Job Overview An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic band 6 or 7 nurse to join the Nutrition Specialist Nurse team within the vibrant and busy Gastroenterology department at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. We are looking for a highly motivated, reliable and enthusiastic nurse who is looking to consolidate knowledge and expand their skills in the field of enteral and parenteral nutrition. The successful candidate will demonstrate an interest and developing knowledge and skills in nutritional support for patients with varied and complex clinical needs within the acute setting. The post holder will be involved in the management of many different patient groups including and not limited to patients with mental health needs, patients with learning disability as well as elderly and oncology patients who require artificial support. Appropriate communication strategies will be required to facilitate care for this diverse patient group. The post holder will make clinical decisions and contribute to complex treatment plans managing nutrition in both acute and chronic illnesses and will respond to actual and potential health concerns appropriately, this will require interpretation of local guidelines and protocols. Main duties of the job Act as an expert advisor regarding nutrition support to all health care professionals within the acute Trust Assess complex patients and communicate effectively to support decision making and planning regarding the placement of enteral feeding tubes. Develop advanced specialist skills to effectively communicate highly complex information with patients, carers, relatives and health care professionals Deliver evidence based, holistic patient centred nutrition support and care for a wide range of complex patients, including those requiring palliative care and complex ethical feeding dilemmas Act as a patient advocate and support patients and their families/carers with decision making regarding ethical feeding dilemmas Use highly developed communication skills in sensitive situations and future care and management planning Working for our organisation At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone’s contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on. We are proud to be in the top 20 best hospitals to work for in the country. We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks – celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger. A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We’ve even got a pool! We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we’re providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research. Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role. Person specification Qualifications And Training Essential criteria Current registration with the UK Nursing & Midwifery Council Evidence of training at degree level or equivalent and ongoing continuous professional development Desirable criteria Drivers license Knowledge and experience Essential criteria Up to date knowledge of nursing theory and best practice, and an understanding of its application in clinical practice Minimum of 5 years nursing experience at band 5 level working in the acute setting Understanding of equality & diversity and its application to managing self, staff and patients within own area Desirable criteria Experience and knowledge of managing and supporting patients receiving artificial feeding Experience of working at band 6 level Specific skills Essential criteria Ability to work autonomously within boundaries of own role and as a team member and promote collaborative multi-disciplinary working Ability to manage time and workload effectively Able to act as an advocate for service users Desirable criteria Evidence of participation in clinical audit and service development Physical skills & emotional effort Essential criteria Able to communicate effectively with staff, patients and relatives/carers, ensuring that communication is tailored to the person being communicated with Theoretical & practical knowledge of artificial feeding equipment Values Essential criteria Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, and is non-judgemental Willingness to learn, open to change Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa e.g. those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying: Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK Applicant requirements You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Documents to download Job Description (PDF, 368.4KB) Person Specification (PDF, 120.7KB) Further details / informal visits contact Name Rhian Trivett Job title Matron for Gastroenterology Email address rhian.trivett@nhs.net Telephone number 01225821999 Additional information Nutrition Specialist Nurse team: 01225821954