Specialist Dietitian (Learning disabilities and Mental Health)

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic Dietitian specialised in Learning Disability and Mental Health dietetics to join our team. You will be forward thinking and driven to deliver high quality, patient centred care based on advanced clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities and current evidence.  You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with complex dietetic needs and dysphagia.

You will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities and will be supported to achieve the necessary skills, knowledge and attributes of a B7 Dietician within Specialist Learning Disability & Mental Health Forensic Service. You will receive clinical supervision from a Clinical Lead Dietician and there is excellent staff support, regular appraisal and CPD within SWLSTG Dietetics team.

Candidates should be a Registered Dietitian; with experience of working in a mental health setting.  A working knowledge of behaviour change and motivational interviewing would be beneficial.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide highly specialised dietetic input to adult inpatients on our specialist Forensic Learning Disability ward, Oak Unit. This ward is located at Springfield Hospital.

You will be working as the sole Dietitian on Oak Unit with an experienced MDT. The successful candidate will be part of a larger and wider Nutrition & Dietetics team. Our dietetic services cover adult acute admissions, rehabilitation, secure services, older people’s services, learning disability service, CAMHS, inpatient child and adolescent eating disorder ward and adult inpatient and outpatient eating disorder services. We are a friendly and proactive dietetics team.

You will manage a caseload of service users on Oak unit as well as other Forensic wards as time allows. They will conduct dietetic assessments, deliver therapeutic interventions, and work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team. Additionally, the role includes providing nutritional advice, education, and training to nursing staff, doctors, dietetic students, and other healthcare professionals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To undertake clinical assessments and appropriate dietetic intervention for service users within the learning disability and mental health inpatient services at Springfield Hospital (including but not limited to nutrition support, eating disorders, enteral feeding, dysphagia and chronic health conditions)
• To recommend and advise on the prescription of suitable ACBS products including nutritional supplements and enteral feeding products
• To work with clients with complex physical and psychological needs, using outcome measures as appropriate.
• To be aware of patients at high psychiatric risk and liaise with the team regarding the management of these patients.
• To act as autonomous practitioner, with full responsibility for the Dietetic management of the agreed caseload.
• To decide clinical priorities for own work area, balancing client related activities with other professional clinical demands.
• To work effectively as a team member of the dietetic service, providing a flexible service, covering as appropriate other dietetic services.
• To maintain a high standard of clinical practice.
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, establishing collaborative working relationships, sharing skills and information.
• To be actively involved in clinical team meetings, wards rounds, community meetings and care plan review meetings as required.
• To adhere to any clinical standards and guidelines produced by the British Dietetic Association
• To communicate effectively with service users for whom there may be significant barriers to understanding using a range of verbal and nonverbal communication skills and taking account of a range of intellectual and communication abilities and mental health and emotional states.
• To communicate effectively with all MDT members, actively involved in treatment planning.
• To liaise with Dietitians at acute hospitals and primary care regardingpatients being transferred between services.