Senior Specialist Prescribing Support Dietitian

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 highly motivated individuals to join the South East London (SEL) Dietetic Prescribing Support Service. Role is 0.8 WTE 30h per week. This opportunity lends itself to individuals looking to widen their skillset, build their CV with more varied and diverse experiences or for those wanting to be actively involved with service development. The role offers a wide range of benefits including opportunities for flexible working, hybrid working, professional development opportunities and initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance.

The service has been commissioned by SEL ICB and provides dietetic prescribing support services across the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley.

The post includes providing dietetic assessment and treatment of patients, writing and delivering teaching sessions for staff and patients, being involved in audit and research, service development, quality improvement projects and line management responsibilities.

The team is comprised of a Principal Prescribing Support Dietitian (B8), x 2 Senior Specialist PSD (B7), x3 Paediatric PSDs (B7), x3 Specialist PSDs (B6) and x2 Advanced Dietetic Assistants (B4).

VACANCIES MAY BE CLOSED SOONER THAN THE ADVERTISED CLOSING DATE. The Dietetic Department is currently piloting transparent interviews for some job roles, therefore please read any supporting information provided by recruitment.

Main duties of the job

The aim of this service is to improve and standardise care pathways and achieve best-value care for patients requiring oral nutrition support in SEL.

As well as reviewing patients who have been prescribed nutrition supplements, the team work collaboratively alongside Primary Care Networks, acute care dietetic teams and community care homes to ensure that patients are receiving optimal nutritional care along their treatment pathways.

The service provides training and guidance to GPs, pharmacists and other community healthcare teams on the identification and treatment of malnutrition in the community and appropriate use of oral nutrition support prescription products.

The service will improve the quality of nutritional care that patients at risk from malnutrition receive whilst at the same time ensuring local healthcare resources are used effectively and efficiently.

You will need to be a motivated self-starter who can engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders. You will need to be good at analysing data and will be expected to complete reports to regular deadlines as well as having excellent clinical dietetics skills

As a senior member of the team, responsibilities will also include clinical support and supervision of junior team members, induction and student training responsibilities. The role will also require leadership of SEL-wide working groups such as care home and secondary care working groups and associated workstreams.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be responsible for the development and provision of a specialist, evidence based dietetic service for GPs and patients who are prescribed Oral Nutrition Supplements in SEL.
• To be a senior member of the prescribing dietetic team responsible for providing advice and guidance on use of oral nutrition supplements (ONS) to patients and clinicians within a designated area.
• To be responsible for reviewing patients on prescribed oral nutrition supplements in an outpatient setting and advising GPs and practice pharmacists on optimal prescribing of nutrition supplements.
• To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home.
• To work closely with acute dietetic teams so that patients discharged on oral nutrition supplements are reviewed and have an adequate nutrition care plan at home.
• To use local prescribing systems and GP notes to identify patients being prescribed ONS, review their nutrition care plans and modify these appropriately in conjunction with the GP / practice pharmacist.
• Provide education/training sessions and discuss patient care plans with HCPs across SEL in a variety of healthcare settings, including but no limited to GPs and care homes
• To provide expert advice to clinicians, patients and carers regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This will involve nutritional assessment, to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry clinical condition and other physical parameters.
• To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental and multi-disciplinary team procedures.
• To provide clinical cover for colleagues within the prescribing support dietetic team
• To provide clinical support, clinical supervision, line management to junior staff members
• To support with training and assessment of students, and induction of new dietetic staff / ADAs
• To support the SEL PSD service development and updating of clinical guidelines
• To provide highly complex nutrition counselling to patients and/or their carers requiring post registration cognitive behavioural therapy and use of reassurance and motivational skills to overcome barriers to change particularly where there is non-compliance.
• Ability to utilise developed communication and teaching skills to educate the diverse and multicultural population with barriers to understanding, both on a one to one basis and in groups. This will include patients with severe communication problems.
• To lead on the design, implementation and evaluation of multi-disciplinary protocols and procedures aimed at improving the nutritional status of patients.
• To develop, implement and audit innovative methods of delivering education sessions.
• To research, develop, produce and publish evidence-based literature on adult nutrition, including use of patient forums.
• To ensure safe practice through development of caseload management plan considering risk management and documentation and reporting of critical incidents as outlined in the Trust policy.
• To take responsibility for ongoing clinical excellence through evidence-based practice and development of standards, policies and guidelines in conjunction with the departmental standards committee.
• To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs of care home patients, and to assist in instructing chefs on preparation of special meals as required. To adapt and analyse the menu cycle to ensure suitability for elderly care, and make recommendations to the site Catering Manager
• To initiate and participate in regular research and audit in line with departmental research and audit procedures. It will be expected that any relevant findings should be published or presented at appropriate conferences.
• To actively participate in departmental evidence-based groups and help to ensure that the trusts clinical governance requirements are met.
• To comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and departmental policies.
• To maintain professional behaviour in with Trust policy and BDA/Health Professions Council standards.
• To be an active team member of the Dietetic Department at Guy’s and St Thomas’ participating in departmental developments and projects and attending monthly staff and continuing professional development meetings.
• To participate fully in the appraisal process and develop a strategy for continuing professional development encompassing a portfolio-based assessment in line with national legislation.
• In consultation with the post-holder, undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Dietetic Services Manager.

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.