A fantastic opportunity has opened for a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced Dietitian to join the multi-professional team working at the Harefield Hospital. The individual will be responsible for the care of critical care and cardiothoracic patients. We are looking for an innovative, motivated Dietitian with excellent clinical skills. This post would be ideal if you are looking to utilise and expand your critical care and cardiothoracic at one of the leading UK centres with a fantastic and experienced team of dietitians.
If you are an experienced dietitian with critical care experience and looking for a new challenge alongside an exceptional multi-disciplinary and dietetics team, then please apply.
Main duties of the job
In conjunction with the Clinical Lead Critical Care Dietitian and Therapy Lead, the post holder will be required to deliver high-quality care within a well-engaged dietetics and multidisciplinary team. The role is highly valued, diverse and includes:
* Providing a comprehensive dietetic service to the adult critical care unit and cardiothoracic wards, to include the complex dietetic management of patients requiring mechanical life support (such as ECMO) and cardiothoracic transplantation.
* Providing direct line management and clinical supervision to the Band 6 Cardiothoracic Dietitian, as well as support with completing critical care dietetic competency training.
* Teaching and education to healthcare professionals (junior and senior medical and nursing staff) and dietetic students on clinical placement.
* Contributing to the development of relevant policy, guidance, and protocols.
* Undertaking research, audit, service evaluation and quality improvement projects in relevant clinical areas including dissemination through poster, abstract and conference presentations.
* Contributing actively to dietetic service initiatives.
* Playing a role in the continuous development of the Trust as a member of the Rehabilitation and Therapies Directorate, and as a potential member of a range of Trust quality/process improvement project groups.
Job responsibilities
Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect)
* To provide a highly specialist dietetic clinical service to designated adult critical care and wards as well as outpatients referred to the service, in accordance with Trust Policy and Standards.
* Work autonomously to provide specialist expert nutritional advice and treatment plans to adult critical care and cardiothoracic patients, their carers and clinicians.
* To regularly assess and review patients nutritional outcomes.
* To provide up to date dietary information, either verbally or in the form of diet sheets or by participating in special events, such as study days.
* To attend relevant multi-disciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.
* To expand and establish the Private and NHS dietetics outpatient service.
Policy development
* To be involved with the development and implementation of Dietetic and Trust policies and protocols related to adult cardiothoracic and critical care services.
* To be familiar with and implement where appropriate Trust, Directorate Policy and Standards and involved in their regular review writing policy where appropriate at department and Trust level.
Service development
* To undertake specific research and audit, service evaluation and quality improvement projects as related to clinical specialism.
* To participate in other research and audit, service evaluation and quality improvement projects as appropriate.
* To work in conjunction with the Therapy Lead, Critical Care Clinical Lead and Nutrition Lead to help to develop critical care and cardiothoracic dietetic services.
* To participate in Trust-wide multidisciplinary policy groups acting on behalf of the Rehabilitation and Therapies Directorate.
* To participate in national dietetic interest groups developing standards and guidance in the dietetic care of adult respiratory patients.
* To work with the Therapy Lead and Nutrition Lead to develop the service to outpatients.
People management
* To receive regular appraisals and have an individual developmental plan, to help achieve personal and team objectives.
* To carry out the annual appraisal and clinical supervision of Band 6 team members.
* To be responsible for the Band 6 dietitians critical care dietetic competencies.
* To be involved with recruitment and in issues of work performance within the team.
* To supervise and teach student dietitians, both those undertaking their clinical placement and those involved in projects as part of their BSc (Hons) or MSc degrees.
* To abide by the Trusts core behaviours for staff and all other Trust policies including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety policies.
Communication
* To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best service for patients.
* To give informal and formal talks to staff, patients and students when requested within hospital, locally and nationally when requested.
* To lecture internally and externally and participate at national or international meetings both verbally and through the presentation of posters and abstracts.
* Regularly communicate with patients who may be critically ill, terminally ill, have chronic disease (heart/lung failure) or have barriers to understanding.
* To gain consent about a range of dietetic treatment options and to agree and inform of expected outcomes.
* Communicate with outside agencies e.g. GPs about patient care where appropriate.
Person Specification
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
* Ability to work within a team, under pressure and as an autonomous practitioner.
* Advanced clinical reasoning skills.
* Able to balance competing priorities and meet personal and directorate targets within a fluctuating and demanding workload.
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
* Significant postgraduate experience (minimum 5 years) including at least two years at senior level.
* Knowledge & experience of working with patients with cardiothoracic conditions.
* Demonstrable knowledge and experience of dietetics in the critical care setting.
Desirable
* Research experience.
* Experience of teaching and lecturing at national, international and HEI level.
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
* BSc Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or Dietetics, or Postgraduate Diploma in dietetics.
* HCPC registration.
* Relevant validated clinical courses accredited as equivalent to masters level.
Desirable
* Member of the British Dietetic Association.
* Training in Evidence Based Healthcare at MSc module level or equivalent.
Employer details
Employer name
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Harefield Hospital
Harefield
UB9 6JH #J-18808-Ljbffr