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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE SUMMARY:

•          To lead, manage and supervise a team of dietitians working with adults at Lister Hospital. To support other Dietetic staff working within Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.

·         To have responsibility whilst working as a job share, to organise and deliver a comprehensive highly specialised clinical dietetic service delivered by the dietitians working predominately at Lister Hospital, Stevenage.

·         To contribute on issues related to nutrition with the relevant multidisciplinary teams.

·         To give clinical leadership, collaborating with stakeholders and peers, and representing the Nutrition and Dietetic Service on working parties associated with this.

·         To have a clinical caseload of patients

 RESPONSIBILITIES / ACCOUNTABILITIES:

 Operational Delivery

·         To be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and management of the dietetic team (up to band 6) working with adult patients based at Lister Hospital, Stevenage to ensure that resources are deployed effectively and are well coordinated.

·         To prioritise referrals according to departmental standards and to give guidance to the administrative assistants on issues associated with the organisation of the referrals.

·         To be competent in the use of information technology.

·         To ensure effective working with other departments and specialist areas that has close links with the Nutrition and Dietetic Service for example consultants, nurses, other NHS Trusts.

 Patient / Customer Care

·         To assimilate and analyse highly complex patient information from a variety of sources, including health records. This would include a patient’s diagnosis and the results of any investigations.

·         To undertake comprehensive nutritional assessments of patients and make clinical judgements on a range of highly complex dietetic problems that requires investigation, analysis and assessment.

·         To formulate individualised management and treatment plans autonomously, using clinical reasoning, and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a programme of care.

·         To be responsible for the formulation of highly specialist dietetic advice within the field of acute dietetics to ensure a high standard of clinical care.

·         To utilise developed communication and teaching skills in the adjustment of plans in the areas described in the job purpose. This follows negotiation with the patient / client / carer /parent/guardian using communication skills that include motivational aspects in order to maximise patient compliance.

·         To acknowledge possible communication barriers and to tailor dietetic advice and supporting information to the patient / client’s/parent/guardian’s needs.

·         To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

·         To advise on the use of prescribable and specialist food products.

·         To assess the drug treatment plans and amend dietary intervention as appropriate.

·         To identify the need for and request further investigations e.g. blood biochemistry necessary in the dietetic treatment and monitoring of patients.

·         To monitor the patient’s progress using a variety of sources including nutritional assessment, biochemistry, weight and food record charts and to use these to review and alter treatment as appropriate.

·         To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with health professionals and other relevant staff (e.g. nurses, consultants, pharmacy, Dietitians in other Trusts) regarding the dietetic management of patients.

·         Along with the wider team, initiate, develop, evaluate and update nutritional resources and patient literature.

·         To cover clinical duties such as enteral feeding / parenteral nutrition in units such as stroke and intensive care.

·         To network with dietitians across the Trust-wide Nutrition and Dietetic Service.

·         To be an effective leader and communicator who motivates others.

 Strategic Management

·         To assist the Clinical and Operational Lead and Service Manager in the development of service planning and strategies for Hertfordshire.

·         To contribute to Service policies including Business Continuity plans.

·         To represent the Nutrition and Dietetic Service at relevant meetings within ENHNHST, building relationships with other health care providers working in the secondary care setting.

Service Development and Improvement

·         To provide the clinical lead for the translation and integration of evidence based research guidelines into clinical practice within Dietetics through an advanced level of clinical reasoning and decision-making.

·         To attend and contribute clinical, service and statutory meetings as appropriate including Clinical Governance meetings.

·         To lead, contribute and present clinical audit and evaluation of evidence based practice as appropriate.

·         To critically appraise and review current literature on relevant topics.

·         To lead in the development and implementation of nutritional standards, guidelines, protocols and policies relating to Nutritional care at ENHNHST.

·         To consider clinical and non-clinical risk management as part of day-to-day work for the department and to complete and act upon incident report forms as appropriate.

·         To be legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional practice, adhering to guidelines set out in the Health Care Professions Council.

·         To represent the Nutrition and Dietetic Service at relevant working parties and act as a specialist resource for health professionals and outside agencies.

·         To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.

Management and Leadership 

• To be responsible for the day-to-day organisation and management of the of the dietetic team working with adults in Lister hospital to ensure that resources are deployed effectively and are well coordinated.

·         To organise and participate in leave cover when other members of the dietetic team are absent, according to clinical competencies and to agree a cover rota. This includes providing cover for the other band 7 leads during periods of leave.

·         To annually appraise the dietetic and support staff accountable to the post holder and help plan their objectives and personal development plan. To assess their progress at agreed intervals.

·         To take part in the annual appraisal process and develop a personal development plan.

·         To participate in the Nutrition and Dietetic Service clinical supervision process.

·         To provide clinical supervision and guidance to newly qualified Dietitians to assist them in their professional development.

·         To provide clinical guidance and support to Dietitians to assist them in their professional development.

·         To train and supervise student dietitians and undertake assessments of knowledge and skills, feeding this back to the student as part of their assessment programme. To be involved in the planning of the student programme during their placements and to act as mentor for student dietitians where required. To also enable and support the Integrated team in this process.

·         To plan and be responsible for the induction of new staff members.

·         To promote continuous professional development (CPD) to enable other Dietitians to develop to their full potential.

·         To display the ability to manage change and contain conflict to ensure resolution with positive outcome.

·         To actively recruit and retain staff to the Nutrition and Dietetic Service under the guidance of the Band 8A Dietitian and with support as appropriate.

·         To create and develop evidence based protocols for referral and care pathways to facilitate best practice and clinical risk management.

·         To facilitate clinical audit and development projects that enhance service development.

Communication and Relationship Building

·         To utilise developed communication and teaching skills in the adjustment of plans in the areas described in the job purpose. This follows negotiation with the patient / client / carer/parent/guardian using communication skills that include motivational aspects in order to maximise patient compliance.

·         To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with health professionals and other relevant staff (e.g. medical teams, pharmacy, nurses) regarding the dietetic management of patients.

·         To network with dietitians across the Trust-wide Nutrition and Dietetic Service.

·         To be an effective leader and communicator who motivates others.

Finance and Resource Management

·         To be an authorised signatory for travel expenses.

·         To be involved in the investigation of incident reports related to the dietetic team based at Lister Hospital, working with adults.

Information Management

·         To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation in line with national and local record keeping standards and to communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of letters and reports.

·         To collect accurate statistical information to assist in the monitoring and development of the Nutrition and Dietetic Service and in line with the requirements of the Trust and other purchasers.