Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Band 6 Specialist Dietitian who has an interest in working with adults and young people with a wide range of mental health conditions, learning disabilities and/or neurological conditions.
The post holder will split their working week between two areas. These are:
1. The Mitford unit based on the Northgate Hospital site in Morpeth, Northumberland
2. The Richardson Eating Disorder Intensive Day Service (RED IDS) based at Benfield House in Newcastle upon Tyne
The Mitford unit is a highly specialist inpatient service for adults who are on the autism spectrum, who have extremely complex needs and display challenging behaviours. This is an exciting opportunity to develop a service within our Autism and Learning Disability Business unit. The post will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team on the wards to provide expert dietetic support for patients with autism and learning disabilities and to train the staff team.
The Richardson Eating Disorder Intensive Day Service is a specialist service based at Benfield House, Walkergate Park Hospital as well as in the community. The service provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for eating disorders for men and women aged 18 and over living in the North East of England.
In both areas support will be given by experienced Advanced dietitians
Main duties of the job
You will take a lead role in the specialist dietetic assessment, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and management of patients in the clinical setting. You will act as a source of expertise in dietetics and nutrition support to patients and other health professionals. You will also be given the opportunity to work on service development and Trust wide projects.
You will receive full support from the Trust wide dietetic professional manager, clinical team leads, advanced dietitians and other specialist dietitians. We hold regular peer supervision, journal sessions and training sessions to ensure our practice is up to date and supported.
You will have the opportunity to work as part of multi-disciplinary teams and develop the skills and knowledge to deliver dietetic input within inpatient, community and specialist services to provide excellent, high-quality treatment and care. This post will provide experience and development in a number of clinical areas, such as nutrition support, weight management, dysphagia, dementia, diabetes and eating disorders, over a number of specialist services.
About us
You will join our expanding trust wide Dietetics Service, which has 31 Dietitians, an Assistant Practitioner and Clinical Support Assistants with excellent links to multidisciplinary teams and nutrition and health promotion initiatives across the Trust. We take great pride in how supportive, welcoming and friendly we are as a team, our aim is to create an environment where every member of our team can succeed.
The team have strong links with local universities, and we take dietetic students from Teesside and Newcastle Universities. All staff have a valuable role and are expected to be actively involved in supporting the learning and development of our dietetic students'.
The post will require travelling to various sites, parking in our Trust car parks is free. There are hot desking offices available for Dietitians to use across the Trust and we will provide you with a laptop and smart phone to enable you to work across multiple sites and access our electronic notes and dairies as needed.
The Trust aims to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS, now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a long term and rewarding career.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please note to apply for this role you must have the right to work in the UK. CNTW NHS Foundation Trust will not provide sponsorship for this role.
Please see the separate job description and person specification for more information.
It is essential you have current and ongoing registration as a Dietitian with the HCPC to be considered for this post.
Part time or flexible hours will be considered.
Advertising date : 16th April 2024
Closing date : 29th April 2024
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
3. Degree in Dietetics or Science/Nutrition Degree plus post-graduate Diploma in Dietetics which leads to eligibility to Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
4. Current valid registration as a Dietitian with the HCPC
5. Evidence of Continual Professional Development including post graduate courses
Desirable
6. Member of the British Dietetic Association and Mental Health Specialist Group
7. British Dietetic Association: Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group (PENG) course
8. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults training
9. Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
10. Post registration experience in general clinical dietetics and further post registration experience in one or more specialist areas
11. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
12. Experience working in and presenting to groups
13. Evidence of participation in audit/research
14. Experience of providing clinical supervision for junior dietitians and mentoring students
15. Experience in the development of Dietetic services
Desirable
16. A working knowledge of vulnerable adult and child protection issues
17. Knowledge of existing national guidance and key standards in eating disorders
18. Knowledge of the Mental Health Act
Skills and Competencies
Essential
19. The ability to solve complex clinical problems some of which will require immediate resolution
20. Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance as part of the supervision process
21. Ability to be flexible; adapting approaches to suit different settings and patients
22. Risk assessment, risk management and safety planning skills
23. Good IT skills and ability to use electronic systems for recording clinical information
Desirable
24. Basic counselling skills
25. Leadership skills
26. Training and induction of staff
Role/Team Specific Requirements
Essential
27. Professional in approach and manner
28. Ability to work independently whilst contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
29. Committed to lifelong learning and continuing professional development
30. Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner and as part of a team and prioritise own work load and that of others
31. Flexible in covering colleague's patient cases in some circumstances
Personal Characteristics/Additional Requirements
Essential
32. Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
33. Good organisational and problem solving skills
34. Able to work under own initiative, work under pressure and achieve deadlines
35. Reliable, dependable with good time keeping
36. Enthusiastic, flexible and motivated to promote Dietetic services
37. A commitment to equal opportunities and a positive attitude to combating stigma
38. Ability and willingness to travel around the Trust and able to meet the mobility requirements of the post
Desirable
39. Keen to learn and gain further experience and with an interest in all aspects of dietetics