PCN Dietician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

The following are the core responsibilities of the Dietitian. The Dietitian will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

· To provide specialist nutrition and diet advice to patients, their carers, and healthcare professionals through treatment, education plans, and prescriptions;

· To educate patients with diet-related disorders on how they can improve their health and prevent disease by adopting healthier eating and drinking habits;

· To provide dietary support to patients of all ages (from early-life to end-of-life care) in a variety of settings including nurseries, patient homes and care homes;

· To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to gain patient’s cooperation and understanding in following recommended dietary treatments;

· To 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;

· To work with clinicians, multi-disciplinary team colleagues and external agencies to ensure the smooth transition of patients discharged from hospital back into primary care, so that they can continue their diet plan;

· To make recommendations to PCN staff regarding changes to medications for the nutritional management of patients, based on interpretation of biochemical, physiological, and dietary requirements;

· To implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and training.

· To plan and deliver individualised nutritional care plans based on comprehensive assessment of needs and a knowledge of evidence-based practice, modifying the care plan as required.

· To negotiate and agree dietary or nutritional goals with individual patients and/or their carers using motivational interviewing, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy tools as applicable. This will include identifying individual barriers to change and helping clients to manage them.

· To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.

· To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with the code of conduct and PCN IG policies.

· To Provide dietary support to patients of all ages (from early-life to end-of-life care) in a variety of settings including patient homes, Nursing homes and residential care homes

· Work with care home staff to improve patient’s health and safety of medicines ordering and administration if required

· Work to encourage good management of common/minor/self-limiting ailments, including promotion of self-care and homely remedies

· Analyse, interpret and present patient’s health data to highlight issues and risks to support decision making

· Advocate and implement local, regional and national formulary recommendations, including public health campaigns

· Liaise with all members of the local PCN including community pharmacies and community nursing team, secondary care providers and regional CCG teams on prescribing-related matters

· Aim for good collaborative working practices and develop relationships with other professionals across PCNs and the wider health and social care system

· Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the role and responsibilities.

· Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.

· Duties will vary according to the demands on the PCN as agreed with the PCN Clinical Director

· Embrace the spectrum of clinical governance

· To contribute to public health campaigns through advice or direct care

· To support the PCN Clinical Directors in achieving the DES specifications

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the dietician may be requested to:

a. To undertake a range of administrative tasks such as ensuring stock levels.

b. To ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives. Ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives.

c. To be responsible for planning and organising own caseload and other work priorities to meet service and patient priorities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or pre-reg MSc in Dietetics under a training programme approved by the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
• HCPC Registered
• BDA Post Registration training
• Member of British Dietetic Association
• Minimum 12 18 months working in Nutrition and Dietetics

Desirable

• Experience of developing, implementing and evaluating projects and audits
• Understanding of current changes within NHS, particularly those affecting Primary Care
• Experience of chronic disease management ie diabetes

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).

Employer details

Employer name

The Manor Practice

Address

454 Lea Bridge Road

London

E10 7DY

Employer's website

https://www.themanorpracticeleyton.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)