An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6 Paediatric Dietitian to join our friendly and dynamic team within the Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals NHS trust. This post will have cross site working between Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital.

The successful applicant will work within a team of eight paediatric dietitians and will be fully supported to develop their knowledge and skills within Paediatric Dietetics.

The post will cover both inpatients and outpatients. Clinical areas include general paediatrics, paediatric surgery, high dependency unit, burns and allergy. The successful candidate will be fully supported to develop their knowledge and skills within Paediatric Dietetics and supervision will be provided by a band 7 paediatric dietitian.

Although you will be an autonomous practitioner, you will be required to work closely with our paediatric medical, nursing and AHP colleagues.

The post holder will coordinate and deliver high quality care. They will be a role model for expert clinical care and, be encouraged to actively participate in quality improvement projects and audits as delegated by the Band 7 Dietitian. They will follow the identified Trust values at all times.

Relevant clinical experience, the ability to work under pressure both independently and in a team are essential qualities.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner in providing dietetic assessment, treatment and management to their own designated caseload of patients and to maintain up to date dietetic records. They will use evidence based principles and current best practise to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dietetic interventions.

The post holder will provide teaching and support to colleagues, medical and nursing staff and students on placement.

About us

About the Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals,

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.

We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people.

Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's,

in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for -

our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.

Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe,

effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an

'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate.

We have recently completed a �30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster

and are planning an ambitious �60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work as an autonomous practitioner in providing dietetic assessment, treatment and management to their own designated caseload of patients and to maintain up to date dietetic records. They will use evidence based principles and current best practise to assess, plan, implement and evaluate dietetic interventions.

The post holder will provide teaching and support to colleagues, medical and nursing staff and students on placement.

Key working relation relationships

• Paediatric Dietitians
• Dietetic Assistants
• Diabetes multidisciplinary team
• Dietetic Services Manager
• Therapy Services Manager
• Patients and their carers
• Nursing / midwifery and medical staff
• Multidisciplinary team- Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech and Language Therapy
• External agencies such as social services, community dietetic services, nutrition companies

Roles and responsibilities

CLINICAL

To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of work, and to carry and prioritise your own designated clinical caseload.

To take responsibility for certain patient conditions or clinical areas, as delegated by the Band 7, and to develop specialised assessment and treatment skills in these areas with support from the Band 7.

Provide sound evidence based clinical advice as required to staff and patients

To determine the patients understanding of the dietetic intervention in order to gain valid, informed consent and to be able to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools when communicating with patients/carers to maximise the patient understands of dietetic principles. This will include communication with people with complex communication difficulties such as dysphasia, deafness, dementia, mental health problems, those who have difficulty accepting their diagnosis and young children.

To communicate with people who speak English as a second language through the use of an interpreter.

To use good communication skills to agree dietetic goals with individual patients using previous experience to ensure goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and appropriately timed. To involve all members of the multidisciplinary team in this process when appropriate.

To provide comprehensive documentation of assessment and treatment according to departmental, professional and legal standards.

To undertake proficient and relevant dietetic assessments in line with department and professional standards, to form diagnoses and/or establish accurate nutritional care plans

To communicate devised complex care plan and progress of care plan delivery to medical, nursing and other professional staff, through clear and accurate documentation in medical and nursing notes and dietetic records, in line with Trust and Dietetic department policies and through regular participation in ward rounds and in both and outpatient multidisciplinary team meetings

To demonstrate autonomy with nutritional diagnosis (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and dietary intake information) the development of treatment plans (frequently including complexities surrounding calculation of nutritional requirements, development of patient centred goals and considering medical, physical, social and psychological needs).

To use clinical reasoning, understanding of the medical diagnosis, previous experience and knowledge of treatment options to plan and implement individual dietetic interventions for all patients including those with complex conditions.

To interpret and analyse relevant clinical and non-clinical facts to formulate accurate prognoses and develop appropriate discharge plans.

To monitor and evaluate treatment to measure progress and to ensure effectiveness of the intervention and to identify quickly when treatment requires modifying.

To use clinical reasoning skills to modify treatment interventions and to recognise when advice/assistance from supervisor is required.

To attend and/or organise multi-disciplinary team meetings such as case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning meetings to communicate information about individual patient progress and prognosis, including potential discharge dates.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all dietetic equipment in line with department standards. E.g. Enteral feeding pumps

Promote and maintain a safe therapeutic environment for patients, their families and staff, according to national and local Infection Control guidelines, Health & Safety legislation, safeguarding legislation and procedures and Trust policies and objectives

Understand the Trust clinical governance framework, and participate in the promoting and safeguarding of high standards of care, through effective risk management & governance, and adherence to the Trust values

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or Diploma in Dietetics
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD since qualification

Desirable

• Member of paediatric special interest group/s
• Member of the British Dietetic Association

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post registration experience at Band 5 level in core areas
• Wide variety of clinical experience
• Experience of working as part of an MDT in clinical practice.
• Evidence of active participation in in-service training
• Dietetic experience in paediatrics

Desirable

• Evidence of working in a non-clinical team
• Evidence of presentation at in-service training

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• The ability to use clinical reasoning skills to appropriately assess and treat patients in a variety of clinical settings
• Identifies challenges of working in varying hospital settings and demonstrates the ability to adapt own practice accordingly.
• The ability to use reflective practice as a tool for growth and development
• Understanding of the professional and legal responsibilities of clinical practice
• Awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences and beliefs.
• Evidence of effective self-management including time, prioritisation, clinical caseload and stress
• The ability to guide and direct dietetic assistants and students in clinical practice
• Understanding and application of CPD requirements outlined by the HCPC
• Knowledge of safety issues through clinical governance and risk management
• Excellent communication skills with patients, relatives, staff and external contacts, including in challenging situations, demonstrating respect and kindness.
• Knowledge of current challenging issues in the profession
• Computer literacy skills

Desirable

• Demonstrates awareness of national and local policies related to clinical practice
• Evidence of clinical educator training and/or appraisal skills
• Experience of risk management / assessment
• Evidence of working in a supervisory capacity
• Evidence of participation in research or audit

Employer details

Employer name

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cross-site - Chelsea and Westminster and West Middlesex University Hospital

London

SW10 9NH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

289-CSS-1282