Job summaryWe are looking for an experienced Dietitian to lead our inpatient mental health and forensic dietetic team across Wakefield and Barnsley. We are keen to hear from enthusiastic Dietitians with excellent communication and leadership skills.
The post is varied and interesting, covering two geographical sites and includes both clinical and managerial duties. The clinical caseload will include caring for patients with a broad range of complex physical and mental health needs.
Leadership duties include line managing a small team of dietitians working closely alongside operational and professional leads.
You will need excellent team working, communication, organisation and time management skills, as well as be able to demonstrate a commitment to CPD. This role also includes the coordination of the training of student dietitians in this setting.
Main duties of the job- Manage a complex dietetic caseload in a mental health and forensic inpatient settings.
- Provide dietetic assessments and interventions for a range of conditions including nutrition support and general dietetics in the context of individuals in these settings.
- Line manage and motivate colleagues, a small team of dietitians, championing service user safety and dignity and drive continuous improvement.
- Have a patient centred approach in line with our Trust values
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
- Possess excellent communication and leadership skills to negotiate and build relationships with patients, carers, the MDT and external partners.
- Work with the dietetic professional lead to support professional governance including networks in mental health and forensic services.
- Participate in education & staff development, clinical supervision and the delivery of dietetic student training
About usWe are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
Job responsibilitiesJOB SUMMARYTo be responsible for the day to day co-ordination and management of dietetics within the designated clinical area, undertaking a complex, multi-functional role, combining managerial, clinical and professional duties and responsibilities.
To have an identified clinical role for highly complex cases within their designated service.
To provide advice and support to other dietitians and members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) within the service.
To facilitate collaborative working across dietetics, maximising on the skills of the other dietitians, dietetic assistants and other staff.
To liaise with the consultants and other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary agencies, third sector and the private sector.
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
KEY RESULT AREAS:ClinicalTo comply with the Dietetics and Health Care Professions Council code of ethics and professional conduct and to adhere to national and local policies and procedures.
To be professionally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including management of patients with complex needs.
To work autonomously, planning and prioritising plan and prioritise own patient caseload (where appropriate), with highly complex needs, using highly specialist dietetic skills. Assess and analyse dietary intake to identify problem areas in order to plan and carry out goal orientated intervention programmes with the patients. Balancing risk, safety and patient choice in order to promote maximum independence.
Use excellent communication and negotiation skills to establish a caring and therapeutic relationship in complex and sometimes highly complex cases, taking into account the views and wishes of service users, carers and families, using their autonomy. Monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure patient safety, thus maximising effectiveness of dietetic intervention.
To work with patients/families to aid their acceptance, understanding and management of their condition/disability. To provide the necessary support required in a sometimes hostile/antagonistic or highly emotional atmosphere.
To use highly advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills which implement evidence based practice.
To produce nutrition education resources, diet sheets and patient literature, ensuring that these convey complex nutritional information in an understandable form for clients who may have barriers to understanding.
To be responsible for risk assessments and make recommendations to reduce risk to meet the needs of service users, staff, and the wider service/ organisation.
To maintain complete, accurate, defensible clinical records commensurate with the Trust and Dietetic professional standards.
To have and maintain a current working knowledge of the safe use of a range of equipment and products relevant to the service area.
To actively encourage the provision of placements for student dietitians and support team members with students training and appraisal.
To be involved and committed to dietetic audit, evidence based practice and clinical research where appropriate, in order to promote best possible practice in the relevant clinical area.
In the capacity as a representative of dietetic services to liaise and communicate effectively with consultants, senior managers, professional lead, other medical, therapy and nursing staff, social services, voluntary and private agencies.
To identify the need for education/training programmes to a broad range of health and social care workers, on complex nutritional issues (insert relevant area e.g. palliative care, eating disorders, dementia), symptom management and communication skills, and to organise, plan, deliver and evaluate training programmes.
To undertake a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of a specialist group of service users (insert specialist area e.g. palliative care, eating disorders, dementia), encouraging integrated working and maximising the potential for inter-disciplinary collaboration, to improve service user outcomes and ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service through interpretation/application of local and national frameworks and guidance.
To undertake own continuous professional development (CPD), participate in regular clinical and managerial supervision, to organise peer reviews and maintain up to date knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to the area of speciality through research and work within clinical interest groups. To ensure all dietetic staff members take responsibility for their own CPD.
To be responsible for the effective delivery of clinical support and supervision to all dietetic staff within the team.
To be responsible for raising appropriate issues with the Professional Lead.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Degree or equivalent in Nutrition and Dietetics or post graduate qualification in Dietetics
- Ability to demonstrate competence at Masters Level
- Current valid HCPC registration
- Clinical Supervisory Skills Course accreditation or to achieve within twelve months
Desirable- MSc/Diploma in relevant area.
Physical AttributesEssential- Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Special Knowledge/SkillsEssential- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Excellent leadership skills.
- Excellent teaching skills.
- Supervision skills
- Ability to demonstrate highly specialised clinical reasoning and treatment skills.
- Excellent team working skills
- Proven experience of time management.
- Excellent Prioritisation skills
- Negotiating skills
- Knowledge of local and national guidance relevant to clinical area.
DesirableExperienceEssential- Extensive appropriate post-registration experience relevant to clinical area.
- Experience in supervising and managing staff
Personal AttributesEssential- Ability to risk assess and deal with health and safety matters for own and others work area and caseloads.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to role
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service possibly including evenings and weekend working.
TrainingEssential- Evidence of continuing professional development and post graduate training in relevant area
Desirable- Management or leadership training.
- Behaviour Change Management Level 2
- Audit training
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application. 
