Dietetic Assistant

Job summary

A fantastic opportunity has become available for a dietetic assistant to support the dietetic service. We are looking for someone with good communication and interpersonal skills to support the dietetic service who care for people in their own homes/nursing homes who require dietetic input to manage their condition.

The dietetic service consists of 4 teams:

Inpatients Outpatients (Mainstream) Home enteral feeds Learning Disabilities

You will have the opportunity to be involved in all areas, and develop your skills and knowledge.

You will provide an administrative service, to facilitate the efficient running of the teams, enabling dietitians to spend more time involved with direct patient contact.

You will work with and assist dietitians and assistant practitioners (APs) in the support, treatment and monitoring of patients in the community and within the inpatient units. You will become a point of contact for patients.

You will be line managed by the inpatient lead dietitian and have regular supervision to support your development within the role.

Main duties of the job

This is an opportunity for someone with excellent communication and IT skills, to work within a community healthcare setting to support clinical staff look after patients who are enterally fed or require other dietetic intervention/ treatment.

For the inpatient service, you will support the process of discharging patients requiring tube feeding, keeping track of feeding equipment, follow up patient reviews as requested by the dietitian and involvement in providing ward based education.

For the other community teams you will organise home visits and clinic appointments for the dietitians, maintain the database, liaise with nutritional product companies, undertake patient review under direct and indirect supervision. Within the role you will develop your skills and knowledge so that you become the first point of contact over the phone/ in person with patients, carers and other health care professionals needing the support of the team.

Independent travel across central Norfolk is a requirements of the role, therefore access to a vehicle is essential.

You will be based at Thorpe Health Centre but will work across various locations in Norfolk with a team of dietitians and assistant practitioners.

About us

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

All staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently demonstrate NCHC Values.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

To organise own workload in order to support the care of patients in an efficient and effective To take a lead role in the day to day administration required to support To be responsible for ensuring that patients/carers/nursing staff receive relevant information regarding their appointments. To maintain accurate documentation in the dietetic records in line with department guidelines and inform supervising Dietitian or Assistant Practitioner (AP) of all interventions with patients in the community. To carry out follow-up phone calls to identified patients using a checklist. To liaise with a Home Feeds Delivery company and appropriate staff to ensure adequate supply of equipment/feed products following patient discharge from in-patient This includes completing the appropriate Patient Registration system provided by the feed company To liaise with the supervising Dietitian or AP in the writing of reports/letters to GPs and other healthcare professionals in order to give details of dietetic care for specific HEF patients in the community. To report to the supervising Dietitian or AP any patient that gives cause for concern, including basic triaging using a checklist. To contribute to audit work associated with this patient group, which may include clinical data collection to demonstrate outcomes of care, customer satisfaction, and inputting data. To use a computer package to analyse food diaries for a patient as requested by a Dietitian or AP. To receive, filter and escalate phone calls, responding in a sensitive and supportive manner to requests from staff and patients for information. To provide troubleshooting advice and training for patients, carers and Healthcare Professionals on the use of pumps and equipment as required. To transport, if required, supplements/feeds and equipment such as ramp and hoist scales for use when visiting patients or to community inpatient units when required. To undertake weight checks if required using appropriate scales subject to appropriate training. To carry out literature searches under the direction of the Dietitian to enhance evidence-based practice. To help provide cover for Dietetic Assistants and Assistant Practitioners in their absence. To communicate with other members of the team, as required, regarding ongoing workload commitments and prioritise accordingly. To be responsible for the safe use of weighing equipment ensuring maintenance, standards are adhered to . Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent eg Health Promotion or Nutrition

Desirable

Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent) Associate member of the British Dietetic Association (for Dietetic support workers/assistant practitioners)

Experience

Essential

To have relevant experience of working within the hospital environment or equivalent experience Experience of working with the general public

Desirable

Knowledge of clinical terminology

Skills

Essential

Good time management with the ability to prioritise own workload and meet deadlines Good organisational skills Ability to use own initiative but also recognise own limitations Ability to travel between community locations in a timely way

Desirable

Ability to undertake accurate anthropometric measurements To have experience in use of SystmOne or LAS

Communication

Essential

oGood communication skills, demonstrating evidence of listening and questioning skills

Personal and People Development

Essential

Good interpersonal skills showing care and sensitivity to the needs of patients, carers, staff and colleagues

Personal Attributes / Behaviours

Essential

Ability to work flexibly within the Dietetic department being able to work alone or as part of the team. Effective role model, demonstrating NCHC behaviour framework Integrity, Dedication and Excellence

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