Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.1  As the lead for Surgical services

 1.2  The above services will include providing a service to other wards and clinics as and when required in response to service needs, Trust bed pressures, as requested by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.

1.3  To explore setting up, or participating in surgical outpatient clinics, within caseload capacity and needs of the service.

1.4  To explore new and innovative ways of working and wider MDT to ensure safer, faster, better care and discharges for patients.

1.5  To conduct complex nutritional assessments and treatments

1.6  To take the lead in providing expert dietetic advice in making decisions on initiating artificial nutritional support

1.7  To take the lead in providing expert dietetic advice in making decisions on withdrawal of treatment

1.8  To be competent in the use of anthropometric equipment 

1.9  To advise the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, within and out-with the Trust, on the appropriate use of nutritional supplements, vitamin and minerals, and other borderline substances

1.10       To organise and undertake training sessions for Doctors 

1.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

2.1  To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise, including the management of patients in your care.

2.2  To assess, treat and provide highly specialist treatment and advice plans to patients, carers and clinicians

2.3  To liaise with appropriate consultants to admit, safely discharge patients for nutrition support with the aim to optimise treatment outcomes.

2.4  To be responsible for the complex and safe discharge planning and follow up for those patients requiring artificial nutritional support in the community and those requiring extended Dietetic intervention. 

2.5  To provide a patient-focused service and participate in seven-day service as required by the Trust and department. You will work on a rota basis with all other staff within the department.

2.6  To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the specialist dietary needs for these patients

2.7  To make decisions regarding referring patients to the appropriate agencies such as Housing Support, Citizens Advice Bureau, social services with regards nutrition, housing, legal and highly complex social issues as and when they arise.

2.8  To provide, receive, and deal with complex, sensitive, and contentious information, including on conflicting issues such as ethical dilemmas, alternative nutritional therapies for treatment. 

2.9  To provide complex nutritional counselling to patients and carers where use of reassurance and motivational skills is required to achieve medical and dietary targets even when there are complex barriers to change and non-compliance.

2.10       To utilise highly developed communication and teaching skills to educate the diverse and multicultural patients with significant barriers to understanding the essential, complex dietary needs and treatment plans which include medical, social, psychological factors, both on a one-to-one basis, and in groups. 

2.11       To take the lead for developing and implementing education programmes for the nutritional management of Surgical patients, within (including wards) and out-with the Trust.

2.12       To be responsible for ensuring that patients and cares have consented prior to dietetic intervention in line with professional and Trust guidelines.

2.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

3.1  As the expert for these areas, to work with the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics, and take the lead, and be responsible for the development and implementation of policies for these areas, in addition to reviewing and updating existing policies and procedures affecting service delivery. They will be evidence based, taking into account national programmes such as the National Service Frameworks, NICE (National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence) guidelines, local and national strategies, Better Hospital Food, as they will impact within and out-with the Trust.

3.2  To work as part of the Dietetic Department Team, participating in departmental developments and projects and attending monthly staff and CPD meetings.

3.3  To participate in the appraisal process, keeping up to date on nutrition and dietetic issues, and to participate in continuing professional development in line with the Health Professions Council, and maintain a CPD Portfolio which will be regularly checked at supervision.

3.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

4.1  To work with the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics and take the lead for developing, evaluating and reviewing existing resources to be used for the Surgical services. To ensure resources are developed appropriate for communicating with adults with barriers to understanding, and that the resources are based on evidence-based treatment. To provide a clinical dietetic service with written information to patients, carers and other health professionals. To develop a comprehensive library of clinical references and specialist product information.

4.2  To be responsible for ordering and stock control of specialist nutritional products for these areas.

4.3  To be responsible for the safe use of equipment, including enteral and parenteral pumps, equipment for assessments such as anthropometry skinfold callipers, hand dynamometer, bioelectrical impedance machines, laptops, iPads, department books, patient information leaflets/diet sheets and staff bleeps, locker keys. 

4.4  To monitor stock levels of office and advise administrator of any need for replenishment.

4.5  To follow guidance for purchasing low-cost resources.

4.6  To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment whilst in use, including shared responsibility for general building security.

4.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

5.1  To participate in the training, development and supervision of junior staff as allocated.

5.2  To organise and undertake the training programme for student dietitians for these areas. This will include allocation of placement for the areas of work, developing weekly plans for student objectives, their supervision and assessments throughout their placement.

5.3  To be responsible for regular supervision and Personal Development Reviews of junior staff.

5.4  To participate in the recruitment of staff as requested by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.

5.5  To attend relevant strategic and operational meetings appropriate to the area of work as and when requested by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.

5.6  To provide cover for the allocated dietitian’s wards/clinics during periods of absence, contributing to teamwork and overall service provision for the department, and as part of the Trust winter contingency plans.

5.7  To demonstrate flexibility and respond to the needs of the service and Trust and provide a clinical service to other areas to ensure patient safety.

5.8  To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and in response to service needs, as requested by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.

5.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

6.1  To provide expert dietetic advice to the multidisciplinary team through attendance and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and ward rounds. This includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists as appropriate. This will require communicating complex, contentious information, including ethical dilemmas regarding nutritional support/continuation of nutritional support, and where there are barriers to communication. Working closely with the specialist Surgical and other teams, advising the team of any biochemical changes, and requesting them, if appropriate. Negotiating skills will be required to consider the appropriate treatment from a range of possible options.

6.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

7.1  To initiate and participate in research and audit in the Surgical areas. Results of findings should be reported within and out-with the Trust.