Dietitian (XR05)

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To provide part of a professional Nutrition and Dietetic care service, which includes advice to in-patients, out-patients, all healthcare staff and participation in the training of student dietitians

To work within the Dietetic Service providing effective interventions to specific clinical areas.

To provide a patient focussed service using Dietetic core skills

The post holder will be professional accountable to the HCPC and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

The post holder will:

Manage own case load to a level agreed with supervisor / line manager

Be involved in the provision of education and training to healthcare staff, patients, care providers and students.

Liaise with the multidisciplinary care team to provide integrated dietetic care

Be an active member of the out of hours service

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent

HCPC Registration as a Dietitian

Willing to undergo any training as required to enable performance in the job

Awareness of current issues in Dietetic

Good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills

No previous dietetic experience required

Able to work within a team demonstrate initiative, time management and organisational skills

8. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Demonstrate good office practice in accordance with departmental and professional policies and procedures

Be an active team member of the Dietetics department at LTHT by participating in departmental development projects, attending departmental meetings and clinical updates

Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy and understanding

Demonstrate the ability to motivate patients to achieve behavioural change using the counselling skills.

Demonstrate the ability to analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate nutrition care plans

9. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Ability to perform nutritional assessment and plan relevant dietetic care programmes.

Knowledge of biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology

Understanding of the calculations required in dietetic assessment

Ability to correctly interpret nutritional impairment, biochemical parameters and fluid balance. This will involve nutritional diagnosis including interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet histories

Demonstrate knowledge in interpretation of clinical information to develop, monitor and complete nutritional care plans. This will include the prescription of dietary treatment and ACBS products

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of safe discharge planning.

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical and Professional

Be an autonomous practitioner, clinically, legally and professionally responsible for own caseload

Responsible for undertaking dietetic clinical duties in assigned clinical area under the supervision of the line manager, following departmental standards and procedures

Collect, analyse and record relevant patient information from clinical and patient sources, and consider these in the development of effective nutritional care plans

Communicate the nutrition and dietary treatment of patients to healthcare staff, other professionals and patient carers

Responsible for providing relevant dietary advice within an in-patient, out-patient setting in verbal and written forms in a format which is understood by patients and carers

Responsible for developing and maintaining an agreed level of expertise by updating own clinical knowledge and skills

Participate in the appraisal process as an appraise and develop a strategy for personal and continuous professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation

Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested / agreed with the line manager

Education and training

Devise and implement nutritional care plans for inpatients and outpatients. This will involve advising patients, relatives or carers, individually or in a group setting

Provide effective oral and written dietetic advice and information to patients and their carers, to enable achievement of dietary aims.

Assist with the development of resources used in the education and training of patients, health professionals and the public

Participate in informal talks on nutrition and dietetics to health care staff as required, this may include presentations at department meetings

Participate in supervising the training of dietetic and other students to graduate level as assigned after an appropriate induction period / supervisory training course

Train ward staff to use dietetic resources appropriately

Managerial

Disseminate Dietetic information to other members of the multidisciplinary team. This could include attendance and participation in ward rounds and case conferences

Responsible for ordering and cancelling additional snacks, nutritional supplements and feeds from catering and pharmacy according to patients clinical condition and requirements

Contribute to the planning, setting and monitoring of departmental objects and standards as assigned

Participate in surveys, research and audit as required / assigned

Participate in the collection of data for management information purposes as requested

Organisational

Provide appropriate diet sheets / patient education material for ward discharge and outpatient use

Responsible for liaison with medical and nursing staff to ensure integrated dietetic care.

Liaise with catering department and pharmacy to ensure the correct provision of meals for patients on therapeutic diets

Responsible for participating in the development of a dietetic resource manual as required

Participate in departmental and multidisciplinary meetings as required

Provide cover for annual leave, sickness, bank holidays etc as required

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registered Dietitian (please provide registration number) or pending HCPC registration following completion of recognised Dietetic apprenticeship, undergraduate or postgraduate course.

Desirable

• Member of the British Dietetic Association

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Demonstrate workload management and organisational skills.
• Experience of delivering education or training to others e.g. patients, healthcare professionals or peers.

Experience

Essential

• Completion or ongoing A, B and C student placements or equivalent
• Awareness of current issues in Dietetics relevant to working in an acute NHS hospital

Desirable

• Experience of training or working as a dietitian within the NHS

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Demonstrate teamworking skills
• Demonstrate care and compassion when working with others
• Ability to motivate patients.

Desirable

• Demonstrate innovative practice (using own initiative)

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)