- To work as part of the dietetic team to provide a nutrition and dietetic service by carrying out supportive clinical and non-clinical duties in an acute and community.
- To work independently on a one-to-one basis with Nutrition Support patients in the in the community and to review treatment under the supervision of a community dietitian.
- To deliver group teaching sessions given to staff or the general public where required.
- To organise and regulate the upkeep of equipment, stocks and working environment when required.
- To communicate effectively with dietitians and other team members giving feedback on treatment and progress.
- Clinical To apply knowledge of nutrition support to patients (including home visits) within the general community dietetic caseload working closely with a dietitian. To liaise with the Community Dietitians regarding patient treatment on a regular basis utilising a range of skills including nutrition risk assessment, reviewing nutrition support care plans, carrying out the nutritional analysis of patient food diaries using the appropriate IT software and motivation of patients regarding dietary change. To collect relevant information regarding treatment such as anthropometry, biochemistry results and patients social/home circumstances, as required by the dietitian. To work without direct supervision, to use initiative and common sense in order to determine appropriate treatment, being aware of changes in a patients wellbeing and the outcomes of treatment. To report back the patients progress to the dietitian. To implement dietetic treatment plans under the supervision of a dietitian. To facilitate special menus for individual patients as required. To produce daily reports for the dietitian as requested. To communicate effectively, including telephone contact, with patients, relatives, and carers regarding patient treatment considering patient confidentiality. This may include patients with barriers to understanding. To communicate effectively with the dietetic team, including reporting on patients progress to the supervising dietitian. To feed back to the multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses and other health care professionals regarding present patient care and treatment. To be responsible for documenting intervention in the necessary places and to input statistical data regarding patient contact. To assist in maintaining patient safety at all times. To liaise with nursing homes to maximise the nutritional care of patients. To treat and reassure patients with distressing conditions such as dysphagia and cachexia including those who may be terminally ill.
- To maintain specific dietary resources including department diet information sheets and supplements.
- Administrative To perform administration tasks as required by community dietetic department. This may include taking messages, writing letters, stock control and providing support to dietitians and diet therapy practitioners with administrative tasks relating to the electronic records system. To support the Community Dietitians and Community Team Lead in other administrative tasks deemed appropriate to your banding.
- Professional To observe and adhere to departmental, Trust and professional standards, guidelines and policies. To maintain those departmental competencies relevant to the role of a dietetic assistant. To monitor and audit own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain high standards of care and to contribute to the gathering of outcomes data. To be aware of the scope of own practice and operate within own limits. To participate in the departmental appraisal scheme, undergoing an annual individual performance review with a dietitian. To facilitate and participate in continuing professional development (CPD) and to continue with ongoing skills development. To attend mandatory training sessions such as in-service training, fire training, manual handling and resuscitation and complete on line mandatory training in a timely manner. To participate in the training of students. To document, record and make available all audit information.
- Organisational When requested, to support the acute dietitians in undertaking daily checks for any new inpatient referrals and to ascertain any discharges of current inpatients and organise outpatient follow-up if required. To employ good time management skills and being able to organise and plan workload on a day-to-day basis, including the covering of work in the case of staff absence. To participate as required in relevant projects, audits or programmes of research. To contribute to discussions relating to practice changes within own area of work. To represent the dietetic service at meetings if required and to support established meetings including departmental meetings. To help design, maintain and update departmental professional resources including training and educational resources, diet sheets and product literature. To manage resources on the ward, in storage areas, and at other locations. To support the departmental electronic management of stocks and supplies. To liaise with community dietetic staff, Primary Care health professionals and other relevant care agencies in the community. Person Specification
- o4 GCSEs Grade C and above or equivalent, to include Maths and English.
- oEducated to A level standard or equivalent experience
- oNVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience
- oMembership of the BDA Dietetic Assistant interest group.
- oNVQ in a health or nutrition related field.
- oExperience of working in a hospital or community healthcare environment.
- oAppreciation of the differing needs of patients.
- oExperience of teaching/training others.
- oExperience of administration/IT competent.
- oKnowledge &/or experience of working with malnutrition.
- oKnowledge of the functions of a Dietetic Department.
- oUnderstanding of the need to minimise risks to health and safety.
- oExperience of working with patients
- oAble to communicate effectively (both collecting and imparting information).
- oAble to prioritise, use own initiative and problem solve.
- oGood organisational and time management skills.
- oAble to maintain quality and accuracy despite interruptions.
- oAble to recognise limits of own role.
- oAble to use Microsoft Office
- oAble to deal appropriately with pressured situations.
- oAble to deal appropriately with patients and families experiencing a terminal illness
- oAble to carry loads of up to 5 kgs
- oFrequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Community Dietetic Assistant - Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom - West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Description
Job summary
Community Dietetic Assistant
We are a department of 45 Dietitians and associates providing an integrated dietetic service to the West Suffolk Hospital and the wider community. The West Suffolk Dietetic service is a diverse and innovative department that is currently involved in several large-scale service development projects that aim to improve patient care and showcase the value of dietetics. We fully support and encourage professional development opportunities within our service.
We are looking to recruit a permanent 1 WTE ( hrs per week) Band 3 Dietetic Assistant to come and join our friendly and forward-thinking community team supporting the provision of a general community dietetic service including specialist provision for patients with nutrition support needs in West Suffolk.
Please note Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Main duties of the job
The Dietetic Assistant will work as part of the Community Dietetic Service carrying out clinical and non-clinical duties. Clinical duties will include reviewing patient's dietetic treatment plans in a variety of settings, such as at home, in hospital or via the telephone under the direct and indirect supervision of a dietitian.
Non-clinical duties may include liaising with care homes to ensure relevant referral information has been received, registering new referrals on the hospital notes system and co-ordinating appointments for some dietitians.
If you would like to discuss this role further please contact Nina O'Brien - on
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
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