Band 7 Highly Specialist Learning Disabilities Dietitian - Bristol

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

To be the clinical expert in your specialist field within this setting. To be responsible for the development and provision & evaluation of a comprehensive and effective, evidence based dieteticservice in the Mental Health setting.

To have a working knowledge of national & best practice guidelines.

To work as an autonomous practitioner. This includes working in the hospital setting and working closely with patients, carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To undertake detailed dietetic assessments (some highly complex in specialty area) to include: calculation of nutritional requirements, formulation of nutritional goals based on the interpretation ofbiochemical, anthropometric, physiological and psychosocial parameters. To monitor and change treatment plans based on new evidence.

To provide highly complex nutritional counselling and behavioural therapies to patients where there are significant barriers to change.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence based outcomes and to be able to deliver safe clinical outcomes where there is conflicting information or expert opinion differs.

To make recommendations to the medical and pharmacy teams on the prescription of nutritional supplements and products for patients requiring nutritional support and therapeutic diets. To workwith prescribing advisors as required.

Required to accurately use anthropometrical equipment on a regular basis for dietetic assessment and research.

To organise, implement and evaluate group education sessions for different client groups e.g. clients, healthcare professionals.

To actively participate in general health promotion, in line with government policies and local priorities, liaising closely with the public health departments.

To actively participate in health promotion activities as required for the specialist area and oversee the provision a health promotion/ public health activities/ projects appropriate to the needs of thelocal community and in support of the Trust's health improvement priorities.

To be responsible for the operational departmental standards and policies within your specialist area.

To undertake audit work within this setting to improve clinical care.

To maintain accurate client records and activity statistics in accordance with departmental & Trust policies and procedures.

To ensure that targets & outcomes are set and met in line with trust and departmental objectives and contractual requirements.

To carry out good office practice in accordance with the departments policies and procedures.

To work as a team member in Nutrition and Dietetics team, which may involve providing leave cover and any other duties commensurate with the post, as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.

COMMUNICATION

With Patients

To communicate highly complex medical and nutritional information to patients, carers and healthcare professionals in a clear and easy to understand manner.

To effectively engage with patients to help them understand, accept and overcome difficult diagnoses and complex dietary changes.

To communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and carers particularly where there aresignificant barriers to understanding such as mental illness, hearing/ sight impairment, cognitive impairment, behavioural problems, dementia etc.

To negotiate patient care plans with patients and carers, overcoming barriers to change & using persuasion and motivational interviewing techniques to achieve client compliance. Post-graduate training in Behavior Change or similar, is required.

With Colleagues

To effectively communicate complex nutritional information to healthcare professionals.

To effectively liaise with multidisciplinary teams regarding client care and to actively participate in multi-agency work and liaise with statutory and voluntary agencies as appropriate. To work collaboratively with ward teams to maintain existing assessment standards and systems, meetingpatients needs with collaboration with Hotel Services.

To produce timely and accurate client related correspondence in line with local and national guidelines.

To communicate effectively in highly complex situations where sensitive information is to be discussed e.g. dealing with complaints to avoid escalation, client medical conditions.

To use negotiation & persuasion skills to manage conflict across a range of situations.

To present clinical and service data in a formal setting to a large group of people e.g. an invited speaker on an external accredited course.

To support the Head of Nutrition & Dietetic Services when representing the department at internal and external forums. This involves regularly presenting service information, formulating & delivering plans to various size groups of professionals, peers, senior managers and client groups.

To have a high level of keyboard skills and working knowledge of computer packages (e.g. excel, windows, power point & nutrition analysis software) for the production of patient and service reports and information on a daily basis.

MANAGEMENT

To effectively and efficiently prioritise and time manage a workload. To ensure safe practice through caseload management taking into account risk management.

To work as an autonomous practitioner and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

To set up, chair and/ or attend meetings as required by the post, including support existing programmes of development/change.

To effectively supervise junior staff and students as required.

To support staff in client care in your related specialty.

To participate fully in the appraisal process and develop a strategy for continuing professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with HCPC legislation.

To contribute to operational and strategic planning for the dietetic service, with an annual service review.

To document and report critical incidents and near misses as outlined in the Trust policy.

To undertake any other duty, appropriate to the post, as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.

To work closely with the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, especially concerning clinical governance, staffing, cover and service provision.

Education and Qualification

Essential

• Recognised degree level qualification in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered Dietitian
• Masters / Post Graduate diploma level qualification in relevant clinical field or equivalent knowledge developed through evidenced experience

Desirable

• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Member of Specialist Interest Group Relevant to the post i.e. Mental Health Specialist Group or similar

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Significant post registration experience in a wide range of clinical nutrition areas
• Evidence of working in specialist field of learning disability, autism and mental health
• Experience of using electronic patient records and IT systems. To be fully IT literate, including accurate keyboard, word processing and data inputting skills
• Experience of producing and reviewing patient information leaflets / resources
• Excellent knowledge of clinical guidelines and governance
• Experience of delivering education sessions to other dietitians, patients or healthcare professionals, to be able to engage others to learn
• Experience of supervising, facilitating and mentoring student dietitians
• Experience of clinical audit / research
• Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
• Experience of working closely within the MDT and have the necessary team-working skills to do this effectively
• Experience of facilitating patient centred MDT meetings and having holistic understanding of the clinical, social and ethical considerations of complex chronic conditions

Desirable

• Published clinical audit / research
• Evidence of regional / national policy and practice development

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills - articulate in all forms
• Experience of supervising more junior dietitians, assistants and or students
• Able to adapt in the role to changing priorities
• Ability to work well within a team and on your own
• Good organizational skills and ability to work to deadlines
• Experience of communicating regularly and effectively with teams and individuals at al levels
• Understands the importance of listening and listens effectively
• Experience of communication complex information
• Experience of report writing and presenting
• Motivation and enthusiasm to use opportunity for personal development and service development
• Integrity and honest; to ensure practice is always inline with the HCPC code of conduct

Other Requirements

Essential

• Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour that may be challenging at times
• Demonstrates an understanding of social and cultural issues and their relevance to mental health care
• Builds relationships with staff and service users based on compassion, dignity and respect
• Actively seeks feedback and evaluation

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).