Specialist Dietitian

Integrated Care System; Exeter; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Exeter is seeking a specialist dietitian to join a multi-disciplinary team focused on treating patients with eating disorders. The role involves managing a caseload, providing integrated care, and collaborating on nutrition treatment plans. Candidates should have a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and be registered with the Health Professions Council. This position offers pro-rata salary of £38,682 to £46,580 with flexible working options.

Qualifications

• Post registration training or experience in mental health/eating disorders.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload.

Responsibilities

• Manage a specialist caseload of patients with complex nutritional needs.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to provide integrated dietetic care.
• Plan and deliver nutritional education groups.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Team collaboration

Dietetic assessment

Motivational interviewing

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

Health Professions Council registration

Food hygiene certificate

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative multi-disciplinary team, working with clients who have moderate to severe Eating Disorder.

The Community Eating DisorderService (CEDS) is a multi-professional team comprising of a Physician,Psychiatrist, Senior Mental Health Practitioners, Nurses, Psychologists, Dietitians and Assistant Practitioners.Each patient has a named clinician who supports them with their psychologicalhealth and wellbeing. The team provide holistic and recovery focused care.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will play a key role in managing a specialist caseload of patients with complex nutritional and psychiatric needs, using evidence based and person centered principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate nutrition treatment plans. The post holder will have the opportunity to have training and supervision in relation to both the psychiatric and physical & nutritional health components of eating disorders and wider mental health difficulties, alongside support to help develop the necessary skills needed to manage the complex nutritional needs of this patient population.

The post holder will also contribute to the management of resources within the clinical and professional area, staff training and service development.

About us

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job responsibilities

Communication and working relationships

• Be a core member of the CEDS multi-disciplinaryteam, liaising with other members of the team to provide integrated dieteticcare.
• Communicate with individuals who use the service,using the most appropriate verbal, written or pictorial methods, in a way thatrepresents their views, autonomy and culture.
• Translate complex key nutritional information intosimple ideas and language that can be easily understood.
• Be involved in preparing and planning evidence baseddiet sheets, teaching material, dietetic literature and specialist serviceliterature.
• Work collaboratively with all members of thetreatment team and share information with team members formally and informally,e.g. clinical reviews, risk meetings.
• Share relevant information and knowledge within theprofessional group.
• Supporting and counselling highly distressed orconfused individuals around their dietary care plan.

Analytical and Judgement Skill

• Workautonomously as a specialist dietitian and manage a varied and potentiallycomplex caseload in various specialist clinical areas, both inpatient andoutpatient.
• Complete fullassessments of individuals nutritional status, using appropriate anthropometric,biochemical and medical records and identify their nutritional requirements.
• Devise coreand specialist nutritional treatment plans, e.g. diabetes, weight reduction,nutritional support, food intolerance.
• Implementspecialist group and individual treatments to achieve identified treatmentgoals.
• Identify andmanage the risk of re-feeding syndrome in nutritionally depleted individuals.
• Risk assess own work load, environment and takenecessary precautions to minimise risks to self and others.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• To exercisegood personal time management, punctuality and consistent, reliable attendance.
• To prioritisereferrals in order to deliver a service within resources to those of highestclinical need.
• To plan,co-ordinate and deliver nutrition groups across the Trust site as necessary.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Ensure that the therapeutic diets, as prescribed,are delivered to individuals using the service, liaising with nursing staff,catering staff, pharmacy and supplies department to ensure this.
• To act as asource of expertise on nutrition and diet therapy for individuals using ourservice and the multi -disciplinary team.
• To plan, develop and deliver nutritional eatingdisorder groups e.g motivational interviewing, body image as necessary.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Contribute toclinical governance and quality agenda activities within the organisation.
• Be aware of,and undertake measures to meet targets for organisational key performanceindicators.
• Contribute tothe monitoring and audit of service provision, revising practice to ensure thatstandards are maintained.
• Engage inpractice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to implementevidence based practice.
• Share anddisseminate research findings with professional colleagues in the interest ofpractice development.
• Ensure that own practice is in line with NICEguidelines and is evidence based.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• To review andreflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional supervisionand annual appraisal.
• Demonstratecommitment to continued professional development through participation ininternal and external development opportunities identified in supervisionand/or annual appraisal.
• Maintainprofessional portfolio in line with Health Professions Council requirements.
• Keep abreastof relevant new national guidelines and initiatives and recommendations for theBritish Dietetic Association and other organisations ensuring that practice isevidence based and current.
• Attendstatutory and mandatory training.
• To maintainprofessional registration with the Health Professions Council.
• To ensure thatpractice complies with the Health Profession Council regulations and theBritish Dietetic Association professional Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

• Complete allnecessary clinical documentation in accordance with organisational andprofessional standards.
• Providewritten nutritional plans and/or dietary goals to support the care plan.
• Provide written reports in accordance with theorganisation and professional standards for service user reviews/clinicalmeetings.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• Engage inpractice development, evaluation, audit and research activities to implementevidence based practice.

Freedom to Act

• Work autonomously as a specialist dietitian andmanage own varied and potentially complex caseload in various specialist clinical areas.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

• To provideadvice/support to the dietetic team when the other dietitians are notavailable, by liaising with the multidisciplinary team.

Review of thisJob Description

This jobdescription is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activityand will be amended in the light of changing service needs. This jobdescription is to be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annualbasis.

Equality &Diversity

Devon PartnershipNHS Trust is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce and sowe welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age,disability, sex, race, religion or sexual orientation, maternity/pregnancy,marriage/civil partnership or transgender status. The Trust expects all staffto behave in a way which recognises and respects this diversity in line withthe appropriate standards.

Recovery

It is arequirement of all employees to have an understanding of the broad principlesof the Recovery Approach and to incorporate them into every aspect of theirwork in support of the Trusts aim to provide services that support peoplesrecovery through being holistic and promoting social inclusion, selfmanagement, personal autonomy and independence.

Risk Management/ Health and Safety

Employees must beaware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety atWork Act 1974, ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out andmaintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.

RecordsManagement

The post holderhas responsibility for the timely and accurate creation, maintenance andstorage of records in accordance with Trust policy, including email documentsand with regard to the Data Protection Act, The Freedom of Information Act andany other relevant statutory requirements.

Clinical Governance, Compliance andPerformance

The post holder will be responsible for provingthat the Care Quality Commission outcome areas have been met in allregistered/related activities for which the post holder is responsible. Whereoutcomes are not met the post holder is expected to put in place/recommendaction to improve. The post holder will proactively seek and engage the supportof the governance teams in the Compliance and Corporate Development directorateto gather information as required. The post holder will build an understandingof and adhere to the CQC guidelines as well as the Trusts guidelines on theapproach to maintaining CQC registration.

Prevention and Control of healthcareAssociated Infection

The post holder is expected to comply with Trust Infection ControlPolicies and conduct themselves at all times in such a manner as to minimisethe risk of healthcare associated infection.

The Trust operatesa no-smoking policy. Employees are not permitted to smoke anywhere within thepremises of the Trust or when outside on official business. Staff must also bemindful of public perception and must therefore not smoke whilst travelling inTrust identified vehicles or when can be identified as Devon Partnership MentalHealth Trust staff.

Trust employeesare expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well asprofessional standards and guidelines. It is your responsibility to read andfamiliarise yourself with all policies relevant to your job role. These aregrouped into two sections, HR and Clinical and can be found on the Trustintranet site or via your line manager. You will also be required to complywith any training needs that arise from reviews or variations of policies andprocedures.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is part of everydaypractice and all Trust employees are required to work in accordance withpolicies, procedures and professional codes to safeguard people who use ourservice, their children, families and carers from abuse. Staff must be aware ofany children that live with, or have contact with, the person in their care,promoting the Childs welfare and ensuringtheir needs have been taken intoaccount as part of the overall assessment and practice process, engagingother agencies as appropriate.All staff should have the knowledge andskills to work in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of abuse, be alert to,and take appropriate action in relation to, safeguarding issues. Where staffare unsure what appropriate action to take, they should always escalate theirconcerns and speak to a senior member staff.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or post-graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Health Professions Council registration as a dietitian.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Post registration training or experience in mental health/eating disorders.
• Motivational interviewing or counselling skills.
• PENG clinical update (parenteral and enteral nutrition group of the BDA).
• Food hygiene certificate.

Experience

• Knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to clinical dietetics.
• Previous experience of clinical governance.
• Ability to demonstrate sound knowledge and application of up to date, evidence based practice.
• Understanding to the structure of the NHS, in particular where it impacts on dietetic practise.
• Evidence of experience of working within the field of mental health.
• Experience of developing, implementing and auditing projects.
• Experience of facilitating group education.
• Member of relevant specialist dietitians groups.
• Experience of research.

Knowledge and skills

• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of excellent communication skills with other health professional, individuals using the service and carers.
• Evidence of excellent presentation skills and an ability to work efficiently with individuals and groups.
• Ability to generate written communication which is relevant, concise and accurate.
• Able to maintain personal and professional boundaries.
• Ability to judge the individuals stage of motivation for change and accommodate this in the dietetic treatment plan.
• Ability to access anthropometric data and adjust dietetic treatment plan as appropriate.
• Accurate keyboard skills excel spreadsheets, word processing, electronic records, internet and dietary analysis.
• Word processing and PowerPoint skills for correspondence, production of educational resources and presentations.
• Ability to plan, manage and prioritise own time and workload.
• To manage a workload which can be varied and unpredictable.
• Ability to work in a busy surrounding share office or busy ward environment.
• Mobile working across Trust.
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable and creative.
• Ability to deal with unpredictable situations such as distressed individuals or careers and challenging behaviour.
• Basic counselling skills and an awareness of a range of approaches to behavioural change.
• Ability to use instruments to measure anthropometry and body composition.

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.

£38,682 to £46,580 a yearPro Rata (30 hours per week)