Are you interested in working with adults with eating disorders? We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic person to join our team of Dietitians working within a specialist mental health and learning disabilities NHS Foundation Trust. This exciting post offers the opportunity to work with adults with eating disorders as part of the Eating Disorders inpatient Team in Darlington. This post will be ward based at West Park Hospital.

This vacancy is open to either a newly qualified Dietitians (B5) or an experienced Dietitians (B6) wanting to further develop their skills working within mental health. You will be supported in your development by a Clinical Lead and will work towards a developmental framework within an agreed time scale.

The post will involve working in a small team of band 5, 6 and 7 dietitians and various MDT members. The post holder will have the opportunity to participate in policy development, audit, research activities, pathway development, staff and student training.

Main duties of the job

Accountable for designated caseload, working within an evidenced based dietary intervention plan and care programme approach under the guidance of the supervising dietitian. Service users may demonstrate behaviours that challenge and may have difficult family situations of relevance.

Assesses and manages risk effectively in clinical and community settings including the service user's own home.

Works with service users and carers to identify dietetic goals as part of the overall multi-disciplinary team plan.

Develops and implements individual and/or group dietetic interventions, in collaboration with the service user(s) and MDT to achieve therapeutic goals.

Engages service users in dietetic related tasks and encourages them in a compassionate manner, to support them in achieving their identified goals.

Monitors and evaluates treatment in order to measure progress and modifies the dietary intervention plan to ensure effectiveness of clinical interventions.

Provides reports on service user progress at clinical meetings and participates in the clinical decision-making process as part of the multidisciplinary team.

Acts as Lead Professional for service users on Care Programme Approach if no other professional is involved in the service user's care.

Responsible for recognising the potential for or signs of service user harm, abuse or neglect, including poor clinical practice, reporting all such concerns and taking all reasonable steps to protect the service user.

About us

We are an established, dynamic team of 42 Dietitians, 8 Associate Practitioners and Dietetic Assistants and 2 Nutritionists working in a number of clinical areas throughout Durham, Darlington and Teeswide. We have several experienced Clinical Lead Dietitians in the areas of adult eating disorders, children and young people, eating disorders, learning disabilities, older people and forensics. We are rapidly developing a high profile as a good quality Dietetic service at both local and national levels. We have strong links with the Mental Health Group of the BDA and are committed to providing first class professional development. We offer a preceptorship programme and excellent training opportunities for newly qualified Dietitians.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Candidates should be a registered Dietitian (HCPC registered) with experience of working with service users in the field of nutrition. They should have excellent communication and IT skills. A working knowledge of motivational interviewing would be desirable. Supervision will be provided by the Clinical Lead Dietitian for Adult Eating Disorders and there will be a strong emphasis on Continued Professional Development and the team can support with specialist training.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• B.Sc. (hons.) in Dietetics or post graduate diploma in Dietetics
• Willingness to undertake the Preceptorship Programme and Competency Framework (within an agreed timescale)
• BDA Clinical Supervisory Skills course(or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale).
• Certificate in Food Hygiene (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
• Willingness to undertake Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (within anagreed timescale)
• Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Member of the British Dietetic Association and relevant British Dietetic Association specialist group.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a wide variety of dietetic practice areas whilst on student placements

Desirable

• Experience of working with service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience presenting to groups

Knowledge

Essential

• Professional Code of Conduct and its application to practice
• Health and Safety legislation and its application in practice
• Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.
• Clinical Governance and Clinical Supervision.
• Care Programme Approach
• Safeguarding and its application in practice.
• Understanding of the needs and difficulties of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Evidence based practice in mental health or learning disabilities and knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act (within an agreed timescale).
• Research and development methodology
• Software packages e.g. Nutritics(within agreed timescale)
• Understanding of the needs of individuals from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds

Employer details

Employer name

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Birch Ward, West Park Hospital

Edward Pease Way

Darlington

DL2 2TS

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

346-DDA-149-23