Job summary
1. To provide assessment regarding effective nutrition and hydration intake in children ( including those who have a feeding tube in situ) and young people in Merton.
2. To support and advise parents/carers in maintaining effective nutritional and/or fluid intake for children and young people including those who have a feeding tube in situ, who have additional needs or are seen in clinics.
3. To advise on the use of supplements, specialist feeds as required, dietary changes, allergies and intolerances etc liaising with the child's GP regarding prescription of feed etc as necessary.
4. Liaise with manufacturers of nutritional products including supplements, specialist feeds, thickeners with the SLT etc used by the service.
5. To develop enteral feeding regimes for non-orally fed children in collaboration with parents and other professionals.
Main duties of the job
To take the Paediatric Dietetic Lead for community, special schools and HEF overview in Merton.
Utilise project management skills and work in partnership with service users, other agencies and professionals to plan, develop, implement and evaluate the Paediatric Dietetics Service in Merton.
In conjunction with the Team Leader be involved in the recruitment and selection of staff members, including advertising, short-listing and interviewing.
Appraise and support the development of junior staff and administrators
Supervise junior and student dietitian when appropriate.
About us
We providecommunity health services to more than two million people across eleven London boroughs and Hertfordshire.
Every day, our professionals provide high-quality healthcare in people's homes and local clinics, helping them to:
6. stay well
7. manage their own health with the right support
8. avoid unnecessary trips to, or long stays in, hospital.
We support our patients at every stage of their lives, providing health visiting for new-born babies through to community nursing, stroke rehabilitation and palliative care for people towards the end of their lives.
Our vision: deliver great care closer to home.
Our mission : working together to give children a better start and adults greater independence
Job description
Job responsibilities
Negotiate with patients, parents/carers and others around individual case management.
To manage a caseload of paediatric dietetics patients (including HEF), as required by the service. This will include visiting families in their own home, at school/ special schools or in clinics.
Communicate sensitive, condition-related information to patients and parents/carers where there may be barriers (language, religious and cultural barriers cognitive and learning disability challenges, mental health problems).
To receive, analyse and interpret complex clinical information that may be further complicated by the patients social and psychological needs and advise patients, formulate appropriate care plans accordingly children with safeguarding concerns, patients with a number of complex co-existing medical and chronic conditions
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
9. Degree in Dietetics
10. Valid Health and Care Professions Council Registration
11. Post graduate experience in paediatric dietetics
12. Post graduate experience in Paediatric Home Enteral Feeding
Desirable
13. Membership of the British Dietetic Association
14. Member of Specialist Interest Group related to Paediatrics
15. Supervisory skills training
16. Post-registration training in Behaviour Change
Experience
Essential
17. Post-registration and previous experience in a range of paediatric clinical areas including home enteral feeding, faltering growth, food allergy, gastroenterology
18. Experience in the training of student Dietitians
19. Experience in using behaviour change techniques
20. Experience in supervising others
21. Experience in contributing to policy, procedures, guidelines and clinical standards development
Desirable
22. Experience of recommending the use of oral nutritional supplements in line with NICE guidelines and IMAP criteria.
23. Knowledge of current policy and political drivers impacting on public health and the NHS.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
24. Ability to take leadership role in speciality of Paediatric Home Enteral feeding.
25. Ability to work autonomously.
26. Advanced knowledge of up to date dietetic practice, including paediatric dietetic guidelines, evidence base and recommendations.
27. Highly developed presentation skills and ability to present to professionals at all levels.
28. Ability to work with paediatric patients from a diverse range of backgrounds 0-19years.
Other
Essential
29. Personally and Professionally responsible
30. Able to self motivate
31. Able to carry out the duties of the post with or without adaptations
32. Able to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the day