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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To organise a daily clinical caseload and base practice on clinical priorities / referral criteria, standards and protocols.
• To be responsible for designated outpatient clinics for patients who have complex medical conditions.
• To undertake comprehensive nutritional assessments of patients and make clinical judgements on a range of complex dietetic problems.
• To formulate individualised management and treatment plans autonomously, using clinical reasoning
• 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 assess drug treatment plans and amend dietary intervention as appropriate.
• To acknowledge possible communication barriers and to tailor dietetic advice and supporting information to the patient / client’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 always use a ‘real food’ approach and where this is not successful, advise on the use of prescribed and specialist food products complying with ICB policies.
• To communicate effectively with health professionals and other relevant staff (e.g. catering, pharmacy, medical teams, and nurses) regarding the dietetic management of patients.
• To be responsible for the discharge planning of those patients with ongoing specialist dietary needs including those requiring home enteral feeding.
• To undertake professional and educational activities to develop knowledge and ensure maintenance of professional / clinical standards. These could include external courses, internet based research, membership to professional groups and clinical update sessions.
• To take part in the annual appraisal process and develop a personal development plan
• To be legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of professional practice, adhering to guidelines set out in the Health and Care Professions Council.
• To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
• To participate in the training of student dietitians and to provide supervision and feedback.
• To assist in the induction of new staff members.
• To plan and undertake the teaching of healthcare professionals and care staff, which could involve the use of PowerPoint and other visual aids.
• 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 be competent in the use of information technology, including the use of nutritional software to assist with the completion of nutritional assessments.

• Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment (VCOD) for Healthcare Workers - Candidates offered a role with Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, who are aged 18 and over and who will have direct, face to face contact with service users as part of their role will be required to evidence that they have received a complete course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, subject to limited exceptions. This will include front-line workers, as well as non-clinical workers not directly involved in patient care but who nevertheless may have direct, face to-face contact with patients, such as receptionists and ward clerks.