Senior Specialist Dietitian - Dietetic Service Lead for Hepatology

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated Dietitian within our gastroenterology and hepatology dietetic service at UHCW. Following a service review, this brand new role has been funded on a permanent basis.

About you:

The successful candidate will have solid clinical skills in any area of clinical dietetics alongside experience of service development. If you haven't worked in gastroenterology or hepatology before but feel that you have transferable skills, we will support you. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop clinical skills and transform patient care for the hepatology cohort at a Band 7 level.

You will work alongside the current operational lead for gastroenterology & hepatology and the specialist dietitian for gastroenterology. We have also been successful in gaining funding for a new Band 6 post to join the team. The applicant will join our wider gastroenterology and hepatology MDT consisting of consultants, ACPs, specialist nurses, alcohol care team and Nutrition Team.

You will be supported in your own personal development by a strong Dietetic Management Team. There is a strong emphasis on training at UHCW and you will have access to our own bespoke leadership and change management training, plus opportunity to attend relevant external  courses funded by the department. You will also have the benefits of being part of a passionate peer network within UHCW and with our partnership organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for someone who is focused on delivering the best care to our patients as well as creating the best experiences and opportunities for our staff. It is an exciting time for the organisation as we move to deliver our new trust strategy. Previous hepatology experience is desirable but not essential for this post - we welcome applications from experienced candidates who are considering a career change.

About the role:

• You will provide clinical support to junior members of the department including a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner based at University Hospital, Coventry.
• You will jointly manage a inpatient caseload on our dedicated gastroenterology ward.
• You will manage an outpatient caseload at University Hospital, Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.
• Support service development with input from relevant MDTs, as able.
• Work with senior colleagues across the Dietetic and Speech & Language Therapy Department on department initiatives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To work autonomously to provide specialist dietetic advice to patients, their carers and staff within agreed protocols and guidelines and with support from senior colleagues including:

• Carry out nutritional assessments (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history) to determine nutritional problem.
• Development of treatment plans (calculation of nutritional requirements, analysis of nutritional intakes sometimes using specialist IT systems, client centred goals and discharge planning including patients on artificial nutritional support).
• Prescription of dietary treatment and ACBS products for conditions where there are limited professional / clinical guidelines available.

• To be clinically competent following appropriate training to give specialist dietetic advice, treatment and dietary counselling to patients in, in-patient and out-patient clinic locations including consultant led clinics and structured group education programmes as appropriate.
• To communicate nutrition and dietetic information in an understandable form to staff, clients and carers, requiring negotiation, persuasion, motivation and counselling skills including situations where there are barriers to change.
• To use appropriate communication skills and resources to ensure that suitably accessible information is available to individuals on their dietary treatment/care plans.
• To liaise with catering, nursing and dietetic staff to ensure the provision of a satisfactory meal service for individual patients
• To attend and participate in multidisciplinary meetings.
• To participate in the health promotion activities of the department.
• To work flexible hours to meet the needs of the patients and the service as required
• To cover the work of colleagues and deputise for senior colleagues during periods of absence or peak workloads.

Management

• To participate in forward planning and development of the dietetic department with particular reference to the Gastroenterology Dietetic team.
• To lead and contribute to the development and updating of evidence based clinical guidelines, policies, procedures and patient information with particularly for those required for use in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
• To propose changes to own working practices and practices relating to nutrition across the Gastroenterology Dietetic Team based on current evidence and best practice.
• To monitor stock levels of resources such as stationery, diet sheets, patient information, enteral feeding equipment and ensure cost effective and appropriate use within the Gastroenterology Dietetic Team.
• To plan and prioritise own workload and evaluate own practice which may include clinics, group work, working jointly with other professionals and agencies.
• To actively participate in the forward planning of the department.

Training and education

• To plan and organise the training and clinical supervision of student dietitians and dietitians on attachment including planning and prioritising training programmes, timetables and written assessments.
• To undertake mentoring of junior members of staff and student dietitians.
• To initiate and lead the planning and coordination of training on nutritional topics in community nutrition support as appropriate to healthcare staff, and other workers or carers.
• To regularly initiate and participate in the departmental Clinical Governance programme including presenting research findings, evidence based practice work shops, clinical audit, and reporting of clinical risks.
• To develop evaluation criteria and audit clinical practice within the designated speciality to ensure a high quality, evidence based effective service.

Professional

• To keep up to date with current developments in dietetics and participate in appropriate continuous professional development activities.
• To actively participate and contribute to departmental clinical supervision group to ensure a regular evaluation of practice through peer review.
• Ensure that all Trust wide and departmental standards and clinical guidelines are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of total care, to all who come into contact with services provided by University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
• Participate in personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.
• To document patient activity data in accordance with Trust and professional standards and to meet any external requirements of the designated speciality.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner working within the BDA Code of professional conduct and HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency (Dietitians).
• Contributes to the development and maintenance of the profile of the Dietetic profession.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.