Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL

1. To be the clinical expert in your specialist field within this setting. To be responsible for the development and provision & evaluation of a comprehensive and effective, evidence based dietetic service in the Mental Health setting 

2. To have a working knowledge of national & best practice guidelines 

3. To work as an autonomous practitioner. This includes working in the hospital setting and working closely with patients, carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team. 

4. To undertake detailed dietetic assessments (some highly complex in specialty area) to include: calculation of nutritional requirements, formulation of nutritional goals based on the interpretation of biochemical, anthropometric, physiological and psychosocial parameters. To monitor and change treatment plans based on new evidence. 

5. To provide highly complex nutritional counselling and behavioural therapies to patients where there are significant barriers to change. 

6. To demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence based outcomes and to be able to deliver safe clinical outcomes where there is conflicting information or expert opinion differs. 

7. To make recommendations to the medical and pharmacy teams on the prescription of nutritional supplements and products for patients requiring nutritional support and therapeutic diets. To work with prescribing advisors as required

8. Required to accurately use anthropometrical equipment on a regular basis for dietetic assessment and research 

9. To organise, implement and evaluate group education sessions for different client groups e.g. clients, healthcare professionals 

10. To actively participate in general health promotion, in line with government policies and local priorities, liaising closely with the public health departments 

11. To actively participate in health promotion activities as required for the specialist area and oversee the provision a health promotion/ public health activities/ projects appropriate to the needs of the local community and in support of the Trust's health improvement priorities 

12. To be responsible for the operational departmental standards and policies within your specialist area. 

13. To undertake audit work within this setting to improve clinical care; 

14. To maintain accurate client records and activity statistics in accordance with departmental & Trust policies and procedures 

15. To ensure that targets & outcomes are set and met in line with trust and departmental objectives and contractual requirements 

16. To carry out good office practice in accordance with the department’s policies and procedures.

17. To work as a team member in Nutrition and Dietetics team, which may involve providing leave cover and any other duties commensurate with the post, as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics

COMMUNICATION 

With Patients: 
1. To communicate highly complex medical and nutritional information to patients, carers and healthcare professionals in a clear and easy to understand manner. 

2. To effectively engage with patients to help them understand, accept and overcome difficult diagnoses and complex dietary changes. 

3. To communicate sensitively and effectively with patients and carers particularly where there are significant barriers to understanding such as mental illness, hearing/ sight impairment, cognitive impairment, behavioural problems, dementia etc. 

4. To negotiate patient care plans with patients and carers, overcoming barriers to change & using persuasion and motivational interviewing techniques to achieve client compliance. Post-graduate training in Behaviour Change or similar, is required.

With Colleagues: 
5. To effectively communicate complex nutritional information to healthcare professionals. 

6. To effectively liaise with multidisciplinary teams regarding client care and to actively participate in multi-agency work and liaise with statutory and voluntary agencies as appropriate. To work collaboratively with ward teams to maintain existing assessment standards and systems, meeting 
patients’ needs with collaboration with Hotel Services.

7. To produce timely and accurate client related correspondence in line with local and national guidelines; 

8. To communicate effectively in highly complex situations where sensitive information is to be discussed e.g. dealing with complaints to avoid escalation, client medical conditions. 

9. To use negotiation & persuasion skills to manage conflict across a range of situations. 

10. To present clinical and service data in a formal setting to a large group of people e.g. an invited speaker on an external accredited course 

11. To support the Head of Nutrition & Dietetic Services when representing the department at internal and external forums. This involves regularly presenting service information, formulating & delivering plans to various size groups of professionals, peers, senior managers and client groups’ 

12. To have a high level of keyboard skills and working knowledge of computer packages (e.g. excel, windows, power point & nutrition analysis software) for the production of patient and service reports and information on a daily basis.