Advanced Neonatal Dietitian

We are looking for an experienced, forward-thinking, supportive and friendly person to joinus as a neonataldietitian. This is an exciting new role andopportunity and the post holder will also have the opportunity to be part of an initial scoping project to provide a view on current service provision and collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams in shaping improvements in support for families. The post holder would be drawing on recommendations and best practice guidelines.

You will be part of a well led, dynamic and friendly team consisting of Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, Dietitians and Speech therapists, who constantly strive for integrated working - optimising patient care and team morale.

You holder will be responsible for the delivery of highly specialist neonatal dietetic support within the model of Family Integrated Care to infants and families on the neonatal unit(s) across Mid and South Essex NHS Trusts.

The role involves the assessment, delivery and management of highly specialist nutrition & dietetic services to infants born prematurely, or with health conditions requiring admission to the neonatal unit.

To be involved in setting up a new neonatal therapy service, drawing on recommendations and best practice guidelines.

You will work as an integral member of the neonatal multidisciplinary team, working closely alongside families, Neonatal Consultants and Nursing Teams, Infant Feeding team, AHP and Psychology Team (local and ODN) to provide evidence-based care.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people.

We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress

**We offer**: Regular supervision, Opportunities for professional & personal development, Service Development opportunities, Multidisciplinary team and uni-profession meetings, Flexible Working, Good multidisciplinary working, Regular staff integration, social events and staff recognition awards, NHS Bank work opportunities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include
- To communicate sensitively and effectively with parents, carers and staff using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools whilst assessing infants and explaining treatment programmes. This includes the use of parenteral nutrition and enteral feeding regimens that require complex mathematical calculation, weighing and measuring of ingredients, and controlled fluid volumes to ensure specialised clinical needs are met. This information must be communicated to staff and to parents/carers, who may have high levels of anxiety or distress, using appropriate terminology, and in ways that are effectively understood, to ensure practical compliance with the instructions given.
- To independently undertake comprehensive, specialist nutritional assessment and treatment of patients, including those with highly diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathology. Assessment and treatment will include consideration of all presenting factors and will use advanced theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence-based practice and advanced specialist expertise to provide accurate nutritional treatment plans utilising both enteral and parenteral nutrition strategies.
- To be highly competent in assessing and managing the nutritional needs of preterm infants and the co-morbidities associated with premature birth, using advanced theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, often in situations where there is limited or conflicting evidence.
- To act independently to formulate, deliver, evaluate and adjust individualised nutritional treatment plans, both enteral and parenteral, whilst recognising the limitations of treatment options, and understanding when to refer to other disciplines or to seek expert advice.
- To co-ordinate interventions which may include other disciplines, and to be involved in patient MDT reviews. This will include potentially complex discussion of patient care and progress, which require the analysis, interpretation