Band 7 Dietitian

The post holder will work within the medical Dietetic team. The post holder will:
· Undertake advanced assessments, clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients admitted to the acute adult medical wards at Ashford and St Peter's Hospital, providing oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition.
· Work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical caseload, working without direct supervision.
· Alongside the 0.6 WTE Band 7 Dietitian in the team to take a role in supervision and teaching and provide day-to day support to junior dietetic staff within the team and participate in multi-disciplinary team teaching.
+ To coordinate and collate activity for the medical inpatient and outpatient service and present this data to the clinical leads on a monthly basis.

· Demonstrate leadership skills and contribute to service development, quality improvement projects and monitoring of standards of practice and developing multidisciplinary management of patients.
· Key liaison between the Catering and Dietetic Department. This includes attending catering meeting, evaluation of nutritional content of menus and the link between the Dietetics and catering department
The Trust is moving towards 7 day working and this post holder will be expected to participate in providing a seven day service as part of their contracted hours on a rota system., 1. To plan effectively the daily management of a caseload of patients by prioritising clinical work, responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns. To support the junior team with these tasks.
2. To be able to prioritise clinical work and supervision of other staff, and balance other patient related and professional activities as the department requires.
3. To contributing to general provision of dietetic services to in and out patients, in conjunction with other department members., 1. To undertake specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multipathologies and to assess patients jointly with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
2. To demonstrate highly developed skills in the nutritional assessment of adult patients to formulate individualised intervention plans. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
3. To analyse and interpret complex data to assess and treat the nutritional needs of a range of patients. To provide evidenced- based care and support timely discharge plans..
4. To evaluate the outcomes of your interventions.
5. To gain acceptance with patients and carers, using motivational and negotiation skills to develop appropriate complex feeding regimes and treatment evaluation plans in accordance with local guidelines and evidence based practice
Communication / Relationship Skills
1. To communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patient's care, both those from within the organisation and those outside, to ensure effective multidisciplinary working. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
2. To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news relating to their rehabilitation potential and gaining consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
3. To communicate any changes in care plan or treatment approach to the multi disciplinary team as necessary. To attend ward rounds, case conferences and multidisciplinary team meetings as needed, promoting an understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in achieving the best outcome for each patient.
4. To provide support, advice and education to more junior dietitians and other health care professionals as appropriate.
5. To maintain accurate records in line with the HCPC standards and Trust and service standards and policies.
6. To attend staff meetings and actively participate ensuring understanding of information imparted.
7. To appreciate cultural and/ or disability differences and take these into account when agreeing treatment plans with patients.
8. To manage frequently highly stressful conditions
9. To manage patients who maybe occasionally aggressive or confused.
Analytical / Judgmental Skills
1. To undertake comprehensive assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/ multipathologies.
2. To use investigative and analytical skills to assess complex patients and support other more junior staff with their patients as required.
3. To keep up to date with developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes to your clinical practice.
4. To adapt and respond to periods of unexpected demand in providing appropriate support and cover as necessary.
Personal and people development
1. To work as part of the Dietetic team and multi-disciplinary team to provide an efficient and effective service.
2. To support the Therapy manager for Dietetics with workforce needs of the medical dietetic team, including day-to-day staffing, staff recruitment, appraisals, the identification of continuing professional development and training inc mandatory training. The adherence to workforce HR policies (e.g flexible working, sickness and annual leave)
3. To coordinate the smooth running of the dietetic adult general outpatient service and collect activity data as required.
4. To support and liaise with the Therapy Lead for Dietetics and catering in the planning of clinical dietetic services and potential service developments.
5. In collaboration with other senior department members, to deputise for the Clinical Leads as requested in periods of absence and on a day-to-day basis.
6. To evaluate own and other's practice and identify own and other's development needs.
7. To provide training of junior staff, students, or assistants/technicians, other therapists, nursing staff and care workers within the clinical area.
8. To participate in training sessions as a recipient and facilitator.
9. To disseminate any training received to other staff and health care professionals.
10. To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development. This may include active participation in journal clubs, clinical reasoning and joint problem patient sessions.
Health, safety and security
1. To monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.
2. Take responsibility for identifying and assessing potential risks involved in work activities and processes for self and others.
3. To ensure completion of relevant risk assessments and associated documentation.
4. To take appropriate action, reporting actual or potential problems that may put health and safety and security at risk.
5. To be aware of risks involved as part of delivering clinical care and manage this within own patients caseload.
6. To demonstrate a good understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk, actively participating in clinical governance groups.
Policy and Service Improvement/ Development
1. To develop and implement, within your clinical practice, standards and policies in each specialty and where applicable propose changes to working practice.
2. To lead in setting and monitoring of standards and policies of clinical practice for the team and evaluate outcomes.
3. To develop and implement new working practices as appropriate to dietetic clinical service delivery complying with established Trust and Departmental policies and procedures.
Audit/Research & Development
1. To participate in appropriate work-related evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the specialty.
2. To undertake and present relevant evidence-based projects.
3. To participate in any relevant clinical governance projects and audits.
4. To evaluate your own clinical effectiveness.
Quality
1. To maintain the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team and service objectives.
2. To maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence-based practice by keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in your clinical practice.
3. To achieve and maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence-based practice, keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research, discussing and implementing changes in your clinical practice and encouraging throughout the team.
Freedom to Act
1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your professional activities working within the codes of practice and professional guidelines.
2. To work as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant clinical caseload, working without direct supervision
Equality, diversity and rights
1. Responsible for supporting a culture which promotes equality and diversity
Responsibility for financial and other physical resources
1. Responsible for the safe and effective use of equipment and resources that are used in the course of work.
Responsibilities for information resources
1. To maintain accurate and timely statistical information as required by senior staff and managers.
2. To be responsible for the accurate in of clinical information onto the Trust IT system.
Further information and general responsibilities:
1. To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others at work. This includes being conversant with relevant trust safety policies and procedures. To report incidents and near misses at work; take part in the risk management process; attend all mandatory training courses in the agreed duration as defined by trust policy and carry out tasks and use equipment only when competent to do so.
2. To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity. To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection act.
3. To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties as qualified and able.
4. To comply with the trust's corporate and local policies and procedures on such subjects and clinical management and human resources.
5. To ensure that patients, clients and members of the public are consulted and involved in decisions about local health service developments. As a trust employee to be mindful of this and do what is appropriate to the role and level meet this duty of responsibility.
6. To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time and are consistent with the responsibilities of the role.
7. To comply with the trust's policies on equal opportunities, the consumption of alcohol and smoking.
8. To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties as qualified and able.

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
+ Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
+ On-site Nurseries
+ On-site staff cafes
+ On-site parking
+ Support in career development
+ Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics