Job responsibilities
As a Primary Care Network Dietitian, the post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team across the practices of a Primary Care Network (PCN), with the PCNs GPs, other clinicians and staff, as well as clinicians from the community, acute, social and voluntary care sectors.
Primary Care Networks aim to bring care closer to patients in the community. They will work directly with patients to assess and treat conditions, manage long-term conditions as well as promote self-care. They will be part of a significant team of PCN Dietitians working under the supervision and support of a Dietitian Senior Lead.
We are looking for a self-motivated, committed dietitian to develop and provide a quality dietetic service to the primary care networks in Hillingdon.
A proactive and motivated person who will take key roles in the network leading on new initiatives and representing the service locally.
This is a new and innovative post with a real opportunity to make a difference and develop a genuinely primary care led dietitian service.
The main aim of this post is to work alongside primary care staff, including GPs to:
Enable patients to self-manage their conditions e.g. diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease.
Reduce demand on GP time and manage ACBS products effectively and efficiently e.g. by developing a seamless nutrition support service working with community and secondary care in supporting patients with coeliac disease.
Make prevention possible in primary care with dietetic interventions for lipid lowering and diabetes prevention and remission.
Expertise in the management of gastrointestinal conditions that can be managed in primary care such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Reduce the need for referrals to secondary care and the need for hospitalisation.
Undertake home visits for patients unable to attend dietetic outpatient services.
Utilise technology effectively conducting virtual clinics, groups sessions and face to face clinics.
Develop services within the primary care network that complement commissioned dietetic services.
You will need clinical experience across a wide variety of general conditions.
Primary Responsibilities
Provide specialist nutrition and diet advice to patients, their carers, and healthcare professionals through treatment, education plans, and prescriptions;
Educate patients with diet-related disorders on how they can improve their health and prevent disease by adopting healthier eating and drinking habits;
Provide dietary support to adult patients in a variety of settings including, patient homes and care homes;
Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to gain patients cooperation and understanding in following recommended dietary treatments;
Develop, implement and evaluate a seamless nutrition support service across the PCN, working with community and secondary care where appropriate, and aimed at continuously improving standards of patient care and wider multi-disciplinary team working;
Make recommendations to PCN staff regarding changes to medications for the nutritional management of patients, based on interpretation of biochemical, physiological, and dietary requirements;
Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.
To communicate effectively with secondary care providers ensuring that patients are signposted appropriately, building close links between the services.
To liaise with on-site staff as appropriate for ongoing care including reception staff, practice nurse, health care assistant and GPs.
To use GP computer systems such as EMIS to ensure that appropriate and accurate documentation of all episodes of patient assessment, including any adverse events.
To encourage and provide relevant feedback into the service from users and other relevant staff. This includes using case studies to improve service design and strategic care management.
To meet the HCPC Standards of proficiency and work within the Values and Behaviours.
Service development
Contribute to the development of a primary care-based dietitian service that can integrate with the community and secondary care dietitian services.
Education and Training
Provide education, training and awareness advice to the primary healthcare team on dietetics
Care Quality Commission
Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards.
Collaborative Working Relationships
Participates in the Primary Care Network Multidisciplinary Team.
Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG commissioners, to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit to GP practices.
Foster and maintain strong links with all services across the PCN and neighbouring networks.
Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships.
Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care.
Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary.
Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital dietitian teams.
Liaises and demonstrates effective communication with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to:
- Patients and their representatives
- GP, nurses and other practice staff
- Other healthcare professionals including community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physicians associates and paramedics
- Community nurses and other allied health professionals
- Hospital staff
- Community nurses and other allied health professionals
Professional Development:
Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the role and responsibilities.
Involved in one-to-one meetings with line manager monthly to discuss targets and outcomes achieved.
Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety
Work with your line manager to access regular clinical supervision, to enable you to deal effectively with difficult issues that may arise.
Review yearly progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
Participate in the delivery of formal education programmes.
Demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keep up to date with relevant clinical practice.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required
Has a BSc or pre-reg MSc in Dietetics under a training programme approved by the British Dietetic Association (BDA);
is a registered member of the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC);
Is able to operate at an advanced level of practice;
Able to demonstrate in practice portfolio experience in core general dietetics.
May hold or be working towards a prescribing qualification.
Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and can refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate.
Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
Involves patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines.
The practices use the clinical system software EMIS.
Education, Training and Development
Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service.
Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity.
Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice
Ensures appropriate clinical supervision is in place to support development
Leadership
Demonstrate understanding of the dietitian role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace.
Demonstrate understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision.
Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service.
Reviews yearly progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals.
Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.
Health and Safety/Risk Management
The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practices Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.
The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
Equality and Diversity
The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc
