Catering Dietician

Job description

Job responsibilities

To maintain a detailed knowledge of national and local standards (e.g. National Service Frameworks, NICE guidelines) and the current evidence base in relation to nutrition and

To assess, monitor, and review patients nutritional care plans as appropriate to the patient

To assess and provide expert knowledge and advice to patients on the general medical wards plus more specialist areas as needed with support.

To liaise with relatives, carers and ward staffs to provide expert knowledge and handover nutritional and catering care plans.

To provide highly complex nutrition counselling and use of reassurance and motivational skills to overcome barriers to change particularly where there is non-compliance

To provide nutrition and dietetic expertise to the catering teams, including catering manager, retail managers and supervisors.

To assess, monitor, and review patient's nutritional care plans as appropriate to the patient group

To work in a coordinated multidisciplinary manner, communicating effectively with other team members and the wider clinical network involved with these patient groups to promote timely interventions.

To interpret received information concerning medical and social history to ensure advice is given in a person centered and culturally specific way.

To provide learning opportunities and develop resources, including pathways of care, for doctors and other health care professionals to facilitate the nutritional management of patients.

To ensure the catering team provides a service that meets national standards such as the BDA Nutrition and Hydration Digest and encompasses all reasonable Therapeutic, Cultural, Religious and Lifestyle requirements of the patient population

To keep up to date with all nutrition related guidelines, such as Care Quality Commission, British Dietetic Association, Hospital Catering Association, Of Health.

To lead on seasonal menu reviews (spring/summer and autumn/winter), for NHS patients, private patients and onsite nursery, in collaboration with the Trust staff.

Organise food tastings with the necessary stakeholders to evaluate meal quality and suitability

Supporting the team with IDDSI compliance.

To chair regular catering meetings, drafting agendas and minutes.

Ensure menus are correctly coded and allergen information is available.

To work in conjunction with clinical teams (SALT, Dietetics, Nursing) to improve patients nutritional outcomes.

To deliver relevant nutrition and allergen training to ward hosts/ess, Back of House teams, Chefs, Supervisors and Managers.

Leading on health promotion days, particularly Nutrition and Hydration Week, Malnutrition Awareness Weeks , with both patient and retail catering.

To provide represent the catering team to provide dietetic advice in conjunction to the clinical dietetics team when necessary.

Support teams with the use of patient meal ordering platforms (Synbiotix) and goods (Saffron).

Adding new items onto Synbiotix, creating new menus, linking nutrition and allergen information to products so it shows on the tablet, pictorial menu, checking purchase orders , pulling reports g. popularity.

Ensure nutritional and allergen information is imported from suppliers, checking that the nutritional information is linked to products, approving items on the catalogue (matching), and raising queries when prices increase .

Liaising with suppliers for new product development.

Assisting the retail team to ensure mandatory nutrition specific legislation is fulfilled.

To liaise with pharmacy staff to ensure the correct provision of nutritional supplements and enteral feeding.

To liaise with clinical dietitians concerning the dietary requirements of the patients.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills for developing complex working relationships, expressing opinions constructively, seeking consensus and maintaining networks.
• Ability to chair and organise meetings or working groups

Desirable

• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Membership of relevant specialist interest group/s

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant degree or post graduate diploma in Dietetics
• HCPC Registered

Desirable

• Knowledge of NICE guidelines and their relevance to dietetic practice
• Demonstrable post qualification catering experience

Experience

Essential

• Some previous experience with catering
• Experience in teaching/training other health professionals

Desirable

• Knowledge of NICE guidelines and their relevance to dietetic practice
• Familiarity with catering standards and data collection

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Epsom and St.Helier Hospital

wrythe Lane

Carshalton

SM5 1AA

Employer's website

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)