training
- Clinical supervisory skills course
Experience
Essential
- Post registration experience especially in the acute dietetic management of patients.
- Range of clinical specialities seen during practical training including renal dietetics.
- Recognition of limitations in knowledge and ability to request advice
Desirable
- Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating teaching of groups
- Experience of In training other healthcare professionals
- Experience of conducting audit or research
- Experience of Training student dietitians
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of evidence based practice in a range of dietetic conditions seen within acute practice
- Evidence of interest in renal dietetics
- Able to implement the BDA Nutritional Care Process
- Competent written communication skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work alone and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Understanding of confidentiality as it relates to dietetic practice
- A working knowledge of Microsoft and NHS computer systems
- An understanding of audit and research in relation to dietetic practice
- Evidence of ability to use initiative but recognise limits
- Knowledge of the BDA and HCPC standards that govern dietetics
Desirable
- Sound clinical knowledge relating to oral and enteral nutrition support
- Basic knowledge relating to parenteral nutrition support
- Evidence of excellent time management skills, flexibility, adaptability to prioritise work, use initiative to complete projects and meet deadlines
- Understanding of clinical governance as it relates to dietetic practice
- Able to travel to community settings for outreach work.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential
- BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent qualification as a dietitian
- Current registered dietitian status with HCPC
Desirable
- Basic training in communication and behaviour change
- Critical appraisal skills training
- Clinical supervisory skills course
Experience
Essential
- Post registration experience especially in the acute dietetic management of patients.
- Range of clinical specialities seen during practical training including renal dietetics.
- Recognition of limitations in knowledge and ability to request advice
Desirable
- Experience of planning, delivering and evaluating teaching of groups
- Experience of In training other healthcare professionals
- Experience of conducting audit or research
- Experience of Training student dietitians
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of evidence based practice in a range of dietetic conditions seen within acute practice
- Evidence of interest in renal dietetics
- Able to implement the BDA Nutritional Care Process
- Competent written communication skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work alone and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Understanding of confidentiality as it relates to dietetic practice
- A working knowledge of Microsoft and NHS computer systems
- An understanding of audit and research in relation to dietetic practice
- Evidence of ability to use initiative but recognise limits
- Knowledge of the BDA and HCPC standards that govern dietetics
Desirable
- Sound clinical knowledge relating to oral and enteral nutrition support
- Basic knowledge relating to parenteral nutrition support
- Evidence of excellent time management skills, flexibility, adaptability to prioritise work, use initiative to complete projects and meet deadlines
- Understanding of clinical governance as it relates to dietetic practice
- Able to travel to community settings for outreach work.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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).
