Mental Health Dietitian

Job overview

As part of the Nutrition and Dietetic Service providing care to a multi-cultural and diverse population, to deliver a high standard Dietetic service in the Community and acute MH setting.

To perform comprehensive dietetic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions.

As part of the MDT to support patients with Mental Health needs in order to improve their physical health and wellbeing.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, holding the responsibility for own caseload of specialist and complex patients.

To undertake evidence-based audit and or research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice with support and guidance from more senior staff.

To be aware of and to highlight to the line manager any clinical governance issues pertaining to the role and practice.

To contribute to the delivery of health promotion activities within the service and wider Trust initiatives.

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical dietetic service within designated mental health sites and be actively involved in the development and provision of the nutritional service in those areas.

As an autonomous practitioner, to be responsible for safe and efficient management of a patient dietetic caseload through assessment of clinical need and effective prioritisation.

To provide complex nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians based on clinical evidence.

To contribute to the multidisciplinary team in making decisions on all aspects of dietetic intervention, thus contributing to overall patient care.

To translate complex scientific, medical, biochemical and nutritional information into simple and easily understood practical advice for individuals and carers, both on a one-to-one and in groups settings

To communicate with other healthcare professionals regarding nutrition related prescriptions and nutritional management of patients and providing, where necessary, information and education to clinicians, patients and carers

To coordinate safe discharge-planning and follow up of those patients requiring artificial nutritional support in the community

To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs for the specialist clinical

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

To implement knowledge of evidence-based practice, developing a more specialist dietetic knowledge of particular conditions and patient types’ applying critical appraisal skills to emerging evidence and research to develop and evaluate own practice and disseminate own learning to others

Where appropriate to be responsible for supervising student dietitians or dietetic support workers under the overall supervision and direction of more senior staff.

Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet individual and service objectives.

Where appropriate, to undertake the appraisal of the dietetic assistant.

Undertake measurement and evaluation of own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or as part of a team with more senior clinicians.

To be responsible for the implementation of any National, Service and Organisational policies and guidance that apply to own role or area of work

To liaise with catering services regarding individual patient’s requirements and help resolve any catering issues which arise on the wards or in the Day Hospital.

To participate in any statutory inspections that involve nutrition and dietetic standards

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.