Specialist Community Learning Disabilities Dietitian

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide dietetic input for adults diagnosed with a learning disability within Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

2. Manage a specialist caseload of overweight and obese clients who are at risk of metabolic complications, offering tailored dietetic advice in group and individual settings to patients, and their families/carers

3. To support healthy eating promotion and education to people with learning disabilities, and their carers, in collaboration with multidisciplinary team members and local services

4. Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary meetings for dietetic referrals and joint care planning for clients requiring dietetic intervention including those on psychotropic medication, those with behaviours that challenge or those at risk of constipation and complications.

5. Identify patients at risk of malnutrition, and provide appropriate advice on oral nutritional support, working closely with Speech and Language Therapists and specialist nurses.

6. Lead on the development and implementation of easy-read nutritional resources and diet sheets for adults with learning disabilities, and advise local teams tailor-made resources and reasonable adjustments

7. Ensure acute dietary assessments (interpretation of anthropometry, biochemistry, clinical condition and diet history), expert advice based on evidence-based practice, and implement patient-centred treatment plans (involving calculation of nutritional requirements)

8. To facilitate access to mainstream Dietetics services in conjunction with the wider MDT, who provide support for people with learning disabilities around enteral feeding,

9. To support pathways for clients who present with disordered eating in conjunction with the wider MDT linking with mainstream services

10. To support individuals who present with behaviours of concern relating to eating conjunction with the wider MDT, this may include behaviours around food avoidance.

11. Ensure effective communication with healthcare professionals, outside of the learning disability service. This will include GPs, Acute Services and other Dietetic Services.

12. Ensure that accurate and comprehensive electronic dietetic records of assessment, treatment, progress and discharge summaries are maintained in accordance with legal and trust standards

13. Provide support and advice to people with learning disabilities and carers on the dietetic and nutritional requirements of people with learning disabilities involving the interpretation and communication of complex and sensitive information in an accessible form

14. Provide training and advice to other members of the learning disability service in relation to the dietetic and nutritional requirements of people with learning disabilities, with a particular focus on weight management

15. Provide training and workshops for staff and carers at homes and day services regarding dietary modification and menu-planning to support healthy eating training, nutrition support for clients with dysphagia

16. To monitor effectiveness of dietary interventions through goal setting, audit, outcome measurements and evaluation.

17. Review, update and develop dietary information and education materials for patients and carers in order to ensure dietary advice is evidence-based, patient-centred, accessible and meets cultural needs

18. Manage the dietetic aspect of the service, prioritisng referrals.

19. To contribute to Continuing Health Care assessments related to a persons nutritional status and needs

20. To have a thorough understanding of the current legislation relating to people with learning disabilities and their health needs.

21. To work in a range of community settings, including people with learning disabilities homes, and day services, supported living, residential and nursing placements.

22. To contribute to shaping local health services (e.g. development of local protocols and policies), promoting an inclusive service for people with learning

Person Specification

Meets all essential criteria

Essential

• UK registered with Health Professional Council
• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Broad dietetic experience across a range of clinical areas
• Undergraduate or a post graduate degree in Nutrition & Dietetics
• Post graduate professional practice in Dietetics

Desirable

• Experience working in the community
• Post registration training or experience in psychological approaches to patient care i.e. CBT

Essential

Essential

• UK registered with Health Professional Council
• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Post graduate professional practice in Dietetics

Desirable

• Experience of working within the community setting
• Experience in the provision oral nutrition support

Essential

Essential

• Broad dietetic experience across a range of clinical areas
• Experience in mental health and/ or learning disability dietetics - understanding of individual needs, communication needs, co morbidities
• Has a professional presentation and is able to express themselves clearly and simply (both verbally and written)
• Can plan and deliver training/education to Health Care Professional, non-medical carers and LD patient groups

Desirable

• Experience of working within the community setting
• Has an ability to use own initiative and to be self-motivated

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

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Services for People who have a Learning Disability (SPLD)

Twinwoods Resource Centre, Milton Road, Clapham

Bedford

MK41 6AT

Employer's website

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