About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 highly motivated individuals to join the South East London (SEL) Dietetic Prescribing Support Service. Role is 0.8 WTE 30h per week.This opportunity lends itself to individuals looking to widen their skillset, build their CV with more varied and diverse experiences or for those wanting to be actively involved with service development. The role offers a wide range of benefits including opportunities for flexible working, hybrid working, professional development opportunities and initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance.
The service has been commissioned by SEL ICB and provides dietetic prescribing support services across the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley.
The post includes providing dietetic assessment and treatment of patients, writing and delivering teaching sessions for staff and patients, being involved in audit and research, service development, quality improvement projects and line management responsibilities.
The team is comprised of a Principal Prescribing Support Dietitian (B8), x 2 Senior Specialist PSD (B7), x3 Paediatric PSDs (B7), x3 Specialist PSDs (B6) and x2 Advanced Dietetic Assistants (B4).
VACANCIES MAY BE CLOSED SOONER THAN THE ADVERTISED CLOSING DATE. The Dietetic Department is currently piloting transparent interviews for some job roles, therefore please read any supporting information provided by recruitment.
Main duties of the job
The aim of this service is to improve and standardise care pathways and achieve best-value care for patients requiring oral nutrition support in SEL.
As well as reviewing patients who have been prescribed nutrition supplements, the team work collaboratively alongside Primary Care Networks, acute care dietetic teams and community care homes to ensure that patients are receiving optimal nutritional care along their treatment pathways.
The service provides training and guidance to GPs, pharmacists and other community healthcare teams on the identification and treatment of malnutrition in the community and appropriate use of oral nutrition support prescription products.
The service will improve the quality of nutritional care that patients at risk from malnutrition receive whilst at the same time ensuring local healthcare resources are used effectively and efficiently.
You will need to be a motivated self-starter who can engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders. You will need to be good at analysing data and will be expected to complete reports to regular deadlines as well as having excellent clinical dietetics skills
As a senior member of the team, responsibilities will also include clinical support and supervision of junior team members, induction and student training responsibilities. The role will also require leadership of SEL-wide working groups such as care home and secondary care working groups and associated workstreams.
About us
You will be joining a dietetics department of well over 120 staff working across Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina Children Hospital and community services. The department has a strong commitment to staff development and you will enjoy the benefits of being part of one of the biggest Nutrition and Dietetics Departments in Europe who as an organisation are at the forefront of healthcare service development and research.
We are a large Academic Health Sciences Centre with King's College London and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced clinicians and leading researchers in the Trust and at King's College London.
Job description Job responsibilities
To be responsible for the development and provision of a specialist, evidence based dietetic service for GPs and patients who are prescribed Oral Nutrition Supplements in SEL. To be a senior member of the prescribing dietetic team responsible for providing advice and guidance on use of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) to patients and clinicians within a designated area. To be responsible for reviewing patients on prescribed oral nutrition supplements in an outpatient setting and advising GPs and practice pharmacists on optimal prescribing of nutrition supplements. To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home. To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home. To use local prescribing systems and GP notes to identify patients being prescribed ONS, review their nutrition care plans and modify these appropriately in conjunction with the GP / practice pharmacist. Provide education/training sessions and discuss patient care plans with HCPs across SEL in a variety of healthcare settings, including but no limited to GPs and care homes To provide expert advice to clinicians, patients and carers regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This will involve nutritional assessment, to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry clinical condition and other physical parameters. To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental and multi-disciplinary team procedures. To provide clinical cover for colleagues within the prescribing support dietetic team To provide clinical support, clinical supervision, line management to junior staff members To support with training and assessment of students, and induction of new dietetic staff / ADAs To support the SEL PSD service development and updating of clinical guidelines To provide highly complex nutrition counselling to patients and/or their carers requiring post registration cognitive behavioural therapy and use of reassurance and motivational skills to overcome barriers to change particularly where there is non-compliance. Ability to utilise developed communication and teaching skills to educate the diverse and multicultural population with barriers to understanding, both on a one to one basis and in groups. This will include patients with severe communication problems. To lead on the design, implementation and evaluation of multi-disciplinary protocols and procedures aimed at improving the nutritional status of patients. To develop, implement and audit innovative methods of delivering education sessions. To research, develop, produce and publish evidence-based literature on adult nutrition, including use of patient forums. To ensure safe practice through development of caseload management plan considering risk management and documentation and reporting of critical incidents as outlined in the Trust policy. To take responsibility for ongoing clinical excellence through evidence-based practice and development of standards, policies and guidelines in conjunction with the departmental standards committee. To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs of care home patients, and to assist in instructing chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse the menu cycle to ensure suitability for elderly care, and make recommendations to the site Catering Manager To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental research and audit procedures. It will be expected that any relevant findings should be published or presented at appropriate conferences. To actively participate in departmental evidence-based groups and help to ensure that the trusts clinical governance requirements are met. To comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and departmental policies. To maintain professional behaviour in with Trust policy and BDA/Health Professions Council standards. To be an active team member of the Dietetic Department at Guys and St Thomas participating in departmental developments and projects and attending monthly staff and continuing professional development meetings. To participate fully in the appraisal process and develop a strategy for continuing professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation. In consultation with the post-holder, undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Dietetic Services Manager.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Broad post registration experience within Clinical Dietetics Working as part of a team Experience in specialist area
Desirable
Conducting audit and or research Experience of training student dietitians Experience in Prescribing Support Dietetics
Skills Essential
good communication organisational skills Presentation skills- including talking to large groups time management Maintain confidentiality
Desirable
Computer Literacy
Knowledge Essential
BSc (Hons) Degree in Dietetics or equivalent Current state registration (HCPC registered dietitian) Evidence of CPD
Desirable
NHS experience Experience in Prescribing Support
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Address Mary Sheridan Centre for Health
Wooden Spoon House, 5 Dugard Way, London
London
SE11 4TH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)