Dietetic Assistant Practitioner (Community): Sponsorship Available

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

Are you an individual who has a passion for improving the nutritional care provided to the residents of Sheffield? Do you enjoy working one-to-one with patients and delivering group educational sessions? We have an exciting part- time role (0.68wte/25.5hrs per week) that is based within our friendly and supportive Community Dietetic Team at Manor Clinic.

This role is to support the Community Dietitians in delivering a service to the community in Sheffield. The role will entail supporting the Dietitians with reviewing and assessing nutritional support patients both within their own homes, clinic settings and via telephone.

The role will also involve completing educational training to Healthcare professionals and specific patient groups.

For this role, we require an individual who has a passion for improving patient care and has effective communication skills.

Full training will be provided and we provide all our Dietetic Assistant Practitioners with a period of competency-based training prior to working independently.

The dietetic assistant practitioner will work independently, using protocols and guidance to support qualified dietitians and ensure the effective implementation of dietetic treatment for patients, by undertaking the following:

Support the dietitian to assess the nutritional status of individuals and groups through collection of anthropometric measurements, selected biochemical, haematological and clinical chemistry test results.

Main duties of the job

Gather appropriate information regarding medical, social, psychological, personal, cultural and economic factors.

Formulate appropriate and practical dietary advice for individuals and populations within agreed protocols.

Document information collected on the dietetic record in accordance with departmental standards.

Maintain records appropriately; record concisely and in line with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines and the professional code of conduct all the necessary information to support the professional dietetic judgement.

Recognise the need for effective self-management of workload and resources and be able to practice accordingly.

Enable the service user to meet the aims of the intervention plan.

Liaise with the Dietitian regarding patients’ progress and monitoring.

Liaise with the medical, nursing and support staff as necessary regarding patients’ nutritional needs and progress.

Understand and utilise the methods of optimising nutritional status in selected disease states, working with the individual to set appropriate goals.

Use nutritional analysis packages to analyse food records and menus.Liaise with Dietitians re new referrals and assist with triaging of vulnerable patients.

Review a caseload of patients on nutrition support reporting on progress to the Dietitian.

Liaise with community health professionals regarding patients and changes to their dietary and supplement needs.

About us

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff members and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation Degree ideally Nutrition related OR NVQ Level 3/4 Healthcare with relevant Dietetic Assistant experience
  • GCSE English and Maths Grade C/4 or equivalent.

Desirable

  • RSA word processing Level 1 or equivalent
  • Training in customer awareness, valuing diversity, health and safety
  • Current food hygiene certificate.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people and teamwork within a health/care environment
  • Worked in a health care setting e.g. health care assistant, health support worker.

Desirable

  • Trained and worked as a Dietetic Assistant
  • Experience of working in the NHS
  • Experience of community working in the health and/or social care field
  • Experience of running teaching sessions in the Community setting
  • Worked in a catering environment similar to a hospital setting.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Proficient IT skills including use of Word, Outlook, Excel and Powerpoint
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team
  • Strong organisational and time management skills

Desirable

  • Awareness of nutritional support and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Committed to engage in professional and personal development and department appraisal system and willingness to undertake further training as necessary.
  • Able to physically cover all locations and carry small pieces of equipment
  • Able to withstand pressure of work and clinical priorities
  • Able to deal with infrequent exposure to bodily fluids, unpleasant smells,
  • Able to work flexible hours
  • Car driver with valid driving licence due to potential need to conduct home visit
  • Able to deal with conflict, aggression (infrequently) and distressing circumstances e.g bereavements, emotional issues, terminally ill.

Desirable

  • Enthusiasm and passion for educating others re: Nutrition and Hydration

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 21 November 2024

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.