JOB DESCRIPTION 1. JOB IDENTIFICATION Job Title: Job Reference: Base: Contracted Hours: Dietitian - Rotational PCS1175 Central Borders / Borders General Hospital (BGH) 37.5 hrs per week Grade: Band 5 Responsible to: Department: Dietetic Team Leaders Acute and Community Nutrition and Dietetics Date this job description written/updated: September 2009 2. JOB PURPOSE To provide comprehensive high quality, effective evidence based clinical service to: Primary Care, undertaking out-patient clinics, domiciliary visits, and to Community Hospitals and care homes. Acute, covering designated wards and some out-patient/ day-patient work at BGH. To contribute to the development of the service according to priorities agreed with dietetic team leaders / Lead Clinician.
3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART Advanced Dietitian / Team Leader (Acute) Advanced Dietitian / Team Leader (Community) BGH Specialist Dietitians Dietitian (Rotational) THIS POST Specialist Community Dietitians 4. SCOPE AND RANGE Junior member of department providing dietetic care under supervision from senior colleagues. Deliver dietetic care to acute and community patients, as individuals and occasionally in groups. - Patient types include paediatrics, people with Learning disabilities, mental health problems, palliative care patients. Provide education and training to other healthcare professional as required. 5. MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES To undertake nutritional assessment of referred patients to develop individual nutritional plans taking into account the patients medical diagnosis and condition. - Typical referrals include enteral feeding, food allergy, diabetes, nutritional support, weight management, gastro-enterology, cancer and palliative care. To arrange ongoing dietetic care as appropriate, to facilitate understanding of the condition and motivation to make dietary changes required to optimise health. To liaise with and advise the Catering Department of any special requirements for individual patients to enable their nutritional care plans to be fulfilled.
To assist in the preparation and evaluation of diet sheets, teaching materials and nutritional information. To keep Senior Dietitians / Team leaders informed of all operational matters on a regular basis. To work as a member of the dietetic team supporting each other and covering during staff absence within clinical competence as requested. To communicate effectively as part of a clinical multidisciplinary team, and when appropriate undertake key worker role, providing professional advice and expertise to dietetic colleagues and other health care professionals to ensure a seamless service with primary care and tertiary centres. Undertake Health Promotion activities within localities Assist Senior Dietitians in training Student Dietitians and the ongoing nutritional training of nursing and other health professionals within the Trust. To develop clinical skills and competencies, receiving supervision and mentoring from experienced dietitians, undertaking CPD and the Flying Start programme (if appropriate). The postholder must maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service business. 6. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT To be competent in the correct use of nutritional assessment tools including height measures, weighing scales, skin fold callipers (to measure body fat and muscle), Dynamometer (for measuring grip strength) thereby ensuring accurate monitoring of anthropometric measurements. To be competent in the safe and effective use or delivery of Enteral feeding pumps and related equipment, for patients being tube fed in hospital, in care homes and at home. Regular use of the following software packages: - - outlook express, microsoft office, nutritional analysis, diabetes database, epex3, iexpress, NewLabs, GPASS. Responsible for the confidentiality and safe keeping of dietetic records. 7. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS To plan and organise own caseload and other work commitments with guidance from Senior Dietitians to ensue optimal prioritisation of clinical workload. Keep dietetic records and statistics in accordance with department policy. Practice in accordance with department and Trust Policies and Guidelines seeking clarification from Senior Dietitians to ensure consistent practices within the department. Participate in dietetic meetings, clinical governance initiatives, and department and Trust Clinical Effectiveness Meetings. To undertake a personal development review with the line manager on an annual basis.
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS Dietitians are highly skilled communicators who translate complex scientific and health information into practical guidance that the patient, client groups and professionals can understand and act upon. To provide dietary advice and lifestyle counselling to support behavioural change, with the aim of helping the patient to understand issues, overcome any barriers and lessen resistance to change. This requires empathy and highly developed skills in negotiation, goal setting and motivational techniques. Within the multi-disciplinary team, to relay concise and relevant information about patients with complex nutritional needs. To be an efficient communicator ensuring a seamless service with primary care and tertiary centres. To provide support and advice in emotionally demanding situations e.g. for terminally ill patients, dealing with inappropriate or challenging behaviour, and patients with mental health problems. Dietitians are contactable by patients and healthcare professionals at all times during working hours by phone or bleep. This can result in unpredictable work patterns, interruptions, and crisis management, and requires a flexible approach to prioritising the workload. Methods of communication include reports, discharge summaries, letters, e- mail, telephone, case conferences, meetings, informal discussions and presentations. Regular communication is undertaken with the following: - Patients, relatives, carers Health Promotion Department GPs and the Primary Care Team BGH Consultants and health care staff Dietetic staff Voluntary organisations Scottish Borders Council Lifelong Care and Education Dietitians from other Health Board areas re: Transfer of patients Clinical Teams e.g. Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Pharmacy Department, area supplies, catering department. 9.PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB Domiciliary Work occasionally working in cramped, unpleasant and offensive conditions Long clinics involving long periods of intensive work. Clinics are usually four hours but can last all day Keyboard working. Undertaking anthropometric measurements including, heights, weights, skin fold measurements, waist diameters etc. which requires skill and dexterity. Frequent exposure to unpleasant smells, body fluids, body and foot odour in
ward situations and in out patient clinics. Moving equipment weighing scales (8kg), and bundles of case notes (11kg) with and without moving and handling equipment e.g. frequently carrying equipment where there is difficult access. Travelling and driving long distances in all weathers. Exposure to distressing circumstances e.g. aggressive patients/carers. 10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB Managing competing priorities alongside an ever-increasing clinical caseload. Maintaining expert knowledge and skills in a wide range of clinical areas. Significant periods of lone working, without immediate supervision / support. Liaising and providing input to a number of multidisciplinary teams, wards and healthcare professionals; each of whom have their own priorities an expect a prompt dietetic response. 11. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB ESSENTIAL Minimum of satisfactory completion of clinical placement as Student Dietitian during training. Degree/equivalent diploma. Health Professional Council registered Dietitian. Willingness to undertake CPD / Flying Start programme. Willingness to undertake clinical supervisory skill training. Professional indemnity insurance. KNOWLEDGE Broad knowledge of clinical dietetics. Knowledge of British Dietetic Association Professional Standards. Understanding of Clinical Governance. Basic computer skills. SKILLS An ability to work well with others. Ability to work independently but recognise limits of competence and know when to seek support from senior staff. Flexible and adaptable approach to tasks. Willingness to participate in clinical supervision. Able to generate written communications that are relevant, concise, accurate and legible. Excellent communication, negotiation and motivational skills/ behavioural change with individuals and groups. Able to verbally communicate complex instructions and dietary advice to other
health professionals and patients, either on an individual basis, to a group or by telephone. Audit and research. Presentation skills. Competent IT skills in Outlook, data input, word processing and dietary analysis. Car driver. Good time management. PERSONAL QUALITIES An ability to work well with others. Ability to work independently but recognise limits of competence and know when to seek support from senior staff. Flexible and adaptable approach to tasks. Willingness to participate in clinical supervision. Ability to work in many settings within the hospital, wards, clinics, and office. Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of disciplines. Professional approach and appearance.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Grade and salary: Hours of work: Annual leave: Public Holidays: Band 5, 22,218 to 28,746 per annum 37.5 hours per week, Fixed Term for 1 year 27 days per annum Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbooks. 8 days per annum on dates designated by NHS Borders Details of other types of leave entitlement (such as sick leave) are set out in the Agenda for Change handbook. Superannuation: The post-holder is entitled to join the NHS superannuation pension scheme. If Unsuccessful: If you have NOT heard from us within 4 WEEKS of the closing date, then we regret that your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we appreciate your interest in working with NHS Borders and your time and effort in completing the application form. We would welcome your application for future posts. Equal Opportunities: In NHS Borders, we believe that all staff should be treated equally in employment. We will not discriminate against any member of staff, or job applicant, on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation. Trade Union membership. Disclosure checks: We carry out criminal record checks on new staff who fall within certain staff groups within NHS Borders, through Disclosure Scotland. We send out Disclosure Forms to all shortlisted candidates for these staff groups, and ask for these to be completed and returned at interview. If a successful-at-interview candidate forgets to bring their completed form to interview, then they will be required to return the form (and proofs of identity) within 7 days, otherwise the provisional job offer will be withdrawn. Unsuccessful candidates forms will be shredded. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to this post. Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland: Your performance must comply with the Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland and with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers
(in line with CEL 23 (2010)), both subject to amendment from time to time, which are attached. If, despite ongoing support, you fail to adhere to the Standards or to comply with the code, your performance will be managed in line with the NHS Borders Management of Employee Capability Policy and could result in the termination of your employment with NHS Borders. Tobacco policy: We have a Tobacco policy in place. When selecting staff, we do not discriminate against applicants who smoke, but staff must observe our policy on smoking. Hepatitis B: We offer Hepatitis B immunisation through our Occupational Health Service (OHS). If you think you may be at risk of contracting Hepatitis B through your job, you should ask for this immunisation at OHS. If your work involves exposure-prone procedures, you must keep to the document Protecting Health Care Workers and Patients from Hepatitis B, and the NHSiS Management Executive Directive on this issue. You must be immune to Hepatitis B, and if you cannot prove that you are immune, OHS will investigate to find out whether you are Hepatitis B positive or not. Health and Safety at Work: You must look after the health and safety of yourself and anyone else who may be affected by what you do at work. You must also co-operate with us to make sure that we keep to legal and organisational safety regulations. You can get more information from the NHS Borders Health & Safety Adviser. The closing date for completed application forms will be: 5pm Thursday 19 th May 2016