Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic dietitian to join our In-patient team at Warwick Hospital, Warwick.
Your caseload will include in-patients on designated wards and out-patient clinics.
You'll be providing dietetic interventions for nutrition support, weight management, non-complex gastro (IBS, coeliac disease etc.) and general dietetic advice. This post includes involvement in reviewing diet sheets, participating in audits, delivering education sessions and training students.
We are a friendly and supportive team of dietitians, dietetic assistants and admin staff working across three hospital sites (Warwick, Leamington George Eliot), and the community. We are forward thinking and open to new ideas.
We have an excellent preceptorship scheme, a structured programme for newly qualified practitioners. We are fully committed to the wellbeing of our team, having two wellbeing ambassadors within our department. We are committed to flexible working and promoting good work-life balance.
We strive to make our band 5 posts as varied and interesting as possible, with opportunities to look at competency based clinical attachments where band 5 dietitians can gain experience in specialist areas such as gastroenterology, home enteral feeding, critical care, paediatrics and learning disabilities.
This post is a great start to build your dietetic career.
Main duties of the job
Advise on the dietary management of patients with a range of medical conditions in hospital and / or community locations.
Work autonomously to assess and treat own caseload of patients, with support as necessary from senior colleagues.
Plan, deliver and evaluate training and education to other healthcare professionals, patient groups and the public.
Liaise with dietetic colleagues and other members of multidisciplinary teams as necessary medical, nursing, catering and other health or social care professionals.
Promote the ethos of self-management and prevention to patients, staff and carers to prevent nutritional problems, medical conditions and complications.
About us
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
Be clinically competent to give dietetic advice, treatment and dietary counselling to patients on general wards, out-patient clinics, community locations and telephone reviews.
Work autonomously to manage own caseload providing dietetic advice to patients, their carers and staff with a range of medical conditions in hospital and community locations, within agreed protocols / guidelines and with support from senior colleagues when necessary.
Judge the appropriateness of referrals, action dietetic management and advise referring agents of inappropriate referrals.
Analyse and interpret information from a variety of sources regarding individual patients, biochemistry, medication, clinical condition, anthropometric measurements.
Undertake nutritional calculations calculating nutritional requirements, analysis of nutritional intakes using specialist IT systems.
Develop and modify dietetic treatment and discharge plans referring to other specialists as appropriate.
To recommend appropriate ACBS nutritional products for patients and document appropriately.
Communicate complex nutrition and dietetic information in an understandable form to staff, clients and carers, using negotiation, motivation and counselling skills including situations where there are barriers to understanding.
Work in conjunction with medical, nursing and professional colleagues, attending MDT meetings as necessary to facilitate good communications to provide high quality patient care.
Liaise and advise catering staff when necessary to ensure the appropriate provision of meals for individual patients.
Plan, implement and evaluate group education sessions for patients.
To liaise closely with referrers, GPs and other health professionals, and participate in multidisciplinary meetings or case reviews as appropriate.
Produce timely reports to referring Health Care Professionals regarding patient care.
Participate in the health promotion activities of the department.
To identify opportunities to promote healthier lifestyles or more appropriate nutrition using innovative methods, develop initiatives to promote healthier nutrition.
Training and Education
Participate in the clinical supervision of student dietitians, including planning timetables and completing assessment tools.
Plan, implement and evaluate nutrition education & training for nurses, support workers, catering staff, medical, social care staff and the public as required.
Professional
Ensure dietetic practice is up to date, evidence-based and / or based on best practice by participating in appropriate training and development activities.
Participate and contribute to clinical supervision to ensure regular evaluation of practice through peer review.
Ensure relevant training is attended to maintain competency re medical devises required within the job role.
Participate in dietetic operational meetings, sharing knowledge, evaluating and improving service delivery.
Participate in the departments Clinical Governance programme including reviewing evidence / guidance, clinical and professional audits, research and reporting of clinical risks.
To comment on nutrition & dietetic guidelines and procedures and propose changes to working practice.
Evaluate patient information in view of current evidence and produce new or update information / diet sheets as required.
To work as an autonomous practitioner working within the BDA Code of professional conduct and HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency (Dietitians).
Plan and organise own workload and evaluate own practice.
Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
Ensure effective use is made of department / trust resources, equipment and prescribed nutritional products.
Be responsible for maintaining patient records in line with trust and department standards and Data Protection Act requirements.
Document patient activity data daily in accordance with trust and professional standards.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of the profile of the Dietetic profession.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. BSc in Dietetics or equivalent
2. Dietitian registered with the Health Care Professions Council (or application submitted)
Desirable
3. BDA Member
Experience
Essential
4. Completed UK recognised clinical placements or equivalent
Desirable
5. Post qualification dietetic experience
6. Experience of working in a health or social care setting
Skills
Essential
7. Up to date dietetic professional knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent
8. Evidence of continuous professional development
9. Able to analyse information and make judgements on dietetic issues
10. Able to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form for patients and their carers using dietary counselling, motivational and negotiation skills
11. Able to demonstrate good written and oral communication skills with a range of people from a variety of backgrounds, without risk of miscommunication
12. Able to plan & prioritise own caseload using time management skills
13. Able to plan, deliver and evaluate training and group work
14. Able to use a computer and have basic knowledge of word processing, e-mail, dietary analysis, presentation preparation and electronic patient records
Personal Qualities
Essential
15. Able to be an effective member of the dietetic team and MDT's
16. Able to handle challenging situations
17. Able to work independently but know own limitations and when to ask for support and help
18. Committed to personal and professional development
19. Committed to client centred, non-discriminatory practice
Other
Essential
20. Willing to work flexible hours to meet the requirements of the service
21. Independent means of travel (community posts) and able to travel to training within Warwickshire (all posts)
22. Willing to participate in student training and demonstrate awareness of practical issues in student training