Dietician – Taunton Deane West PCN
Job Title: Dietician
Responsible to: Clinical Director and PCN Board
Accountable to: Clinical Director and PCN Board
Hours of work: 37.5
Salary: To be determined by the PCN
Job Scope
The dietician will be a highly skilled, senior practitioner, with expert knowledge in the management of patients’ dietary issues and conditions. They will work as an integral part of the MDT within the PCN.
The dietician will provide interventions for the patient from initial clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care within set patient groups. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within the general practice. They will work collaboratively with the general practice multi-disciplinary general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, providing dietetic leadership as required.
Key duties and responsibilities
provide specialist nutrition and diet advice to patients, their carers, and healthcare professionals through treatment, education plans, and prescriptions
independently manage a caseload of complex patients with a broad range of conditions, using evidence-based interventions to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
educate patients with diet-related disorders on how they can improve their health and prevent disease by adopting healthier eating and drinking habits.
provide dietary support to patients of all ages (from early-life to end-of-life care) in a variety of settings including nurseries, patient homes and care homes.
develop, implement and evaluate a seamless nutrition support service across the PCN, working with community and secondary care where appropriate, and aimed at continuously improving standards of patient care and wider multi-disciplinary team working.
work with clinicians, multi-disciplinary team colleagues, community and secondary care, and external organizations to ensure the smooth transition of patients discharged from elsewhere back into primary care, to continue their diet plan.
make recommendations to PCN staff regarding changes to medications for the nutritional management of patients, based on interpretation of biochemical, physiological, and dietary requirements.
ensure safe practice at all times through the recognition and appreciation of clinical governance.
implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision, and training.
where necessary, recommend and authorize changes to prescribed products, ensuring appropriate monitoring of nutritional status by other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
use behavior change techniques including active listening, motivational and negotiating skills to support clients /patients with difficult dietary and lifestyle changes as well as helping them to recognize and overcome any barriers to these changes.
plan, organize, and undertake nutritional assessments and provide highly specialized advice and education within the care home and other clinical settings for patients with multiple conditions to determine the appropriate nutritional intervention or treatment.
ensure the prescribing of dietetic- related products is clinically and cost effective.
make judgements and decisions based on several components including consideration of clinical justification, prescribing decision, family and carer beliefs and financial / budgetary constraints where a range of options may be appropriate.
provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on own portfolio of projects relating to dietetic and nutritional issues.
if appropriately trained, authorize prescriptions as a Supplementary Prescriber for patients to support achieving dietetic management goals.
be involved in the development and implementation of relevant policies, formulary updates and clinical management plans.
provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on dietary modification, nutritional supplements, and their use.
Functional Responsibilities
undertake detailed information analysis of both practice and patient level reports including biochemistry, medication, clinical condition and nutritional supplement records requiring high levels of concentration.
update, maintain, organize, gather and analyze information to predict/meet future organizational and team needs by identifying best professional practice.
monitor and tracking risks and issues allowing proactive resolution and escalation as appropriate.
contribute to the information management of performance, taking a lead for nutritional supplements to support evaluation of clinical outcomes.
accurately maintain records with patient identifiable and sensitive data including clinical observations, anthropometric and biochemistry results and financial data as required.
undertake a range of administrative tasks such as ensuring stock levels are maintained and securely stored, and equipment is kept in good working order.
ensure delivery of best practice in clinical practice, caseload management, education, research, and audit, to achieve corporate PCN and local population objectives.
Supervision
The postholder will have access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the PCN to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis.