Job summary
Are you a self-motivated and resourceful individual eager to work with a busy community dietetic team and further your experience and knowledge of nutrition and dietetics? This may be your exciting opportunity become a Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, joining our small and friendly team working within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH). You will have your own clinical caseload of non-complex patients with indirect supervision from a qualified dietitian. You will be supporting a team of 3 Community Dietitians, completing weight check, organising and assessing supplement trials and monitoring the patients, evaluating the effectiveness of the care plans created by the Dietitian. You will assist the team, patients and other HCP's with a wide variety of tasks for Home Enteral Tube Feed (HETF) patients, ensuring a high standard of health care. You will be supported with regular clinical supervision and work within set clinical parameters. This is a chance to make a real difference to the nutrition and wellbeing of the patients and carers, many of whom have life limiting conditions.
This is a part-time post of 30 hours.
Main duties of the job
The work will be varied and could include clinics, community hospital, care homes and domiciliary visits within this predominately rural geographic area. There will be a mixture of face to face contacts and telephone clinics with the potential of video clinics in the future.
You will be confident in liasing with members of the public, patients, GPs, nursing, clinical staff and other HCP's as well as working closely with the company providing the Home Feed Service. This will include being able to converse regularly with patients regarding the service and equipment required for their needs. Having confidence to direct patients for further advice to the most appropriate health care professional or where appropriate, provide basic advice over the phone as the first point of call. This will include aspects of clinical care when training and competencies achieved.
There will be opportunities to share your knowledge and skills via teaching sessions to other professionals mainly promoting the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. You will become involved with service development, projects and events in the community. You would be required to participate in audit and continuous learning to improve patient outcomes.
About us
ECCH is well established health care provider and has been successfully delivering NHS care within the community since 2011. We provide a range of NHS, community health and social care services predominantly across the easterly region of the Norfolk/Suffolk borders.
We are aligned to NHS terms and conditions, and offer many employee benefits, to find out more about us visit our website - www.ecch.org. We are a social enterprise and staff owned organisation which means staff can opt to be shareholders and have a real say in how ECCH is run and evolves to deliver healthcare for the future.
At the heart of our ambition, we work in partnership with and for the community to become the provider and employer of choice for community healthcare.
The Community Dietetic team has been a valued member of East Coast Community Healthcare for the last 6 years, winning clinical team of the year at ECCH annual staff awards 2024. We are a small team but work closely with the wider MDT and neighbouring Dietetic services. We are flexible, approachable and open to new ideas. ECCH has been encouraging remote working and the dietetic team is well resourced and supported to work independently out of the office. We are cost conscious, flexible and are paper light.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible as this job may close earlier than the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
-
To ensure high standards of clinical care for the
patients under your management and support others to do likewise.
-
To promote a food first approach to nutrition
support and advice on the appropriate use of oral nutritional supplements in
accordance with agreed guidance.
-
To act as a point of contact and source of expertise
for internal and external enquiries within your scope of expertise/limitations.
-
Under the indirect supervision of a registered
Dietitian, to provide dietetic care to patients in a range of venues including:
community clinics; learning disability homes; nursing/residential homes;
community hospital ward and domiciliary visits in accordance with agreed
parameters and scope of practice. Contacts may be face to face, via the
telephone or video consultation.
-
To promote the use of the Malnutrition Universal
Screening Tool, adapting this if applicable for nursing and residential homes.
-
To communicate effectively with patients and carers to
maximise their potential and to ensure understanding of the condition and the
care plan. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will
be used with a variety of patients. Some
of which may have difficulties understanding or communicating.
-
Communicate effectively with all members of the
integrated community teams, GPs, Consultants and other professions to ensure a
collaborative approach to the management of patients conditions.
-
To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the
ability to work with the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to
consent to treatment.
-
Participate in the clinical cover for community
colleagues on annual, sick or study leave when required within your scope of
practice.
Professional
-
To maintain own clinical professional development by
keeping abreast of evidence based practice and developments and with guidance
incorporate them as necessary into your work. To be an active member of the
in-service training programme.
-
To adhere to the British Dietetic Association code of
ethics and professional conduct and all other relevant policies and procedures.
-
Maintain accurate and up to date documentation in line
with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and
treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of SystmOne tasks,
reports and letters, in accordance with guidance.
-
To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with
the MDT colleagues across the health economy to ensure delivery of a
co-ordinated integrated service.
-
To be responsible for the maintenance of specialist
equipment within the Dietetic Team, ensuring that the scales are regularly
serviced and maintained appropriately.
-
Identify objectives for personal development and
participate in the staff appraisals scheme and personal development programme.
Organisational:
-
Responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed
with the team lead/registered Dietitian.
-
Plan and organise this effectively and efficiently
with regards to patient management and use of time.
-
Decide priorities for own work area, balancing other
patient related and professional demands, while ensuring that these remain in
accordance with the priorities of the service as a whole.
-
To be actively involved in the collection of
appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
-
To comply with the organisational and departmental
policy and procedures and be involved in the reviewing and updating as
appropriate.
-
To lead by action and inspire others as a role model,
demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by the
organisations aims and objectives. Promoting the organisation, the role of the
Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, Dietitians and the importance of
nutritional care.
-
Any other duties which might be considered appropriate
by the clinical and professional lead.
- All roles
within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our
Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to
patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff
should consider these as an essential part of their job role.
- Our Values outline the core behaviours that we
can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.
- Underpinning our Values are our Signature
Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a
strong culture. Our four Signature
Behaviours are: Compassion
- We Listen, We Learn,
We Lead| Action - My
Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect
Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
-
To ensure high standards of clinical care for the
patients under your management and support others to do likewise.
-
To promote a food first approach to nutrition
support and advice on the appropriate use of oral nutritional supplements in
accordance with agreed guidance.
-
To act as a point of contact and source of expertise
for internal and external enquiries within your scope of expertise/limitations.
-
Under the indirect supervision of a registered
Dietitian, to provide dietetic care to patients in a range of venues including:
community clinics; learning disability homes; nursing/residential homes;
community hospital ward and domiciliary visits in accordance with agreed
parameters and scope of practice. Contacts may be face to face, via the
telephone or video consultation.
-
To promote the use of the Malnutrition Universal
Screening Tool, adapting this if applicable for nursing and residential homes.
-
To communicate effectively with patients and carers to
maximise their potential and to ensure understanding of the condition and the
care plan. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will
be used with a variety of patients. Some
of which may have difficulties understanding or communicating.
-
Communicate effectively with all members of the
integrated community teams, GPs, Consultants and other professions to ensure a
collaborative approach to the management of patients conditions.
-
To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the
ability to work with the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to
consent to treatment.
-
Participate in the clinical cover for community
colleagues on annual, sick or study leave when required within your scope of
practice.
Professional
-
To maintain own clinical professional development by
keeping abreast of evidence based practice and developments and with guidance
incorporate them as necessary into your work. To be an active member of the
in-service training programme.
-
To adhere to the British Dietetic Association code of
ethics and professional conduct and all other relevant policies and procedures.
-
Maintain accurate and up to date documentation in line
with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and
treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of SystmOne tasks,
reports and letters, in accordance with guidance.
-
To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with
the MDT colleagues across the health economy to ensure delivery of a
co-ordinated integrated service.
-
To be responsible for the maintenance of specialist
equipment within the Dietetic Team, ensuring that the scales are regularly
serviced and maintained appropriately.
-
Identify objectives for personal development and
participate in the staff appraisals scheme and personal development programme.
Organisational:
-
Responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed
with the team lead/registered Dietitian.
-
Plan and organise this effectively and efficiently
with regards to patient management and use of time.
-
Decide priorities for own work area, balancing other
patient related and professional demands, while ensuring that these remain in
accordance with the priorities of the service as a whole.
-
To be actively involved in the collection of
appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
-
To comply with the organisational and departmental
policy and procedures and be involved in the reviewing and updating as
appropriate.
-
To lead by action and inspire others as a role model,
demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by the
organisations aims and objectives. Promoting the organisation, the role of the
Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, Dietitians and the importance of
nutritional care.
-
Any other duties which might be considered appropriate
by the clinical and professional lead.
- All roles
within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our
Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to
patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff
should consider these as an essential part of their job role.
- Our Values outline the core behaviours that we
can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.
- Underpinning our Values are our Signature
Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a
strong culture. Our four Signature
Behaviours are: Compassion
- We Listen, We Learn,
We Lead| Action - My
Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect
Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Training to diploma or equivalent NVQ 3 plus additional relevant training or equivalent experience
Desirable
- British Dietetic Association Module for Dietetic Support Workers / Dietetic Assistants
- Evidence for relevant competencies in clinical practice
- Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in a health care environment
- Previous experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or informal (home/social related) capacity
Desirable
- Previous experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
- Previous experience of working within a Dietetic Team
- Previous experience of training/supervising others
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively within a team
- Able to work independently
- Committed to personal and team development
- Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Able to maintain motivation, drive and enthusiasm
- Willingness and ability to work across different clinical settings
- The ability to travel across the community
- Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
- (Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together)
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Forward thinking
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Self-directed learning
- Ability to work autonomously
- Presentations skills
- Critical appraisal
Desirable
- Ability to demonstrate clinical skills and knowledge within a Dietetic Assistants scope of practice
- Audit
- Research
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Training to diploma or equivalent NVQ 3 plus additional relevant training or equivalent experience
Desirable
- British Dietetic Association Module for Dietetic Support Workers / Dietetic Assistants
- Evidence for relevant competencies in clinical practice
- Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in a health care environment
- Previous experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or informal (home/social related) capacity
Desirable
- Previous experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
- Previous experience of working within a Dietetic Team
- Previous experience of training/supervising others
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively within a team
- Able to work independently
- Committed to personal and team development
- Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Able to maintain motivation, drive and enthusiasm
- Willingness and ability to work across different clinical settings
- The ability to travel across the community
- Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
- (Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together)
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Forward thinking
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Self-directed learning
- Ability to work autonomously
- Presentations skills
- Critical appraisal
Desirable
- Ability to demonstrate clinical skills and knowledge within a Dietetic Assistants scope of practice
- Audit
- Research
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.
