• Job Description

  Req#: C9213-24-0216?language=en&page=537&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Dietitian to join our team of 16 dietitians at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

  This unique dietetic post provides a cross-site service to the Neurology & Frailty services across the PRUH and Orpington Hospital.

  This is a 1.0 WTE position, with 0.6 WTE based at Orpington and 0.4 based at the PRUH. There is a regular internal shuttle bus between sites to allow ease of cross-site working.

  Main duties of the job

  The post holder will have broad dietetic experience working with adult patients who require specialist nutrition support, including both oral and enteral nutrition support. Excellent communication, organisational and team working skills are essential as this is an autonomous position at Orpington Hospital.

  The Neurology service at Orpington Hospital includes the Frank Cooksey Rehabilitation Unit (FCRU) and Ontario ward providing rehabilitation for patients following an acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury or peripheral neuromuscular diseases such as Guillain Barr syndrome, critical illness neuropathy, and polymyositis, who may require both oral and enteral nutrition support. The post holder is also responsible for the neurology outliers at the PRUH site including patients with motor neurone disease, parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, requiring both oral and enteral dietetic support.

  The post holder will also work closely with the Frailty Lead Dietitian who is based within the Acute Frailty Assessment Unit (AFAU) at the PRUH, providing dietetic support to the PRUH frailty outliers as well as the frailty wards at Orpington hospital, ensuring continuity of care and ongoing dietetic support.

  About us

  This will be an integral role in the large, supportive dietetic team at King's College Hospital. Our dietetics department expects all staff to be involved in the teaching of other healthcare professionals, in line with our mission to provide excellence in clinical care, research and teaching in King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

  As well as involvement in service development projects and audits, the candidate will also be providing supervision for more junior members of staff within the dietetic department. We also undertake student training and the post holder would play an active role in student supervision. The department supports flexible working under the Kings Flex system.

  Date posted

  19 March 2024

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 6

  Salary

  £40,701 to £48,054 a year per annum, including high cost area

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  213-PRUH-6149547

  Job locations

  Princess Royal University Hospital

  Farnborough Common

  Orpington

  BR6 8ND

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Clinical responsibilities

  • To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work in compliance with the ethical code of practice set out by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Formulate and deliver individual dietetic treatment plans for patients based on experience and a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide range of dietetic treatments.
  • Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
  • Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment regimens as required.
  • To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload with the support of more senior staff. Work within Trust clinical guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor quality of practice as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with British Dietetic Association (BDA) and HCPC standards of practice. Team working and communication
  • Represent the dietetics service and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate dietetic therapy into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
  • Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. Use motivational and empathetic communication skills to motivate patients so enabling them to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding and/or communicating.
  • To provide expert nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This requires detailed nutritional assessment; to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics and clinical condition.
  • To take delegated responsibility from more senior staff for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing dietetic assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
  • To be responsible for the discharge planning of patients going home on artificial nutritional support.
  • Liaise with the Catering department to promote optimal nutrition for patients.
  • To demonstrate flexibility in providing cover in times of staff shortage within clinical areas appropriate to the grade with senior support.
  • To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.Audit and Research
  • Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with more senior dietitians.
  • To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. To manage and undertake research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives. Developmental activities
  • Participate in the staff Performance Review scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet required knowledge and competency goals.
  • Work with the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics and other staff to produce a risk management plan and ensure quality standards are set and reviewed and that servicesprovided are evaluated.
  • Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.
  • Undertake an evidence-based project to improve service delivery and clinical practice. Make recommendations for change to the appropriate development group in theDepartment.
  • Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as the departments development groups and other professional development activities.
  • To be an active team member of the Nutrition and Dietetic department at Kings participating in departmental development and attending monthly staff and professional development meetings.
  • To assist the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics in ensuring that department resources are used to best effect and in appropriate aspects of budget management

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Clinical responsibilities

  • To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work in compliance with the ethical code of practice set out by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Formulate and deliver individual dietetic treatment plans for patients based on experience and a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide range of dietetic treatments.
  • Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
  • Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment regimens as required.
  • To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload with the support of more senior staff. Work within Trust clinical guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor quality of practice as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with British Dietetic Association (BDA) and HCPC standards of practice. Team working and communication
  • Represent the dietetics service and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate dietetic therapy into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
  • Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. Use motivational and empathetic communication skills to motivate patients so enabling them to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding and/or communicating.
  • To provide expert nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This requires detailed nutritional assessment; to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics and clinical condition.
  • To take delegated responsibility from more senior staff for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing dietetic assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
  • To be responsible for the discharge planning of patients going home on artificial nutritional support.
  • Liaise with the Catering department to promote optimal nutrition for patients.
  • To demonstrate flexibility in providing cover in times of staff shortage within clinical areas appropriate to the grade with senior support.
  • To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.Audit and Research
  • Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with more senior dietitians.
  • To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. To manage and undertake research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives. Developmental activities
  • Participate in the staff Performance Review scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet required knowledge and competency goals.
  • Work with the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics and other staff to produce a risk management plan and ensure quality standards are set and reviewed and that servicesprovided are evaluated.
  • Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.
  • Undertake an evidence-based project to improve service delivery and clinical practice. Make recommendations for change to the appropriate development group in theDepartment.
  • Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as the departments development groups and other professional development activities.
  • To be an active team member of the Nutrition and Dietetic department at Kings participating in departmental development and attending monthly staff and professional development meetings.
  • To assist the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics in ensuring that department resources are used to best effect and in appropriate aspects of budget management

  Person Specification

  Education and Qualifications

  Essential

  • BSc / Post graduate diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics
  • HCPC registration

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Sound experience of nutrition support within the acute setting
  • Experience working within frailty in the acute setting
  • Experience of multidisciplinary team working
  • Good knowledge of enteral feeding regimes

  Desirable

  • Experience working within a rehabilitation setting
  • Experience with patients with neurological conditions

  Skills and Competancies

  Essential

  • Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Ability to prioritise own workload
  • Able to set priorities and meet daily deadlines

  Person Specification

  Education and Qualifications

  Essential

  • BSc / Post graduate diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics
  • HCPC registration

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Sound experience of nutrition support within the acute setting
  • Experience working within frailty in the acute setting
  • Experience of multidisciplinary team working
  • Good knowledge of enteral feeding regimes

  Desirable

  • Experience working within a rehabilitation setting
  • Experience with patients with neurological conditions

  Skills and Competancies

  Essential

  • Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Ability to prioritise own workload
  • Able to set priorities and meet daily deadlines

  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.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  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 (Opens in a new tab).

  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 (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Additional information

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  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 (Opens in a new tab).

  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 (Opens in a new tab).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Princess Royal University Hospital

  Farnborough Common

  Orpington

  BR6 8ND

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  Address

  Princess Royal University Hospital

  Farnborough Common

  Orpington

  BR6 8ND

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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