Job summary
You will join our acute and gastroenterology team that provides a service to inpatients at Bedford Hospital and outpatients within the gastroenterology service.
You will be responsible for managing a caseload of patients in gastroenterology outpatient clinics. You will also contribute to the supervision and upskilling of the band 5 dietitian and dietetic assistant practitioners within the team.
Every member of the team is encouraged to contribute to service development and there are numerous opportunities in which to do so. We have a wide range of projects to get involved with including audit, research, development and design of patient resources, teaching and contribution to policies and guidelines to name but a few.
The wellbeing of our staff is extremely important. We aim to provide a supportive working environment where the needs of the individual and teams are paramount. The department offers some flexible working opportunities that can be discussed at interview. We also operate a flexitime policy which allows you to start and finish your working day at a time that suits you. This role can be offered as a remote working opportunity subject to sufficient expertise and experience in gastroenterology dietetics.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to have HCPC registration and have dietetic experience in gastroenterology. Post graduate training in the provision of the FODMAP diet would be advantageous.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To manage a complex caseload of gastroenterology outpatients and contribute to service improvement projects in conjunction with the clinical lead in this area.
2. To have a very good understanding of and contribute to the effective running of the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics service.
3. To take appropriate action using advanced problem solving skills to assist patients, health/social care professionals and members of the public with queries regarding the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics service.
4. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients within your own scope of practice and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
5. To work as an autonomous practitioner by planning and prioritising own workload according to locally agreed priority coding and supporting dietetic assistant practitioners and less experienced dietitians to do the same.
6. To develop and maintain a specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice, the common conditions you come across and national and local standards within your clinical areas.
7. To undertake a comprehensive assessment (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history) of patients including those with complex presentations/multi pathologies and use clinical reasoning skills to set nutritional goals for each patient.
8. To give expert opinion on complex nutrition related issues where numerous social, ethical, psychological and medical factors have to be considered and where there may be conflicting ideas from the multidisciplinary team.
9. To negotiate and agree dietary interventions with patients and their carers, using appropriate counselling and motivational skills to optimise their nutritional status.
10. To make recommendations for appropriate prescription of nutritional products according to local guidelines regarding the use of nutritional supplements and enteral feeding products.
11. To ensure adequate monitoring and review of patients.
12. To assess the suitability of incoming referrals according to the agreed referral criteria, liaise with the dietetic assistant practitioner if further information is required prior to acceptance and participate in the outpatient triage rota.
13. To co-ordinate appropriate follow up, discharge arrangements and outward referrals to other services in order to facilitate the safe and timely discharge/transfer of care.
14. To have insight to recognise and act appropriately if vulnerable patients are at risk or deemed to be in need.
15. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with BDA, Trust and department standards and provide statistics of patient contacts in a timely fashion.
16. To liaise with healthcare professionals in the wider community and across the network.
17. To communicate complex, specialised and sensitive information with empathy and understanding to patients and their carers or other family members where appropriate.
18. To take appropriate action using advanced problem solving skills to assist patients, health and social care professionals and members of the public with queries relating to your own clinical areas.
19. To work as an integral part of the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics team, support the critical care and respiratory dietetics team and work alongside the wider multi-disciplinary team.
20. To plan, deliver, evaluate and develop training and education sessions to patient and multi-disciplinary staff groups in conjunction with the clinical lead if outside your own clinical area.
21. To represent the dietetics department at multi-disciplinary meetings and ward rounds to ensure delivery of high quality co-ordinated multi-disciplinary care.
22. To work within Trust, departmental, HCPC and BDA clinical and professional guidelines, policies and procedures.
23. To contribute to the development and updating of policies, guidelines, patient information and other resources related to your clinical areas in conjunction with the clinical lead for that area.
24. To support the clinical lead in ensuring guidelines relating to your clinical areas are fully implemented across the department/MDT.
25. To report and review information required for managing and monitoring the service such as referral numbers, waiting list management, prioritisation of caseloads, DNA rates, outcome measures and user satisfaction surveys.
26. To plan and deliver audit, research and service evaluations to help deliver improvement in in service delivery and clinical practice following discussion with the clinical lead for your clinical areas.
27. Work with colleagues to help the Trust meet the CQC standard for nutrition.
28. To be responsible for maintaining own development and competency to practice through CPD activities.
29. To participate in and contribute to the organising and delivery of the department's CPD programme in collaboration with senior staff.
30. To be an active member of the department by the attendance and presenting at staff meetings, attending and facilitating tutorials and training sessions.
31. To participate in the department appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with agreed Personal Development Plans to meet knowledge and competencies.
32. To participate in regular supervision and provide supervision and support for less experienced dietitians and dietetic assistant practitioners.
33. To support the induction and recruitment of new staff members within the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics team.
34. To contribute to the upskilling of less experienced dietitians and dietetic assistant practitioners within your clinical areas in order to maintain staff skill mixes and ensure adequate resilience across the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics team.
35. To be responsible for the supervision and assessment of students during their placement. This will include the role as practice educator and weekly supervisor.
36. To work flexibly to support the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics team.
37. To provide cover for other wards/departments at short notice to cover unplanned and planned absences within the post holders competency and skill level.
38. To undertake any other duties as identified by the team lead as required for the successful delivery of the gastroenterology and surgical dietetics service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC Registration
- Degree in Dietetics or equivalent
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Dietetic experience in gastro
- Experience of patient group education
- NHS experience
Desirable
- Experiencing delivering FODMAP
- Upskilling dietitians/dietetic assistant practitioners
Knowledge
Essential
- General dietetics knowledge
- Gastro knowledge
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital South Wing
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ