Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner (DAP) to join the recently formed Bradford District and Craven (BDC) Nutrition Support Team.
The service includes delivering training and collaborating with various health and social care teams, organisations, and individuals to achieve this, and by responding to the evolving needs of the local communities. The Nutrition Support Team consists of a Clinical Lead Dietitian, Dietitians, Admin support and Dietetic Assistant Practitioners.
The DAP's within these teams support the prevention, identification and treatment of adult malnutrition across our district through providing the duties and responsibilities as outlined in the job description. The main areas of work include the delivery of nutritional support training programs in care homes and to other health and social care workers in the community. Organising training equipment, educational material, and collecting and inputting data outcomes to support the delivery of the programs is also part of the role. Training will be provided whilst in post, to deliver the training programs.
In addition, supporting the dietitians care plans by providing one-to-one support for people at risk of malnutrition, including home visits and care home visits, and contacting patients, carers and other health care professional to co-ordinate appointments and managing a patient caseload. Training will be provided whilst in post.
Main duties of the job
The Dietetic Assistant Practitioner uses technical and creative skills to provide training and support to staff working in community settings and assessments for individual patients within defined clinical pathways, relating to malnutrition in adults. The post holder will be responsible for evaluating and amending dietetic treatment interventions, alongside delivering training for staff in community settings, with guidance from dietitian(s). They will take responsibility for their own work without direct supervision, but will have access to a dietitian for advice and direction as required.
The post holder will:
- Manage and prioritise a caseload within the Bradford District and Craven Malnutrition Dietetics Service or as delegated by
- Independently undertake assessments and interventions relevant to specific clinical pathways within malnutrition
- Evaluate programmes and patient's progression making minor alterations in consultation with the dietitian.
- Deliver training to staff relating to adult malnutrition (e.g. care home staff)
- Support dietitian with complex cases as required.
- Work with team members to ensure the effective functioning of the
- To ensure partnership working with patients, carers, the MDT, and wider statutory, private and voluntary sector services to provide improved nutritional care.
- Participate in activities to improve the service.
- Provide support to other team members and students.
- Work flexibly according to patient and service needs.
About us
We are always looking for enterprising and innovative approaches to the way we provide our services. We are a national centre for telemedicine and introduced telehealth to the UK offender healthcare sector and also provide the service to patients in their care homes. Community matters to us and we are supported by 400 dedicated volunteers and have strong links with Bradford University, Craven College and Leeds City College to ensure we inspire the workforce of the future.
We want to attract staff who embrace our Right Care behaviours of compassion, a commitment to quality of care and working together for patients we want to make these part of our DNA.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical
1.1 Provide timely and efficient dietetic service to delegated patients according to clinical protocols and service priorities.
- Ensure that all patients receive a high standard of clinical care
- Use analysis and judgment skills to consider options for interventions and discuss with the dietitian as required.
- Develop individual management plans for delegated patients in discussion with the dietitian as required.
- Implement interventions/care programmes in partnership with the service user, with the carer as necessary.
- Provide training and support to staff and other professionals working in community settings e.g. care homes
- Work with key system partners to implement recommendations of treatment and to improve care for people with malnutrition
- Monitor and evaluate the outcome of interventions in partnership with the service user if possible, with the carer if necessary and in consultation with the dietitian.
- Respond to unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
- Use highly developed communication skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, service users and carers.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and sensitivity with patients, relatives and carers to overcome barriers to communication
- Clearly document each intervention in the patients records as outlined in organisational policy and procedures.
- Leadership and Management
2.1 Assist with the day to day running of the Community Malnutrition Dietetics Service dietetics including general administrative duties to support this.
- Follow supervision guidelines and consult with clinicians to ensure optimum outcome for patients with clear presentation of facts and analysis to enable effective decision making.
- Recognise and respond to changing team priorities and unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
- Contribute to supporting professional and work experience students.
- Contribute to the development of the dietetics service.
- Take responsibility for delegated service development activities.
- Communicate effectively within the immediate team, the wider Malnutrition Dietetics Service, and with other internal and external organisations
- Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures.
- Raise incidents and near misses using the relevant incident reporting system.
- Be aware of the need for judicious use of resources and maintaining stock control.
- Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs.
- Collect data and statistics regarding work undertaken including training and clinical interventions
- Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs, across the Bradford District and Craven Malnutrition Dietetics Service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Clinical
1.1 Provide timely and efficient dietetic service to delegated patients according to clinical protocols and service priorities.
- Ensure that all patients receive a high standard of clinical care
- Use analysis and judgment skills to consider options for interventions and discuss with the dietitian as required.
- Develop individual management plans for delegated patients in discussion with the dietitian as required.
- Implement interventions/care programmes in partnership with the service user, with the carer as necessary.
- Provide training and support to staff and other professionals working in community settings e.g. care homes
- Work with key system partners to implement recommendations of treatment and to improve care for people with malnutrition
- Monitor and evaluate the outcome of interventions in partnership with the service user if possible, with the carer if necessary and in consultation with the dietitian.
- Respond to unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
- Use highly developed communication skills to establish good working relationships with colleagues, service users and carers.
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and sensitivity with patients, relatives and carers to overcome barriers to communication
- Clearly document each intervention in the patients records as outlined in organisational policy and procedures.
- Leadership and Management
2.1 Assist with the day to day running of the Community Malnutrition Dietetics Service dietetics including general administrative duties to support this.
- Follow supervision guidelines and consult with clinicians to ensure optimum outcome for patients with clear presentation of facts and analysis to enable effective decision making.
- Recognise and respond to changing team priorities and unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
- Contribute to supporting professional and work experience students.
- Contribute to the development of the dietetics service.
- Take responsibility for delegated service development activities.
- Communicate effectively within the immediate team, the wider Malnutrition Dietetics Service, and with other internal and external organisations
- Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures.
- Raise incidents and near misses using the relevant incident reporting system.
- Be aware of the need for judicious use of resources and maintaining stock control.
- Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs.
- Collect data and statistics regarding work undertaken including training and clinical interventions
- Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs, across the Bradford District and Craven Malnutrition Dietetics Service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general level of education including GCSEs in English and Maths
- Relevant Foundation degree, or BTEC higher diploma or QCF level V qualification in health studies or related subject
Desirable
- 4 GCSEs Grade A - D
- Courses relevant to nutrition or dietetics
- Food safety and hygiene qualification/certificate
- Teaching or group facilitation qualification
Experience
Essential
- Recent, relevant experience of working in a nutrition or health related role
- Experience of working with residents/patients/clients in residential, community or health care settings
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
- Experience of working independently
- Experience in use of IT applications
Desirable
- Experience of carrying out nutritional screening and dietetic assessments
- Experience of facilitating group education to either patients or staff
- Experience of project work including data collection and monitoring
- Experience of food and ingredient preparation/cooking
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of nutrition and dietetic interventions
- Knowledge of the dietary management of malnutrition
- Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working
- Knowledge to promote and support equality and value diversity
- Knowledge of health and safety issues
- Knowledge of the NHS constitution
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant clinical assessments and treatments e.g. malnutrition screening tools - MUST, antropometric measurements, food fortification
- Language relevant to the population of Bradford District and Craven
- Knowledge of different cultural aspects (e.g food, culture, beliefs etc) around Bradford District and Craven
Skills
Essential
- Planning and organisational skills
- Presentation skills, both written and verbal, and ability to adjust style and content as appropriate
- Competent with a range of IT packages including Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Ability to facilitate group training sessions
- Skills in electronic patient record keeping including SystmOne
- Cooking and food preparation skills
- Enhanced communication skills - delivering constructive feedback to group members or students
Other
Essential
- Current UK Driving Licence AND access to own transport
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general level of education including GCSEs in English and Maths
- Relevant Foundation degree, or BTEC higher diploma or QCF level V qualification in health studies or related subject
Desirable
- 4 GCSEs Grade A - D
- Courses relevant to nutrition or dietetics
- Food safety and hygiene qualification/certificate
- Teaching or group facilitation qualification
Experience
Essential
- Recent, relevant experience of working in a nutrition or health related role
- Experience of working with residents/patients/clients in residential, community or health care settings
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
- Experience of working independently
- Experience in use of IT applications
Desirable
- Experience of carrying out nutritional screening and dietetic assessments
- Experience of facilitating group education to either patients or staff
- Experience of project work including data collection and monitoring
- Experience of food and ingredient preparation/cooking
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of nutrition and dietetic interventions
- Knowledge of the dietary management of malnutrition
- Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working
- Knowledge to promote and support equality and value diversity
- Knowledge of health and safety issues
- Knowledge of the NHS constitution
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant clinical assessments and treatments e.g. malnutrition screening tools - MUST, antropometric measurements, food fortification
- Language relevant to the population of Bradford District and Craven
- Knowledge of different cultural aspects (e.g food, culture, beliefs etc) around Bradford District and Craven
Skills
Essential
- Planning and organisational skills
- Presentation skills, both written and verbal, and ability to adjust style and content as appropriate
- Competent with a range of IT packages including Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Ability to facilitate group training sessions
- Skills in electronic patient record keeping including SystmOne
- Cooking and food preparation skills
- Enhanced communication skills - delivering constructive feedback to group members or students
Other
Essential
- Current UK Driving Licence AND access to own transport
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
