Job summary
The post holder will work for Whittington Health's well established Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service and autonomously manage a diverse caseload within a variety of settings and provide nutritional assessment, dietetic treatment and advice.
The post holder will be required to travel and work across Whittington Health community sites (clinics, nursing homes, patient's homes, virtual settings and groups) within the Islington and Haringey borough. The service sees predominantly adult patients, however the Haringey sites will also see a smaller caseload of non-complex paediatric patients (>18 months old).
The post holder will act as an effective member of our friendly dietetic team, working flexibly and supporting colleagues.
Main duties of the job
- Autonomously manage a varied and complex caseload of patients requiring nutrition support
- To provide patient centered approach for patient who require oral nutrition support, either in their own homes, dietetic clinics or within residential care homes
- To provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to patients, on a one-to-one basis within a clinic setting providing specialist dietary advice in the management of long term conditions (including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, IBS, gastrointestinal disorders and malnutrition)
- With adequate support and training; provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to paediatric patients (including fussy eaters, obesity, faltering growth, single food allergy, non complex patients 18 months or older).
- Using evidence based approach; Nutritional assessment of patients, including the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry and clinical condition resulting in the formulation of a dietetic treatment plan
- Make recommendations (with support) to Doctors on the prescription of oral nutrition support products for patients, dependent on their condition
- To review routine home Enteral feeding (HEF) patients as needed.
- To be part of setting up and delivering health promotion and patient education groups.
- To participate in student training
- To line manage the Band 4 dietetic assistant or any other junior staff members as needed.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Autonomously manage a varied and complex caseload of patients requiring nutrition support
- To provide patient centred approach for patient who require oral nutrition support, either in their own homes, dietetic clinics or within residential care homes
- To provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to patients, on a one-to-one basis within a clinic setting providing specialist dietary advice in the management of long term conditions (including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, IBS, gastrointestinal disorders and malnutrition)
- With adequate support and training; provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to paediatric patients (including fussy eaters, obesity, faltering growth, single food allergy, non complex patients 18 months or older).
- Using evidence based approach; Nutritional assessment of patients, including the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry and clinical condition resulting in the formulation of a dietetic treatment plan
- To review routine home Enteral feeding (HEF) patients as needed.
- To educate patients and their carers on complex dietary interventions for enteral and/or oral feeding as required, ensuring compliance with dietary treatment.
- To actively participate in the promotion of good health through promoting healthy eating, in line with government policies and local priorities, liaising closely with the public health departments;
- To be part of setting up and delivering health promotion and patient education groups.
- To be competent in the use of information technology including the formulation of databases for research and audit purposes as well as the use of nutritional packages for assessment of patients nutritional requirements and dietary adequacy as directed by service lead.
- Be involved with student training
- To organise, implement and evaluate group education sessions for different client groups.
- To actively participate in supervision programmes
- Line management of junior staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Autonomously manage a varied and complex caseload of patients requiring nutrition support
- To provide patient centred approach for patient who require oral nutrition support, either in their own homes, dietetic clinics or within residential care homes
- To provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to patients, on a one-to-one basis within a clinic setting providing specialist dietary advice in the management of long term conditions (including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, IBS, gastrointestinal disorders and malnutrition)
- With adequate support and training; provide clinical nutrition and dietetic advice to paediatric patients (including fussy eaters, obesity, faltering growth, single food allergy, non complex patients 18 months or older).
- Using evidence based approach; Nutritional assessment of patients, including the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry and clinical condition resulting in the formulation of a dietetic treatment plan
- To review routine home Enteral feeding (HEF) patients as needed.
- To educate patients and their carers on complex dietary interventions for enteral and/or oral feeding as required, ensuring compliance with dietary treatment.
- To actively participate in the promotion of good health through promoting healthy eating, in line with government policies and local priorities, liaising closely with the public health departments;
- To be part of setting up and delivering health promotion and patient education groups.
- To be competent in the use of information technology including the formulation of databases for research and audit purposes as well as the use of nutritional packages for assessment of patients nutritional requirements and dietary adequacy as directed by service lead.
- Be involved with student training
- To organise, implement and evaluate group education sessions for different client groups.
- To actively participate in supervision programmes
- Line management of junior staff
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- HCPC Registration as a Dietitian
Desirable
- Registered member of the British Dietetic Association
- Member of a specialist interest group
- Post- graduate training /short courses or equivalent relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Broad range dietetic experience gained during student placement and/ or at band 5
- Understanding of nutritional assessment and support
- Interpreting dietary prescriptions for patients both practically and sensitively and deal with health professionals in an effective manner
- Experience of managing a patient caseload.
- Experience of inpatient and outpatient settings
- Experience in delivering group education for clients/ patients
Desirable
- Previous placement or basic grade experience of working in mental health speciality.
- Experience in clinical supervision of junior members of staff and students
- Experience of student training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Multi-disciplinary and inter- agency working
- An understanding of behaviour change techniques and a willingness to further develop skills in this area.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Self- motivated and able to prioritise own workload
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to apply the issues related to cultural diversity practically
- Participation in continuing professional development to ensure evidence based practice
- Computer literacy- familiarity with dietary analysis programs, word processing, database management
Desirable
- Experience with basic/non-complex paediatric dietetics as part of training or previous role
Effort and Environment
Essential
- Using anthropometric equipment, such as weighing scales and standiometer.
- To deal sensitively with clients that may be suffering from conditions that may lead to anxiety, fear or aggressive behaviour
- To work in an environment where work patterns may be disrupted by frequent demands from clinical staff, assistants and administrative staff
Other requirements
Desirable
- Car owner/driver
- Current valid driving license
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- HCPC Registration as a Dietitian
Desirable
- Registered member of the British Dietetic Association
- Member of a specialist interest group
- Post- graduate training /short courses or equivalent relevant experience
Experience
Essential
- Broad range dietetic experience gained during student placement and/ or at band 5
- Understanding of nutritional assessment and support
- Interpreting dietary prescriptions for patients both practically and sensitively and deal with health professionals in an effective manner
- Experience of managing a patient caseload.
- Experience of inpatient and outpatient settings
- Experience in delivering group education for clients/ patients
Desirable
- Previous placement or basic grade experience of working in mental health speciality.
- Experience in clinical supervision of junior members of staff and students
- Experience of student training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Multi-disciplinary and inter- agency working
- An understanding of behaviour change techniques and a willingness to further develop skills in this area.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Self- motivated and able to prioritise own workload
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Ability to apply the issues related to cultural diversity practically
- Participation in continuing professional development to ensure evidence based practice
- Computer literacy- familiarity with dietary analysis programs, word processing, database management
Desirable
- Experience with basic/non-complex paediatric dietetics as part of training or previous role
Effort and Environment
Essential
- Using anthropometric equipment, such as weighing scales and standiometer.
- To deal sensitively with clients that may be suffering from conditions that may lead to anxiety, fear or aggressive behaviour
- To work in an environment where work patterns may be disrupted by frequent demands from clinical staff, assistants and administrative staff
Other requirements
Desirable
- Car owner/driver
- Current valid driving license
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
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).
