Dietitian - Advanced Critical Care and Liver Disease in Liverpool

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Dietitian to act as the lead for Critical Care and Specialist Liver Disease services at the Aintree Hospital. On Critical Care, supported by a Band 6 Dietitian, you will work closely within the MDT on our 26 bedded unit. There is opportunity for Dietetic input into ward rounds, MDTs and service development. You will also be able to contribute to operational meetings and support service redesign and development.

As a major trauma centre and regional centre for head and neck surgery and vascular services, you will be able to develop your skills in the nutritional assessment and management of patients with complex nutritional needs. Part of this role involves managing patients requiring parenteral nutrition (PN) with support by the trust Nutrition Team. The Gastroenterology element of the role will be to provide dietetic care to complex liver patients, across the inpatient and outpatient settings, specifically liver transplant patients and those with decompensated liver disease. The successful candidate will work closely with the wider team, attending relevant MDT meetings and linking with external transplant centres as needed. In a team of Gastroenterology Dietitians, the post holder will be expected to develop and enhance the Gastroenterology Dietetic service, further developing the role and establishing additional outpatient services.

Main duties of the job:

• To act as Dietetic lead in the assessment, care planning and monitoring of patients with complex nutritional needs.
• Attend ward rounds, case conferences and ward meetings as required to reinforce importance of good nutrition in patient care and role of Dietitian in multidisciplinary team.
• Undertake supervision and training of junior dietetic staff and student dietitians in your specialist clinical area.
• Provide cover for absent colleagues thus, requiring knowledge in other areas of dietetics.
• Plan and prioritise own workload using clinical judgement.
• Supporting the Lead Dietitian with leadership and management tasks as required.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills, a practical, forward-thinking approach to service development and evaluation, and the ability to work as part of a team. The post also provides the opportunity to contribute to the supervision of Dietetic staff and Student Dietitians. You would also support the Dietetic Lead in the leadership and management of the service, focussing on quality and safety, workforce, recruitment and performance measures.

Person specification:

• Qualifications: BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics/PhD Nutrition and Dietetics. Current registration with HCPC. Membership of BDA or equivalent professional indemnity insurance. Post registration validated training in specialist area – (BDA validated or MSc equivalent Supervisory Skills training, minimum introductory level. Supervisory Skills training advanced level. Member of specialist interest group. Educated to masters level or equivalent Attended leadership/management training.
• Experience: Broad clinical experience, including post registration experience in speciality. Evidence of multidisciplinary team working. Experience of supporting learning of other healthcare professionals. Experience and evidence of continuing personal and professional development in practice. Experience in the training of student dietitians. Previous experience of conducting audits and or research. Evidence of service review/development. Experience of clinical supervision of others. Experience of influencing others to improve patient care.
• Knowledge: Establish effective communication methods to convey specialist knowledge to patients individually and in groups in a variety of settings. Post registration credited learning in enhanced communication skills.
• Skills: Accurate anthropometry skills. Implements behavioural/counselling techniques to constructively overcome barriers to change. Able to work autonomously within area of specialism using critical thinking and expert practitioner level judgement. Ability to meet deadlines, prioritise tasks and support others to do the same. Demonstrates confidence and motivation to work autonomously using clinical judgement in environments with little direct support.
• Other: Demonstrates holistic patient centred approach. Commitment to maintain dietetic profile within the multidisciplinary team. Self-reliant and self-motivated but willing to seek advice and support of others. Supportive approach to learners. Ability to respond to unpredictable work patterns. Enhanced CRB Disclosure. Collaborative and constructive.

The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working. The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community.