Dietetic Assistant

The Kent and Medway All Age Eating Disorder Service are looking for a enthusiastic, skilled, and committed dietitian assistant to join our forward-thinking team.

We are delighted to receive further transformation funding in the Kent and Medway All-Age Eating Disorders Service so we are extending our service offer to include this very exciting addition to our portfolio: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterised by a pattern of eating that avoids certain foods or food groups entirely, and/or is restricted in quantity and driven by sensory or avoided consequence factors. There has been increasing acknowledgement of a gap in services for ARFID, or suspected ARFID. As a result, referrals are inconsistently made to a wide range of services, including children and young people community eating disorder services, standard children and young people mental health services, community paediatrics, neurodevelopmental services, dietetic, speech and language, acute paediatric services and adult mental health services.

The role as dietetic assistant will be working within this pathway

The All-Age Eating Disorder Service is based across the County of Kent at George Turle House, Canterbury, and The Courtyard, Maidstone, with Specialist support offered to the Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital in Staplehurst. Geographically, we support the County of Kent and Medway, so the ability to travel is essential. You would be supported by a highly experienced Dietetic Team to advance your career and further your skills.

The post holder would assist qualified dietitians in the delivery of the therapy service to a specified caseload of patients and to work under direct supervision, undertaking group education that falls within the remit of non complex cases. This can include carrying an own caseload of non-complex patients and devising and implementing treatment programmes with a qualified dietitian. Furthermore, assisting qualified staff with the management of ongoing more complex cases. We would also envisage this new role as a supportive role for patients near recovery, supporting with eating out and liaising with school for smooth transitions.

We are a mobile working service and offer our patients the choice of face-to-face, virtual and phone appointments.

We are continually striving to improve the service we offer to our patients and embrace new ways of working. It is an exciting time to join our service for opportunities of development and growth and we can offer you a varied and interesting caseload within mental health.

This role is full time (37.5hrs), and the department currently provides a Monday to Friday service. Part time job share would be considered.

**The 3 “must haves” for you to be considered for this role**:
1. GCSE or equivalent

2. Ability to prioritise workload and work flexibly, travelling to multiple sites if required

3. Ability to work from home with access to Wi-Fi using equipment provided.

Probationary Period

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

About the Job
- Working under the guidance of the senior specialist dietitian, to provide dietetic supportive care to a varied and diverse caseload of patients in the community as outlined above.
- Travelling to and providing care at various sites including but not limited to community hospitals, patients’ homes, schools, and some home working.
- Delivering a proportion of care using online platforms e.g., MS Teams
- Delivering education groups
- Supporting our student training programme

**Some of the benefits of joining our team**:

- Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
- Opportunity for upskilling in specialist dietetic treatments e.g., T1DE, paediatrics, ARFID, nutrition support
- Supportive training and development from a highly skilled team.
- Multi-disciplinary working within a larger team of specialist nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists’ psychotherapist, outreach workers and administration

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