Specialist Dietitian- Nutrition Support and Gastroenterology

An exciting opportunity has arisen to gain experience in a highly specialist area within the Inpatient Dietitian team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Specialist Dietitian in Nutrition Support and Gastroenterology to join our Integrated Nutrition and Dietetic service at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for a fixed term of 11 months covering a Maternity Leave. You will work alongside a band 7 Dietitian to provide a safe, effective and evidence-based dietetic service to nutrition support and gastroenterology patients.

You will be joining a supportive Dietetic team, as well as working as an integral part of an MDT alongside consultants and specialist nurses. The successful candidate will support driving quality improvement within the service.

We are looking for a passionate and innovative dietitian who is keen to share and develop their clinical knowledge that they have acquired in relation to nutrition support and Gastroenterology. The role requires excellent communication and team working skills, as well as the ability to work autonomously to manage a specialist caseload.

The successful post-holder should be genuinely passionate about Gastroenterology patients, interested in service development and audits as well as flexible to cross cover other specialities as the service needs.

This 11-month fixed term position would be considered as a secondment opportunity.

Main duties of the job

To provide an efficient, effective and consistently high quality Nutrition and Dietetic service to people who require nutrition support at Stockport Foundation Trust. This will be patient-focused.

The role will focus on providing a specialist dietetic service to meet the needs of patients with complex acute and chronic disease processes.

To provide evidence-based care, education and information to patients, carers and health care professionals. This will be in a range of inpatient and outpatient settings. The post holder will have an active role in teaching other professionals, including students and patients, and responsibility for supervising junior staff.

To be an integral part of the Dietetic team, sharing the responsibility for the smooth running of the dietetic gastroenterology and nutrition support services in line with Trust performance targets.

Supervising and supporting Band 5 Dietitians and Dietetic Assistants/Support workers.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide a clinical specialist nutritional support dietetic service, involving gastroenterology and specialist nutritional support including enteral and parenteral nutrition. To manage, plan and develop dietetic treatment programmes. This involves assessing the nutritional status and requirements of complex and critically ill patients and giving dietary advice/recommendations including use of oral nutritional supplements, enteral and parenteral nutrition as required. To provide the gastroenterology dietetic service to Stepping Hill Hospital in both in and outpatient settings. This involves providing highly specialist nutritional treatment plans for patients with liver and pancreatic disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome- including low FODMAP advice, coeliac disease, short bowel and other specific problems. To work alongside consultants, specialist nurses and ward staff to provide specialist nutritional treatment plans as part of holistic patient care. Provision of expert advice on the management of patients referred to the nutrition team due to additional complex clinical and nutritional needs. To attend ward rounds, MDT meetings and best interest meetings as needed, promoting an understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in achieving the best outcome for each patient. Provide training to healthcare professionals regarding nutritional care and interventions, including presentations. Contribute to developing diet sheets and new teaching materials. Collect all data necessary to meet local requirements for service monitoring. Work in conjunction with colleagues on development and implementation of local policies based on national nutritional guidance. To identify and undertake clinical audit. Maintain professional competence and expertise, keeping up-to-date with current research, working practices and models of working. Participate in personal and professional development through objective setting and regular job review. Work as a committed and effective member of the Inpatient Dietitian, Integrated Nutrition and Dietetic, Therapy and Gastroenterology Teams in order to maximise the potential of the service and profession. Work towards gaining experience in a specialised area of dietetics if service demands require this, by shadowing and providing cover when appropriate. Observe the provisions of, and adhere to, all Trust policies and procedures. Comply with professional guidelines and Code of Practice.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Desirable

• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Member of relevant British Dietetic Association Specialist Groups
• Post graduate training in nutrition support
• Post registration training in parenteral nutrition
• Attendance at courses, conferences or study days which support dietetic knowledge and/or practice

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist knowledge across a range of nutrition and dietetic procedures acquired through degree and postgraduate experience
• Specialist knowledge relevant to clinical area
• Understanding of audit and its role in clinical practice/service development
• Knowledge of policies and procedures and guidelines relevant to role
• Awareness of dietetic products and clinical reason(s) for use
• Understanding of NHS structure and systems
• Awareness of cultural diversity and equality issues

Experience

Essential

• Post-graduate experience in clinical dietetics
• Experience in managing oral nutrition support
• Experience in managing enteral nutrition support
• Working in a multi-professional environment
• Working in a team
• Ability to work autonomously
• Managing a clinical caseload
• Clinical audit

Desirable

• Experience in managing gastroenterology patients in both an inpatient and outpatient setting
• Experience in managing eating disorder patients
• Presenting training sessions/talks
• Training student dietitians

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Able to make an assessment of nutritional issues/problems
• Ability to manage a range of nutritional issues/problems
• High quality written communication skills
• High quality verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate complex information to clients, carers and other professionals in a sensitive manner.
• Ability to adapt communication style where required (with individuals or groups)
• Ability to motivate or persuade others to facilitate change
• Able to keep accurate records relating to patient care
• Ability to reflect on practice with peers/supervisor(s)
• Active team member
• Flexibility/adaptability in handling work pressures, competing interests and busy caseload to meet service need
• Prioritisation skills
• Developed time management skills
• Well-developed problem solving/analytical skills
• Able to recognise own clinical and experience boundaries and to seek support/advice when appropriate
• Well-motivated, with a commitment to developing the service
• IT skills

Desirable

• Behaviour change skills

Work related circumstances

Essential

• Exposure to potentially distressing or emotional situations pertaining to the clinical or social circumstances of patients
• Must maintain patient confidentiality at all times
• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service

Employer details

Employer name

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Stepping Hill Hospital

Poplar Grove

Stockport

SK2 7JE

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