Mental Health Dietitian

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Botany Bay; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Dietitian to provide high-standard dietetic services within mental health sites and community settings. You will work as an autonomous practitioner, managing your own caseload of specialist and complex patients while contributing to MDT decisions and patient education.

You will translate complex nutrition science into practical guidance for patients, carers and clinicians, participate in audits/research, and support service

Qualifications

• BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent.
• HCPC registration is required.
• Commitment to advanced clinical development.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical dietetic service within designated mental health sites.
• Work as autonomous practitioner with own caseload of specialist and complex patients.
• Collaborate with MDT to improve patients' physical health and wellbeing.
• Translate complex nutritional information into practical advice for patients and carers.
• Coordinate discharge planning and follow-up for those requiring artificial nutrition in the community.
• Supervise student dietitians or dietetic support workers where appropriate.
• Participate in appraisal and CPD activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Clinical reasoning

Team player

Motivational interviewing

Fluent English

Education

BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics

HCPC registration

Tools

IT skills

Job description

As part of the Nutrition and Dietetic Service providing care to a multi-cultural and diverse population, to deliver a high standard Dietetic service in the Community and acute MH setting. As part of the Nutrition and Dietetic Service providing care to a multi-cultural and diverse population, to deliver a high standard Dietetic service in the Community and acute MH setting. To perform comprehensive dietetic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions. As part of the MDT to support patients with Mental Health needs in order to improve their physical health and wellbeing. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, holding the responsibility for own caseload of specialist and complex patients. To undertake evidence-based audit and or research projects to further own and team's clinical practice with support and guidance from more senior staff. To be aware of and to highlight to the line manager any clinical governance issues pertaining to the role and practice. To contribute to the delivery of health promotion activities within the service and wider Trust initiatives. Main duties of the job To provide clinical dietetic service within designated mental health sites and be actively involved in the development and provision of the nutritional service in those areas. As an autonomous practitioner, to be responsible for safe and efficient management of a patient dietetic caseload through assessment of clinical need and effective prioritisation. To provide complex nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians based on clinical evidence. To contribute to the multidisciplinary team in making decisions on all aspects of dietetic intervention, thus contributing to overall patient care. To translate complex scientific, medical, biochemical and nutritional information into simple and easily understood practical advice for individuals and carers, both on a one-to-one and in groups settings To communicate with other healthcare professionals regarding nutrition related prescriptions and nutritional management of patients and providing, where necessary, information and education to clinicians, patients and carers To coordinate safe discharge-planning and follow up of those patients requiring artificial nutritional support in the community To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs for the specialist clinical 2, To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through relevant CPD activities and maintain a CPD portfolio which reflects personal development. To implement knowledge of evidence-based practice, developing a more specialist dietetic knowledge of particular conditions and patient types applying critical appraisal skills to emerging evidence and research to develop and evaluate own practice and disseminate own learning to others Where appropriate to be responsible for supervising student dietitians or dietetic support workers under the overall supervision and direction of more senior staff. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet individual and service objectives. Where appropriate, to undertake the appraisal of the dietetic assistant. Undertake measurement and evaluation of own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or as part of a team with more senior clinicians. To be responsible for the implementation of any National, Service and Organisational policies and guidance that apply to own role or area of work To liaise with catering services regarding individual patients requirements and help resolve any catering issues which arise on the wards or in the Day Hospital. To participate in any statutory inspections that involve nutrition and dietetic standards

• BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics or Postgraduate diploma or MSc in Nutrition and Dietetic
• Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• Commitment to advanced clinical and professional development

Desirable

• Additional qualification or BDA accredited courses or equivalent in-house training e.g. PENG clinical update, Membership of special interest group

Experience Essential

• At least 6 months broad post graduate dietetic experience including experience of working in Mental Health
• Experience in undertaking group work
• Experience working as part of a team
• Experience in nutritional support both oral and enteral.
• Broad range of clinical experience, across a variety of clinical areas to include nutrition support for inpatients
• Presentations to groups/teaching other Healthcare Professionals

Experience Desirable

• Student training/ supervisory skills
• Active participation in an audit or project

Skills and aptitudes Essential

• Ability to prioritise, organise and work in a busy environment with excellent timekeeping skills
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
• Able to demonstrate a high level of clinical reasoning.
• Supportive of other staff.
• A strong commitment to patient care.
• Good communication skills, able to present information (written and oral) in a clear and logical manner.
• Reliable, professional and flexible and a strong team player
• Able to apply behaviour change/motivational interviewing techniques
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Skills and aptitudes Desirable

• Good IT skills
• Driving Licences/ Able to drive to other sites

Personal qualities and attributions Essential

• Effective interpersonal skills, including assertiveness & ability to negotiate
• Positive attitude to change
• Self-motivated to achieve personal and professional goals to an excellent standard as appropriate to the job role
• Ability to recognise and challenge unacceptable behaviour. To act on this appropriately using effective interpersonal skills, including assertiveness and negotiation

Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation. Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.