Job responsibilities
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Essential
Level 3 qualification in relevant
health / social care related subject.
GCSE English and Maths grade C
minimum or Functional Skills equivalent.
Communication skills - written,
verbal and numeracy
Interpersonal skills
Ability to work as part of a team
(Dietetics and MDT)
Ability to work independently/manage
workload under guidance of Dietitian
Ability to respond and act upon
feedback from others
Problem solving
Time management
Organisational skills
Show initiative
Adaptable
Demonstrate continued professional
and personal development
Maintain confidentiality.
Experience of working in a
Healthcare, education or Social Care setting as a carer or similar.
Demonstrate an awareness of
Equality and Diversity
Demonstrate understanding of
Nutrition and Dietetics
Desirable
Previous experience in a Healthcare
setting
Advanced knowledge of Information
Technology systems
Completion of the CARE
certificate. Otherwise will be
mandatory training requirement during the first 3 months of employment.
THE
LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centered
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values.
Additionally
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
Comply with Trust and departmental
policies and procedures
Maintain strict confidentiality in
accordance with Trust policies
Is compassionate and ethical in
their involvement with the provision of dietetic care
Demonstrate a commitment to
personal development
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
The
post holder will be expected to:
Be self-motivated, confident and
enthusiastic with a professional attitude
Be a good team player, with the
ability to work flexibly in a diverse and
demanding environment to meet the evolving needs of the department
Communicate sensitively and
effectively with patients, families and carers,
colleagues
and all other healthcare professionals
Be professional in appearance and
conduct
Demonstrate a willingness to
undergo all training requirements necessary for the post
Demonstrate good office practice in
accordance with departmental policies and procedures
Proactively participate in
departmental development projects, meetings, clinical updates and audits
Have a mature, pleasant, helpful
and friendly nature
Demonstrate the ability to
communicate with empathy and understanding
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Understanding of Nutrition &
Dietetics
Awareness of Health & Safety
Diversity Awareness
Understanding of Safeguarding
requirements
Understanding of legislation,
guidelines and protocols that affect
the clinical area
Awareness of the functional effects
of the patient group in the clinical area caused by illness and / or
disability
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Assist
in the nutritional assessment and monitoring of dietetic patients by visiting
specific wards and telephoning patients. This may involve the following:
Measure and/or record patients
weight and/or their height in the dietetic record charts
Record nutritional intake from food
record charts and dietary supplement usage in liaison with patients, carers
or ward staff
Retrieve and record biochemical
results from either the medical notes or the computer system
Liaise with designated in-patients
on a therapeutic diet to ascertain food preferences and advise on suitable
coded choices
Assess individual patients
compliance and consumption of prescribed dietary supplements/enteral feeds
Liaise with pharmacy/wards to
ensure that special feeds/supplements reach the designated patients
Provide information and advice to
patients and carers on the use of enteral feeding equipment prior to
discharge from hospital
Liaise with home enteral feeding
companies and complete relevant paperwork to register new patients on to
their system
Amend existing patients deliveries
under dietetic guidance
Liaise with other health care
professionals in areas outside Leeds if patients require registering with
home enteral feeding companies
Assist with the telephone liaison
with Home Enteral Feeding Company Nurses regarding training and visits for
home enteral feed patients
Ensure that appropriate supply of
supplements have been supplied to
patients prior to their discharge
Fax patients letters/prescription
requests to GP surgeries, district nurses etc and telephone to confirm
receipt
Liaise with other health care
professionals such as district nurses or homecare nurses on behalf of the
dietitians
Work within an agreed framework for
dealing with routine and urgent problems/enquiries encountered by home
enteral feed patients (for example chasing deliveries, organising extra
ancillary items etc)
Using computerised dietary analysis
software e.g. Microdiet and dietitian acquired information, report on the
adequacy of the nutritional intake of identified patients
Provide support and cover for
dietetic administration duties and dietetic out-patient clinic management as
required
Ensure that all the product
information is accurate and up-to-date within the department
Advise patients and carers on up to
date nutritional product information
Support the dietitians with student
and/or ward training
Assist with on-going departmental
audits
Participate in the appraisal
process as an appraisee and demonstrate a commitment to continuous personal
development
Undertake any other duties
appropriate to the grade as requested/ agreed with the line manager
Health
and Safety/Risk Management
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working
procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting
system.
Infection
Control
The
post holder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
Equality
and Diversity
The
post holder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
Patient
and Public Involvement
The
Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and
planning services. All staff have a
responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to
service improvements based on patient feedback.
Training
and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development
The
post holder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager
for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
post holder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
Respect
for Patient Confidentiality
The
post holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not
divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the
role.
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder must be able to
contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary
team
The post holder must be able to
understand the need for effective communication using skills which overcome
barriers to understanding throughout the care of the patient
The post holder must be able to
work where appropriate in partnership with other professionals
The post holder must demonstrate
effective and appropriate skills in communicating information, advice,
instruction to colleagues, patients and their relatives and carers
The post holder will have regular
contact with the following and must be able to communicate effectively;
Service
Manager
Line
Manager
Dietitians
Medical
staff
Nursing
staff
Allied
Health Professionals and Assistants/Support Workers
Other
professional colleagues
Patients
and Carers
Catering
Workers
Dietetic
students
Internal
departments
External
agencies
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
There may be a requirement for the
post holder to do anthropometrics measurements on the patient which may mean
standing for significant periods
There may be the requirement for
the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals
NHS Trust in order to best meet the needs of the service. The post holder may
be based on more than one site to carry out their duties.
ii)
MENTAL EFFORT:
Concentration required for patient
focussed activities and when inputting in to the dietary analysis software
programme.
Liaise with designated in-patients
on a therapeutic diet to ascertain food preferences and advise on suitable
coded choices.
Assess individual patients
compliance and consumption of prescribed dietary supplements/enteral feeds.
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
This job involves occasional
exposure to verbal and physical aggression
This job involves exposure to
distressing circumstances such as terminal illness
