Community Dietetic Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under the management of the dietetic team and support other 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 direct supervision of a registered Dietitian, to contribute to the 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 agreed 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 reports and letters, in accordance with guidance.

To communicate effectively and work collaborative with the MDT colleagues across the health economy to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated integrated service.

To contribute to 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/Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner.

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 and ensure that these remain in accordance with those 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 activity as a role model, demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by the organisation aims and objectives. Promoting the organisation, the role of the Community Dietetic Assistant, 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 ABCD Commitments and Signature Behaviours in the care they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these behaviours, which are detailed in the pages below, an essential part of their job role.

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

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

Qualifications

Essential

• Good level of education: 4 GCSEs (C grade or above, or equivalent) must include English and Mathematics
• Any health or social related qualification / training to diploma or equivalent NVQ3

Desirable

• Evidence for relevant competencies in clinical practice
• Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)

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
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.
• 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)

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working in a health care environment
• Previous experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
• Previous experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a Dietetic Team
• Previous experience of training/supervising others

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.

Employer details

Employer name

East Coast Community Healthcare CIC

Address

Kirkley Mill Surgery

Kirkley Rise, Clifton Rd

Lowestoft

Suffolk

NR33 0HF

Employer's website

https://www.ecch.org/ (Opens in a new tab)