Job Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking Dietetic Assistant to join our friendly team to help provide the dietetic service at Great Western Hospital. The Dietetic Service provides support to patients across Swindon. Our work covers acute inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, supporting care homes and visiting patients in their own homes. Our Dietetic Assistants support this work by completing assessments and providing interventions as guided by the dietitians. They also provide training sessions for other members of the MDT on nutrition in a variety of settings.
Dietetic Assistants are a vital part of our workforce and full training & support for this role will be provided. There is potential that this role could support a dietetic apprenticeship.
Your career progression is important to us and we are committed to continuous professional development and student training. We have good computer facilities in the department and have access to excellent library and CPD support.
The department comprises 25 Dietitians a Dietetic Advanced Practitioner (trainee), 2 Nutrition Nurses, 4 Dietetic Assistants and a Dietetic Apprentice and an excellent admin team. The Great Western Hospital is situated in Swindon, which has good links to London and the West Country or Wales.
Main duties of the job
- To work under the supervision of the Community and Acute Dietitians to provide follow-up for noncomplex and established patients referred for nutritional support and other dietetic interventions (on the wards, own homes and predominantly in care homes)
- To be responsible for a caseload of the above patients, maintaining accurate dietetic records in line with departmental and Trust policy
- Obtaining relevant information from patients, health care professionals and electronic notes
About us
“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Advising and educating patients and carers where necessary on foods suitable for their dietary needs(on the wards, own homes and predominantly in care homes).
- Identifying patients food and drink preferences as necessary and prescribed supplements.
- Assist in the nutritional monitoring of patients by collecting specified information such as anthropometric measurements, biochemistry and nutritional intake, and support the implementation of dieteticinterventions, reporting findings to the Dietitian responsible for the patients care.
- Liaise with Dietitians and other health care professionals to ensure appropriate nutritional care plans are implemented, seeking assistance in areas outside own knowledge and skills. Support patients and carers to achieve their optimum nutritional status by reinforcing the nutritional care plan, and implementany changes to care plans, as agreed with the Dietitian.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Recognised degree in Nutrition or other relevant area (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience of working as a Dietetic Assistant (DA) or other relevant role
Desirable
- DA Member of the BDA
- Further training course relevant to the post
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of understanding the roles and and responsibilities of the post
- Experience of working with people in a ward and/or community setting
- Experience of working with people in a medical environment
- Participate in a range of learning activities to support job role and personal development
Desirable
- Experience of working with vulnerable people or children
- Experience in audit or research
- Experience of nutrition support in the community (care homes)
Skills
Essential
- The ability to communicate complex or sensitive information (e.g. face to face or by phone) about well-being to anxious patients and relatives.
- The ability to prepare and deliver presentations to a group of people
- The ability to collect and record information accurately
- The ability to write clear and concise patient or audit reports
Desirable
- Knowledge of using Access Databases
- Experience of using dietary analysis software
- Knowledge of nutritional values of different foods
- Knowledge of dietary needs of different groups of patients
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.
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: 27 June 2024
