Assistant Dietetic Practitioner

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Professional / Clinical responsibilities

To contribute to the planning and delivery of the work of the adult team by providing administrative support and liaising with service users, staff members and other community health and social care professionals.

To carry out basic patient reviews, under the supervision of a dietitian and with appropriate training and competencies in place.

To use clinical judgement to evaluate patient progress, implement and adapt treatment plans following locally agreed pathways and set appropriate review timescales. This will be under the supervision of a Dietitian. 

The role may involve managing a non-complex patient caseload, under the supervision of a dietitian and with appropriate training and competencies in place.

To follow the treatment pathways and feedback to the supervising Dietitian on the patient’s progress and highlight need for specialist dietetic assessment when needed.

The role will include planning and delivering nutrition education sessions, face to face or virtually. Includes carrying equipment used for training purposes to and from venues which requires light to moderate physical effort.

The post holder will be required to conduct anthropometric assessments, including measurement of weight, height, waist circumference and hand grip strength. 

Contribution to policy development may be required, according to the needs of the service.

To lead on the development and maintenance of patient information resources that will be used by patients and other health care professionals. 

Management and Leadership

To contribute and provide support or training to students or less experienced dietetic support workers.

To contribute to the setting of targets and annual team objectives, and to the monitoring of these objectives.

Information management

Maintain accurate, timely, and professional clinical records in accordance with organisational and professional standards.

To plan your own diary and prioritise your caseload, with support from senior colleagues, as required in line with the service offer.

Education & Professional Development

To participate in evidence-based audit and research projects to further develop individual, team and service clinical practice.  

To contribute to team and wider service level development meetings and projects through sharing knowledge and skills. 

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.

To 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, ensuring delivery of feedback following attendance at external courses.

To be professionally and legally accountable, and responsible for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To evaluate and review your own work, seeking the views of others and adopting the principles of evidence-based practice to ensure maintenance and development of clinical and professional standards.

To ensure work is in line with departmental, trust and national dietetic standards. 

Operational Delivery

To be able to communicate key messages to patients, the public and community-based professionals using a variety of communication styles.

The post holder will be required to input accurate and detailed data into electronic patient records and manage the adult caseload on the digital system.

Work cooperatively with health and social care staff, carers and the general public to ensure that the services provided by the department run smoothly and efficiently.

To be able to communicate with individuals from a range of backgrounds over the telephone, via video consultation and face to face – including where there may be communication difficulties, e.g. when English is not a first language or where there are learning disabilities.

To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff.  Positive relationships are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.

To recognise own limitations within their agreed level of competence and to seek advice and guidance from supervising dietitian in a timely manner.

To contribute as required to the multidisciplinary team via uni-professional and multi-professional education sessions and meetings, clear written communication, and joint assessments (if appropriate).

To deliver effective nutrition education at a level appropriate to the audience. 

To attend and actively participate in department and team meetings.

To work independently and undertake lone working in the community.

To represent the team and department at exhibitions, events, and local meetings. 

Risk & Governance Management

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call, transported, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.   

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Health and Care NHS Trust. 

The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required

Participate in Clinical & Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis 

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Service Development
To participate, alongside senior colleague(s) in the planning, development and evaluation of Nutrition & Dietetic department service provision. 

Infection Control

The trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks.

All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems about this to their managers.

All staff undertaking patient care activities must attend infection control training and updates as required by the trust.

All clinical staff or any staff working in clinical areas are expected to be bare below the elbow with no hand or wrist jewellery except for one plain band (no stones or engraving)

Health and Safety 

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), to ensure the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

To ensure that the trust’s Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.

To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and the environment is maintained in good order.

To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of themselves, patients, staff and visitors, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To undertake appropriate Health and Safety training to support safe working practice including, where appropriate, its management.

Code of Conduct 

The post holder is required to adhere to the Conflicts of Interest Policy

This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties as may be required for the effective performance of the post.

General 

Safeguarding people responsibility

Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect is a collective responsibility.

There is an expectation that all staff develop and maintain their role relevant safeguarding people competencies and comply with local safeguarding partnerships practice. Alongside this employee who are registrants are reminded of their professional duty of care.

Safeguarding means protecting a citizen’s health, wellbeing, and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. It is an integral part of providing high-quality health care.

Those most in need of protection include:
•    Children and young people
•    Adults at risk, such as those receiving care in their own home, people with physical, sensory, and mental impairments, and those with learning disabilities

All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of the employment with the trust, including matters relating to other members of the staff and members of the public/patients.

Maintain appropriate patient and clinical records in line with the trusts policies and procedures, and in line with the agreed service specification. 

The post holder will be expected to participate in an annual appraisal of their work where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual personal development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role. 

Ensure that all patients, clients and colleagues are treated at all times in an equitable manner, respecting diversity and showing an understanding of diversity in the workplace.

The post holder must carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the trust’s Equality and Diversity Policies, Procedures and Schemes and must ensure that equality is promoted at all times.

Support the trust’s sustainability green plan and take personal responsibility to ensure that we work to reduce carbon emissions.

The trust is committed to supporting our voluntary workforce and all apprentices, and all staff are expected to welcome and support volunteers and apprentices in their teams.