Specialist Paediatric Dietitian

Belfast

Job Summary / Main Purpose

• Assist the Nutrition and Dietetic Services Manager in the development and management of a quality Nutrition and Dietetic Service
• Provide a high quality, evidence based nutritional service to patients referred to the paediatric dietitian, which includes complex inpatients and outpatients within Hospital
• Manage a clinical caseload and undertake assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of patients within this speciality.
• Co-ordinate individual patient care providing a link between a range of healthcare professionals and clinicians to ensure the patient receives seamless care.
• Provide dietetic cover to the Hospital care as required. On occasion to provide dietetic cover to any area within Belfast as deemed appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of operational policies and guidelines in the area of paediatric dietetics both locally and regionally.
• Mentor and provide clinical supervision for dietetic students and junior members of dietetic staff.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

For each of the following, the post holder will;

• Support the Nutrition and Dietetic Service Manager in the provision of a quality service to the Paediatric Dietetic Team.
• Hold a clinical caseload within the specialist area of paediatrics
• Provide therapeutic dietary advice and treatment plans according to medical diagnosis / referral and nutritional assessment / requirements of patients.
• Make recommendations regarding specialist nutritional products based on clinical condition and monitor their effectiveness, modifying treatment using clinical and professional judgment.
• Be competent to undertake anthropometric assessments and interpret these as part of a clinical assessment.
• Be a source of expertise to staff and patients on the nutritional management of patients on home enteral tube feeding.
• Advise patients and/or carers/staff on the management of their dietary treatment.
• Attend ward rounds, MDT meetings and participate in discharge planning for patients.
• Instruct cooks and Milk Kitchen staff the on preparation of feeds/food and modification of menus to meet dietary needs of patients.

Communication

• Maintain advanced level communication skills including counselling skills, motivation and behaviour change strategies.
• Maintain effective communication with the MDT and other health professionals, internal and external to the Trust.
• Work autonomously, using professional judgement and advanced clinical expertise to interpret and analyse highly complex situations. This will include using advanced negotiating skills in situations which are highly emotional and challenging following life changing diagnosis.
• Have the ability to communicate with patients with specific communication needs using adapted resources and accessing interpreters when necessary to ensure effective communication and understanding of complex dietary information.
• Have the ability to communicate effectively with children/young people and their families/carers to ensure compliance with and understanding of very detailed and complicated treatments within the hospital and community settings.

Education and Training

• Educate children and young people, their families and carers as inpatients/outpatients about their nutritional care, taking into consideration social background, communication difficulties or psychological factors that may have an impact on learning or understanding.
• Maintain responsibility for own professional development and identify training needs, taking part in the Trust’s staff development review programme
• Undertake post registration training as deemed necessary by the Team Leader to fulfil the duties of the post.
• Promote a culture of education and learning among colleagues, taking into account individual development needs.
• Develop and evaluate nutritional training and resource materials, e.g. training packs, educational tools, leaflets, posters etc.
• Act as an educational resource and provide practical training and lectures for dietitians, other professionals and University students and present at professional conferences.
• Mentor and clinically supervise junior members of dietetic staff.
• Participate in the student dietetic training programme in BHSCT.
• Participate in peer review.
• Provide input to relevant local and regional working groups and agencies as appropriate.
• Implement and evaluate relevant local, national and international protocols and guidelines relating to the nutritional management of the client group.
• Participate in uni-disciplinary and multidisciplinary audit, quality improvement and service development.
• Participate in dietary surveys, trials or pilot projects.
• Collate statistical data on a daily basis.
• Act as a source of expertise for professional colleagues in paediatrics and ensure dissemination of information to relevant staff.
• Liaise with other healthcare professionals responsible for delivery of paediatric service in both acute and community settings.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Experience

• Have a minimum of 18 months post registration clinical experience in dietetics at a minimum band 5 level.

Previous experience in assessment and nutritional education of paediatric patients in an inpatient or outpatient setting

Qualifications/ Registration

• Degree or Diploma in Nutrition and / or Dietetics OR a related Degree with post graduate qualification in Dietetics
• Currently Registered as a Dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council
• Have completed: BDA Paediatrics Masters Module 2 or 3;

Other

Hold a current full driving licence valid in the UK/Ireland and access to a car on appointment.

‘Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements’

To apply send cv via link to Hollie