Band 5 Rotational Dietitian

Job summary
This is a rotational Band 5 Dietitian role at St Georges Hospital. The role is part of a 6-month rotation scheme in the areas of community, cardiothoracic, gastroenterology, neurosciences/neurosurgery and senior health/acute medicine. This will provide an excellent opportunity for the postholder to further develop their clinical and professional skills.

The postholder would be responsible for providing a dietetic service to a variety of patient groups, following evidence-based practice, being an active multidisciplinary team member, being an educator, developing nutrition policy and guidelines, participating in audit and research in order to improve health outcomes and develop the role and service.

Main duties of the job
Deliver inpatient dietetic care to inpatients at St Georges Hospital in areas related to rotation including oral nutrition support and enteral tube feeding.

Deliver an outpatient service to patients under consultants at St Georges Hospital including nutrition support, hypercholesterolaemia, weight management, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, IBS and other conditions.

Deliver teaching about malnutrition screening and ward based nutritional interventions to staff as part of induction and adhoc on wards.

Deliver patient talks including cardiac rehab, pulmonary rehab and "healthy bones".

Participating in departmental audits and service development.

About us
The successful candidate will join a well-established, supportive dietetic department working alongside experienced dietitians across a range of specialties. The postholder will work within in team of 5 Band 5 Dietitians covering different rotations including GI, Neuro, Senior Health, T&O, Chronic Diseases and Community. Our team thrives on MDT collaboration, clinical innovation, and audit involvement. As a teaching hospital, we offer continuous learning, CPD support, shadowing of different specialities and student supervision opportunities.

The wider dietetic department consists of over 70 dietitians, who provide clinical inpatient and outpatient services to a variety of specialties including oncology, renal, neurology, haematology,paediatrics, cardiology, major trauma, gastro, surgical, diabetes, infectious diseases and HIV. The department is committed to training dietetic students and actively participates in the training programmes of clinical and non-clinical staff. There are numerous opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job responsibilities
CLINICAL PRACTICE
Practice autonomously, providing high quality clinical practice within the rotation, with support from supervisors as required

Be proactive in clinical decision making underpinned by a basic level of theoretical and practical knowledge.

Use clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge of service users in specialist area.

Undertake holistic nutritional assessments including the calculation of nutritional requirements on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physical parameters in those with complex needs.

To be experienced in the use of anthropometric equipment for assessment of nutritional status, such as bioelectrical impedance, callipers and hand grip dynamometer and interpretation of results.

To develop a suitable dietetic treatment plan based on evidence-based practice and provide nutritional advice to service users, in collaboration with their carers, where needs are complex. This involves the interpretation and communication of complex and sensitive information in an understandable form.

Where appropriate, to advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs for service users and to assist in instructing chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse the menu cycle to ensure suitability for the service users and make recommendations to the site Catering Manager.

Demonstrate some knowledge in relation to pattern of disease or disorder, marker of condition progression and range of treatment available at each stage of disorder or condition.

To provide dietetic advice to the multidisciplinary team, through attendance and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.

To recommend and advise on the prescription of suitable cost effective ACBS products including oral nutritional supplements, enteral feeding products and gluten free products to service users within speciality, in line with SW London Alliance prescribing guidelines.

To be responsible for ensuring written and electronic patient records are completed for all patient contacts including statistical activity data records in accordance with professional, departmental and trust standards.

The ability to manage distressing situations, involving the treatment of terminally ill and very unwell patients. This results in exposures to complex situations and distressed clients and their relatives / carers.

To ensure flexible service delivery and provide clinical cover for colleagues during periods of absence.

LEADERSHIP
To participate in the recruitment and selection of Dietetic assistants according to trust policy.

To be responsible for the clinical supervision of student Dietitians following appropriate training

To be proactive within the band 5 team, at times taking a leadership role in caseload management, and ensure safe practice by managing waiting lists, referrals and discharges.

To be aware of Key Performance Indicators and provide data for reports for specialist service where applicable.

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

• Contribute to audit and service evaluation to inform service improvement.
• Being aware of range of outcome and quality indices and measures
• Critically analyse research findings and their implications for practice.
• Review recent publications and research to ensure practice is evidence based and up to date.

To be able to research, develop, produce and publish evidence-based departmental literature in the area of specialisation, including use of patient forums, in line with British Dietetic Association guidelines and those of other relevant expert organisations.

FACILITATED LEARNING

• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge relevant to role and specialist area by engaging in a range of relevant learning and development activities.
• Where appropriate, to educate others in the healthcare team of the nutritional management of the specialist area including teaching for medical, nursing, therapies and community staff within the trust.
• Where appropriate to deliver education sessions to patients and their carers and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• To review and develop dietary information and education materials in the area of rotation, based on evidence-based practice.
• To review and develop dietary information and education materials in the area of rotation, based on evidence-based practice.

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• BSc / Post graduate diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics
• HCPC registered

Experience
Essential

• Pre-registration placement completion.

Desirable

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of working in acute and/or primary care

Skills
Essential

• Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
• Ability to prioritise own workload
• Computer literacy
• Motivation and counselling skills
• Presentation skills and ability to work effectively single handily with individuals and groups
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and under own initiative
• Ability to liaise with professionals at all levels

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of dietetics within the NHS

Other
Essential

• Membership of British Dietetic Association or other body conferring professional indemnity insurance
• Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
• Able to maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
• Confident and Self Motivated
• Able to reflect and appraise own performance
• Able to travel round Borough of Wandsworth

Desirable

• Own transport e.g. car/bike

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.