Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Are you a dietetic support worker with experience of working with patients as part of a clinical dietetic service? If yes, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly acute Dietetics Team at the Freeman hospital. We are looking for a dietetic assistant practitioner with excellent organisational and communication skills to work alongside dietitians within a busy adult acute service. As a band 4 dietetic assistant practitioner, you will manage a diverse caseload of patients from a number of specialities. The work is interesting and rewarding, given the diverse nature of the patient group.

The Trust recognises the importance of clinical supervision. Part of this role will be to lead on establishing regular sessions with the band 3's and other DAP colleagues within the wider, cross-site department. Other aspects will include stock management, including working with the pharmacy leads within dietetics to review usage; submitting Nutricia Connex and troubleshooting.

The role sits within our friendly acute team and is well supported. It will include regular clinical supervision and 1-1's to support training in the specialist areas. The team also has excellent links with the community services within Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, facilitating CPD opportunities, access to specialist guidance and seamless hospital-home care.

Main duties of the job:

• To develop own practice and offer suggestions for improving services / support mini audit projects within DSW team for departmental outcome day.
• To ensure the effective and efficient use of resources such as stock rotation within the office, sample services etc.
• To link in with Nutricia and the pharmacy lead Dietitians regarding stock shortages/Connex issues.
• Supporting the roll out of new products and equipment throughout the hospital.
• Will be responsible for setting up Homeward, checking discrepancies, liaising with patients regarding stock levels and deliveries, liaising with the wider MDT regarding enteral discharges i.e., GPs.
• Review New RIG patients in ENT with the oncology team.
• Stable NG reviews to support Dietitians in the acute setting.
• Liver transplant nutritional and anthropometry assessments.
• Work within with IF team doing anthropometry to monitor nutritional status of patients - this would be following the successful completion of the ISAC course.
• Be the point of contact for external company reps to organise training visits.
• Oversee the stock levels of enteral and sip feeds within the Freeman Hospital and liaise with pharmacy leads at regular meetings regarding shortages.
• To organise and lead on quarterly meetings with the other DSWs/DAP's within the wider department to ensure regular supervision, a chance for networking/peer support and to promote service development projects.
• Link in career events to represent the department.

About Us:

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites: Freeman Hospital, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle Fertility Centre, Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria, Northern Genetics Service, Cramlington Manor Walks. These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications & Education:

• NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification or level of knowledge and skills.
• Full driving licence.

Desirable:

• Diploma in teaching skills.
• Basic Food Hygiene certificate.

Essential Knowledge & Experience:

• Experience and competency of working in clinical dietetic practice, giving/reviewing 1:1 nutritional advice and weight monitoring, to children/adults/groups with health care needs.
• Attendance of courses/further professional development in relation to nutritional care of patient groups.
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working.
• Experience of audit and data collection.
• Able to work unsupervised where necessary.
• Good presentation skills with experience of educating others.

Desirable:

• Experience of using electronic patient records.
• Knowledge of behaviour change principles.
• Experience in supporting health promotion/awareness campaigns.
• Experience of supervising others.

Essential Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills - verbal and written.
• Basic numeracy skills.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Computer skills i.e. email spreadsheets.
• Able to demonstrate local knowledge of food and health issues.
• Competent food preparation skills and enjoys cooking.

Desirable:

• Can demonstrate leadership skills and initiative.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.