Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

1.    Nature of work 

To provide community general paediatric outpatient clinics (a mix of virtual clinics and face to face, covering Cambridgeshire as required, but can nominate a chosen base within the County). 

To provide cover for the home enteral feeding caseload as service and competencies dictate. 

To consider such factors as the client’s presenting condition, past medical history, social factors and medication. 

Nutritionally diagnose, give appropriate advice and formulate feeding plans when consulting with children and young people, families and carers, as appropriate.

To carry out all aspects of a community paediatric dietetic role including the teaching of health professionals and carers. Acting as a point of reference for other health professionals and carers within Cambridge community Services, giving advice and supporting their clinical practice.

To carry out audits as service requirements dictate.

Advise on the safe use of prescribed nutritional supplementary feeds and infant formulae, adopting a food first agenda where appropriate.

Develop and update resources, for example website content and video/webinars, for children, families and carers.

Liaise with other health professionals on issues of service development and the clinical management of patients.

Prepare and give presentations as required, adapting complex information to a wide range of audiences including families, schools and health professionals.

Maintain accurate records of all patient consultations and related work carried out at each clinical session on SystmOne.

Be aware of the Trusts safeguarding procedure and act within this procedure where necessary, including the formulation of referrals/reports for social services.

 Chair, attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings.

2.    Planning 

Be responsible for own workload and for organising cover of workload during a leave of absence.

To prioritise workload according to the needs of the service.

Complete computerised SystmOne data entry within 24 hours of consultation. 

Letter to families/carers or health professionals should be completed as per letter writing procedure

3.    Specific projects 

As identified according to service needs.

4.    Patient contact 

Largely one to one with the possibility of some group contact in a variety of settings including primary care/out-patient clinics, community hospitals and schools. There is an expectation that a minimum of 80% of time is spent on patient related activity.

5.    Policy development 

To support the Clinical Lead and Paediatric Dietetic Team Lead in policy development as required.

Communication 

To promote collaborative and multidisciplinary working across all areas of the service, working with appropriate agencies and organisations. 

Appropriately adapt complex and technical clinical information, pitching it correctly to children, families and carers, by use of both verbal and written communication.

Appropriately integrate behavioural modification / motivational interviewing / counselling techniques into clinical practice.

To develop and update written resources, for example diet sheets, for children, families and carers.

To deal with complaints, where possible, on receipt, in liaison with line manager. To report complaints and clinical incidences following Trust Procedures, including use of appropriate incident reporting mechanisms (DATIX).

Liaise with secondary care to ensure the smooth transfer of patients following pathways where necessary.

Escalate concerns to the appropriate department/senior staff member if required.

Budgetary Responsibility

Not applicable to this post

People Management

Participate in peer appraisal/clinical supervision of other dietetic staff. Possibility of line management responsibilities as service need/experience dictates.

Participate in student training placements, including mentoring, being shadowed and preparing/delivering tutorials.

Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process, including an up to date portfolio.

Clinical and Practice Governance

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.   

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration with appropriate CPD.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust. 

The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required

Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team.

Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

General

Safeguarding people responsibility

Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect is a collective responsibility.

There is an expectation that all staff develop and maintain their role relevant safeguarding people competencies and comply with local safeguarding partnerships practice. Alongside this employee who are registrants are reminded of their professional duty of care.

Safeguarding means protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is an integral part of providing high-quality health care.

Those most in need of protection include:
•    Children and young people
•    Adults at risk, such as those receiving care in their own home, people with physical, sensory and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities

The post holder must at all times carry out their duties with regard to Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

To be aware of the responsibilities of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.

All post holders must adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality and be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.

This job description is intended only as a guide to the range of duties involved. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable in order to respond to other duties that may be required from time to time and the changes and developments within the Trust. 

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure and Barring Service to be made to check for any previous criminal convictions. Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users in line with its equal opportunities policy and policy statement on the recruitment of ex-offenders.