Neonatal Dietitian

Job overview

This post supports the dietetic care to sick and preterm neonates at University Hospitals of North Midlands.  The post holder works along side the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian, therapy colleagues, the wider Neonatal Unit MDT and AHP colleagues throughout the West Midlands Perinatal Network . The postholder will be based on site, holding an Inpatient caseload and support community outreach services along with Neonatal Dietetic Outpatient Clinic.

Main duties of the job

• To support the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian to provide specialist, high quality, patient focused care to sick and pre-term neonates and their families or carers. Working alongside therapy colleagues and the wider MDT in both the Neonatal inpatient and Neonatal outreach settings.

• To support the Clinical Lead in the development, organisation and delivery of care within this area.

• Contribute to the day-to-day planning, monitoring, delivery and evaluation of the Neonatal Dietetic Service. Supporting clinical governance processes which seek to improve the quality of the Neonatal Dietetic Service by way of evidence based clinical practice, education, research and audit.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Carry & prioritise a designated neonatal caseload of inpatient and outpatient babies.

• To attend ward rounds and provide sound, evidence based clinical advice to the neonatal team. Communicating effectively, using a wide-range of verbal and non-verbal tools to maximise the understanding of Neonatal dietetic principles.

• To undertake specialist, comprehensive assessment of patient’s nutritional status, many of whom have a complex presentation to include the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and dietary intake information, seeking support and guidance from the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian where necessary.

• To use clinical reasoning skills & knowledge of treatment options to devise dietetic treatment plans for stable neonates in conjunction with the MDT and the baby’s parents or carers, taking into account their medical, social and psychological needs.

• To monitor and evaluate dietetic treatment plans for stable neonates; measuring progress, ensuring effectiveness and to identify quickly when treatment requires modifying.

• To calculate feeding regimens, make prompt, effective decisions regarding changes to feeding plans.

• To have an understanding of the principles of enteral nutrition in Neonates and to contribute to the review of dietetic protocols and pathways for these infants working alongside the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian.

• To be able to modify feeds, supplements, vitamins and minerals for Neonates based upon nutritional status drawing on support from colleagues such as the Neonatal Pharmacist, communicating these changes to the medical team.

• To manage Neonates requiring enteral tube feeding on the Neonatal Unit; supporting the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian with community management until they no longer require the feeding tube or transfer to the Paediatric HEF team, whichever is soonest.

• To ensure continuity of care at discharge by supporting management of babies by the Neonatal Community Outreach Team and where appropriate supporting follow-up to babies and their families at Dietetic Led Neonatal Clinic and community settings such as Social Service meetings (where appropriate).

• Demonstrate good time management & organisational skills.

• Demonstrate Band 6 Neonatal Dietitian competencies by the active completion and collection of evidence for the BDA NDIG Knowledge and Skills Framework for Dietitians Working within Neonatal Services.

• As an autonomous practitioner to be professional and legally accountable for all aspects of practice. Ensure safe practice, whilst recognising own limitations, seeking clinical supervision from the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian where needed.

• Promote an effective team ethos and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with the wider MDT.
• Promote an effective team ethos and maintain effective collaborative working relationships with the wider MDT.

• To support in the continuing education and update of medical staff, pharmacists, nurses and other health care professionals in the nutritional care of neonates within the Trust.   To support in delivering, evidence-based education and support to parents or carers.   Provide support and clinical supervision to dietitians, dietetic assistants and students working within the specialist neonatal team.       To support the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian in dietetic research, which may include writing protocols, gain ethical approval, publish findings, and secure funding for projects.  To supervise data collection and support presentation of audit projects.
• To support in the continuing education and update of medical staff, pharmacists, nurses and other health care professionals in the nutritional care of neonates within the Trust.   To support in delivering, evidence-based education and support to parents or carers.   Provide support and clinical supervision to dietitians, dietetic assistants and students working within the specialist neonatal team.       To support the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian in dietetic research, which may include writing protocols, gain ethical approval, publish findings, and secure funding for projects.  To supervise data collection and support presentation of audit projects.
• To support in the continuing education and update of medical staff, pharmacists, nurses and other health care professionals in the nutritional care of neonates within the Trust.
• To support in delivering, evidence-based education and support to parents or carers.
• Provide support and clinical supervision to dietitians, dietetic assistants and students working within the specialist neonatal team.
• To support the Clinical Lead Neonatal Dietitian in dietetic research, which may include writing protocols, gain ethical approval, publish findings, and secure funding for projects.  To supervise data collection and support presentation of audit projects.