About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an established Inpatient therapy team!
The post is based across 2 locations. The main base is the Magnolia unit, in St Michael's Primary Care Centre and the additional bases are the Capetown and Canterbury Wards in Chase Farm Hospital.
You will assist the Dietitian & Speech & Language Therapists by undertaking clinical, administrative and practical duties within the inpatient rehabilitation therapy team.
You will contribute to the provision of the highest standards of patient care which is holistic, efficient, effective and evidence based.
Main duties of the job
To work under the supervision of qualified Dietitians and Speech & Language Therapists (SLT), to undertake a variety of clinical and non-clinical duties to support the delivery of Dietetic & Speech Therapy Service to patients.
Under supervision, you will support patients with neurological and non-neurological conditions.
Be highly motivated and able to work flexibly
To have good spoken and written English and excellent communication skills.
To have an awareness of MDT roles and a caring and empathetic approach
To be involved in the practical implementation of treatment plans designed by SLT/ Dietitians, monitoring patient response, adapting the programme within a pre-agreed framework, and reporting on progress.
Monitor patients on oral intake/ nutrition support and feedback regularly to the dietitian and SLT.
To facilitate the provision of optimal nutrition, swallowing and communication recommendations to patients on the ward.
To monitor and maintain stock and equipment
To participate in In-house training and supervision
To assist the clinical teams in a range of activities including staff training, group education, admin associated with discharges including with enteral nutrition and support community referrals where required.
About us
Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.
The Royal Free Hospital is a world-renowned teaching hospital located in Hampstead, Camden, London. Established in 1828 by surgeon William Marsden, it was the first hospital in London to provide free healthcare to patients who could not afford treatment. Today, it serves as a major teaching site for UCL Medical School and is the flagship hospital of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
Overall, the Royal Free Hospital is one of the UK's leading academic and specialist hospitals, combining high-quality patient care, medical education, research, and specialist services
Job description Job responsibilities
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To support the Dietitians and Speech and Language therapists to provide a service to patients referred by nursing and medical staff for nutritional, swallowing and communication by:
Obtaining relevant information from medical notes, patient and hospital staff.
Reviewing stable patients and their nutritional, swallowing and communication needs, alongside support of senior colleagues as needed.Telephone contacts with patients relatives to obtain case histories.
Supporting Dietitians with enteral tube feeding discharges
Delivering pre planned SLT interventions to patients in the rehabilitation setting as directed by qualified SLT
Monitoring MUST score and food record charts, and encourage nursing staff to complete these.
Advising and educating patients where necessary on menu options and foods suitable for their dietary and textural needs.
Encouraging and assisting patients to choose and take appropriate snacks, nourishing drinks and prescribed supplements as per their diet recommendations.
Identifying patients food and drink preferences as necessary with regard to snacks, nourishing drinks and prescribed supplements, alongside their diet recommendations.
Liaising with Dietitians and SLTs regarding patients progress.
Recording information on electronic patient record
Work with all members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure patients needs are met, including other therapists, medical staff, nursing staff and ward hosts/hostesses.
CATERING
To provide a link between the catering department and the dietetic and the SLT department through regular communication with catering staff including ward hosts/hostess and catering managers, and food and snack ordering.
To organise and negotiate appropriate diets or food choices for patients with catering staff as required.
TEACHING AND TRAINING
To provide pre-planned teaching sessions and presentations to members of the MDT on the impact of poor nutrition, swallowing and communication problems and to raise awareness of the importance of these in hospital.
To be involved in communication, swallowing, nutrition and hydration induction training for new staff.
Support the Dietitians and SLTs with student training.
COMMUNICATION
To communicate with colleagues, patients and visitors in a polite and professional manner at all times.
To effectively communicate simplified nutrition, swallowing and communication information to hospital staff, patients, relatives and carers
To contribute to effective team working within multi-disciplinary teams.
To handover patient information to Dietetic or SLT colleagues at other Trusts and community teams as advised by qualified therapist, as well as writing and sending GP prescription letter requests.
To liaise with Dietetic or SLT Assistants at other Trusts (where relevant) to suggest development within the post and to seek peer support.
ADMINISTRATION
Attend regular supervision with managing Dietitian/Speech and Language Therapist, completing relevant paperwork, including competencies.
To keep accurate patient records at ward and department level in line with the Trust Record Keeping policy.
To assist the Dietitians and SLTs in the administrative and computing tasks not requiring their expertise, including making resources.
Assist the Dietitians and Speech and Language therapists with data collection for audit/research projects.
To plan, manage and be able to prioritise workload with direct support.
Attend departmental meetings.
To participate in departmental projects as appropriate
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of health and safety regulations.
To ensure patient confidentiality, with the understanding information will be shared with lead therapists
To comply with all Royal Free London policies and procedures.
To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
To attend any mandatory training and induction courses as per RFH trust standards.
To report all clinical and non-clinical incidents or near misses promptly.
To report all complaints to the Dietetic and SLT leads and to co-operate with any investigations undertaken.
To undertake any other duties suitable for the role as requested by the Dietetic and SLT leads.
Person Specification
Royal Free World Class Values Essential
Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
Education & professional Qualifications Essential
GCSEs Grade 5+ or equivalent including English and Maths
Desirable
NVQ Level 3 - Nutrition or health and social care
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Strong computer skills - Word, Excel, PowerPoint Knowledge or interest in nutrition, swallow and communication Previous role in a healthcare or caring environment
Desirable
Demonstrable experience of working with a diverse range of people
Skills and aptitudes Essential
Effective written communication Effective written communication Ability to manage time effectively Ability to use initiative Ability to reassure and motivate patients Good interpersonal skills Effective organizational skills
Personal Qualities & attributes Essential
Adaptable and flexible as priorities may change quickly Able to maintain high standards of confidentiality
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).
Employer details Employer name Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Address Magnolia Unit
St. Michaels Primary Care Centre Pine Lodge, Gater Drive, Enfield, EN2 0JB
Enfield
EN2 0JB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)