Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

CLINICAL PRACTICE

·         Practice autonomously, providing high quality clinical practice in specialist area.

·         Be proactive in clinical decision making underpinned by an enhanced level of theoretical and practical knowledge.

·         Use enhanced clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge of service users in specialist area.

·         Undertake specialist holistic nutritional assessments including the calculation of nutritional requirements on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physical parameters in those with complex needs.

·         To be experienced in the use of anthropometric equipment for assessment of nutritional status, such as bioelectrical impedance, callipers and hand grip dynamometer and interpretation of results.

·         To develop a suitable dietetic treatment plan based on evidence based practice and provide advanced nutritional advice to service users, in collaboration with their carers, where needs are complex. This involves the interpretation and communication of complex and sensitive information in an understandable form.

·         Where appropriate, to advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs for service users and to assist in instructing chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse the menu cycle to ensure suitability for the service users and make recommendations to the site Catering Manager.

·         Demonstrate a level of knowledge in relation to pattern of disease or disorder, marker of condition progression and range of treatment available at each stage of disorder or condition.

·         To provide expert dietetic advice to the multidisciplinary team, through attendance and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds.

·         To recommend and advise on the prescription of suitable cost effective ACBS products including oral nutritional supplements, enteral feeding products and gluten free products to service users within speciality , in  line with SW London Alliance prescribing guidelines.

·         To be responsible for ensuring written and electronic patient records are completed for all patient contacts including statistical activity data records in accordance with professional, departmental and trust standards.

·         The ability to manage distressing situations, involving the treatment of terminally ill and very unwell patients. This results in exposures to complex situations and distressed clients and their relatives / carers.

·         To ensure flexible service delivery and provide clinical cover for colleagues during periods of absence.

LEADERSHIP

·         To participate in the recruitment and selection of Dietetic assistants and Band 7,6,and 5 dietitians, according to trust policy.

·         To jointly lead on student placement allocations

·         To monitor Key Performance Indicators and provide data for reports for specialist service where applicable.

·         To develop new pathways to reduce waiting times for specialist services in gastroenterology. E.g. Dietitian led IBS clinics.

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND RESEARCH

• Regularly undertake audit and service evaluation to inform service improvement.
• Critically analyse research findings and their implications for practice.
• Disseminate evidence based practice and audit findings through local presentation to professional groups.
• Review recent publications and research to ensure practice is evidence based and up to date.
• To research, develop, produce and publish evidence-based departmental literature in the area of specialisation, including use of patient forums, in line with British Dietetic Association guidelines and those of other relevant expert organisations.
• To actively participate in the departmental working groups to improve dietetic services as required.

FACILITATED LEARNING

• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge relevant to role and specialist area by engaging in a range of relevant learning and development activities. 
• Educate and supervise band 5 dietetic colleagues on the competencies needed for their area.
• Where appropriate, to educate others in the healthcare team of the nutritional management of the specialist area including teaching for medical, nursing, therapies and community staff within the trust.
• Where appropriate to deliver education sessions to patients and their carers and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• To review and develop dietary information and education materials in the area of speciality, based on evidence based practice.
• To participate in the training, supervision and assessment of pre-registration student dietitians.
• Advocate and contribute to continuous learning and development, evidence based practice and succession planning.
• Contribute to a range of audit and evaluation strategies which informs education and learning.