Job summary
We are offering an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join the Norfolk Adult Learning Disability Service as a Band 4 Dietetic Assistant Practitioner. You will work very closely within a multidisciplinary team to provide dietetic support to individuals with a learning disability in a variety of community settings, supported by a team of learning disability dietitians.
We are looking for someone with good communication and interpersonal skills to support the learning disability dietetic service. You will work with and assist dietitians in the support, treatment and monitoring of patients. You will be supported by the professional lead dietitian and have regular supervision to support your development within the role.
Main duties of the job
Under the broad supervision and with the support of the registered dietitians:
o Undertake a variety of clinical tasks to support the delivery of nutritional care to patients with a learning disability. This could be in a variety of settings - community, day service venues, respite/short breaks, residential/care homes, patients own homes.
o Manage own caseload of patients allocated by the supervising dietitian, working without direct supervision and undertaking a variety of delegated clinical tasks, in accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways.
o Undertake a variety of non-clinical tasks to support the Learning Disability Dietetic Service
.o To raise nutritional awareness/Healthy Lifestyles and promote the benefits of Nutrition and Dietetic Services with respect to people with a learning disability.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?
Job description
Job responsibilities
To manage an allocated workload efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time, in accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways.
To gain valid informed consent prior to undertaking any clinical tasks.
With support, to work within the legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
To manage, without direct supervision, own caseload of less complex patients triaged by the supervising dietitians. This will include seeing patients in a variety of settings.
The post holder will work in a specified clinical area with patients who have been delegated by registered dietitians. In accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways: Carry out an initial assessment Implement and monitor/review a suitable nutritional treatment plan Refer on to the appropriate dietitian if the patient presents with problems outside the competency of the post holder Liaise with staff from Health, Social care and other outside agencies and third sector provider, service users and others
To undertake anthropometric measurements, using specialised equipment e.g. skin fold callipers, ramp and hoist scales these may need to be used and transported to patients in the community.
To use these measurements to calculate BMI, %weight loss/gain, estimated height, etc.
To take diet histories and calculate energy and protein intakes. This may involve seeing patients in a variety of settings, e.g. community settings, e.g. patients homes.
To collect relevant patient information from a variety of sources to assist with clinical prioritisation and patient management e.g. ward handovers, observation charts, computerised biochemical data, medical and nursing records.
To be aware of own professional limitations and report any concerns to supervising registered dietitian.
To liaise with catering services on behalf of the patient, as appropriate, to arrange suitable therapeutic diets.
To support other departments with ongoing patient management relating to patient care and nutrition, e.g. Nursing care Occupational Therapy Speech & Language Therapy
To update patient records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Trust and departmental policy.
To provide cover as required within other teams.
To be an active member of the team and comment on service development proposals in own work area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To manage an allocated workload efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time, in accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways.
To gain valid informed consent prior to undertaking any clinical tasks.
With support, to work within the legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
To manage, without direct supervision, own caseload of less complex patients triaged by the supervising dietitians. This will include seeing patients in a variety of settings.
The post holder will work in a specified clinical area with patients who have been delegated by registered dietitians. In accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways: Carry out an initial assessment Implement and monitor/review a suitable nutritional treatment plan Refer on to the appropriate dietitian if the patient presents with problems outside the competency of the post holder Liaise with staff from Health, Social care and other outside agencies and third sector provider, service users and others
To undertake anthropometric measurements, using specialised equipment e.g. skin fold callipers, ramp and hoist scales these may need to be used and transported to patients in the community.
To use these measurements to calculate BMI, %weight loss/gain, estimated height, etc.
To take diet histories and calculate energy and protein intakes. This may involve seeing patients in a variety of settings, e.g. community settings, e.g. patients homes.
To collect relevant patient information from a variety of sources to assist with clinical prioritisation and patient management e.g. ward handovers, observation charts, computerised biochemical data, medical and nursing records.
To be aware of own professional limitations and report any concerns to supervising registered dietitian.
To liaise with catering services on behalf of the patient, as appropriate, to arrange suitable therapeutic diets.
To support other departments with ongoing patient management relating to patient care and nutrition, e.g. Nursing care Occupational Therapy Speech & Language Therapy
To update patient records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Trust and departmental policy.
To provide cover as required within other teams.
To be an active member of the team and comment on service development proposals in own work area.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEvidence for Band 4 competencies in clinical practice
- oFoundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)
Desirable
- oNVQ 3 in Care or equivalent
- oFood Hygiene certificate
- oWord Processing qualification
Experience
Essential
- oPrevious experience as a Health Care (Support) worker
- oPrevious experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
- oPrevious experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity
- oAbility to communicate effectively
- oGood organisational skills
- oGood numeric and literacy skills
Desirable
- oPrevious experience working with people who have a learning disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity
- oPrevious experience of training/ supervising others
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- oIs able to work as part of a team
- oIs able to work unsupervised where necessary
- oGood time management skills
- oIs able to use initiative appropriately
- oApplies a practical approach to problem solving
Communication
Essential
- oPossess a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- oAbility to adapt both verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the patient
- oAbility to produce practical advice and resources to support patients understanding
- oPossess the skills to persuade, motivate, explain, and empathise to encourage patients to undertake their treatment programme
Personal and People Development
Essential
- oAbility to commit to continuous professional development
- oAbility to reflect and appraise own performance
Desirable
- oPrevious experience of training/ supervising others
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
Essential
- oIs flexible and adaptable
- oAbility to demonstrate a commitment to multi- disciplinary team working and develop effective working relationships.
- oAbility to deal sensitively with demanding, emotional and aggressive patients
- oIs able to demonstrate a holistic approach to their own physical and emotional well being
- oAble to work under pressure
- oDemonstrate a sense of humour
Other
Essential
- oDemonstrate commitment to lifelong learning
- oAbility to travel to a variety of different locations, transporting equipment as necessary
- oAbility to work in a variety of settings and environments.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oEvidence for Band 4 competencies in clinical practice
- oFoundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)
Desirable
- oNVQ 3 in Care or equivalent
- oFood Hygiene certificate
- oWord Processing qualification
Experience
Essential
- oPrevious experience as a Health Care (Support) worker
- oPrevious experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
- oPrevious experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity
- oAbility to communicate effectively
- oGood organisational skills
- oGood numeric and literacy skills
Desirable
- oPrevious experience working with people who have a learning disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity
- oPrevious experience of training/ supervising others
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- oIs able to work as part of a team
- oIs able to work unsupervised where necessary
- oGood time management skills
- oIs able to use initiative appropriately
- oApplies a practical approach to problem solving
Communication
Essential
- oPossess a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- oAbility to adapt both verbal and non-verbal communication appropriate to the patient
- oAbility to produce practical advice and resources to support patients understanding
- oPossess the skills to persuade, motivate, explain, and empathise to encourage patients to undertake their treatment programme
Personal and People Development
Essential
- oAbility to commit to continuous professional development
- oAbility to reflect and appraise own performance
Desirable
- oPrevious experience of training/ supervising others
Personal Attributes / Behaviours
Essential
- oIs flexible and adaptable
- oAbility to demonstrate a commitment to multi- disciplinary team working and develop effective working relationships.
- oAbility to deal sensitively with demanding, emotional and aggressive patients
- oIs able to demonstrate a holistic approach to their own physical and emotional well being
- oAble to work under pressure
- oDemonstrate a sense of humour
Other
Essential
- oDemonstrate commitment to lifelong learning
- oAbility to travel to a variety of different locations, transporting equipment as necessary
- oAbility to work in a variety of settings and environments.
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
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Negotiable - to be based within one of the Adult Community Learning Disability Bases in Norfolk.
Negotiable - to be based within one of the Adult Community Learning Disability Bases in Norfolk.
Negotiable - one of the Adult Community LD Bases in Norfolk.
PE30 5QD
Employer's website
https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)
