Clinical Lead Dietitian - Enteral Nutrition

The Dietetic Department are recruiting a Band 7 Dietitian to lead on enteral feeding and deliver a clinical Dietetic service to complex enterally fed patients in the OUH, across both adult and paediatric services. You will also lead and support a team of Dietetic Assistants and work closely with acute adult and paediatric dietitians, Dietetic Support Workers, Nutrition Nurses and enteral feeding homecare company. You will be well supported by Clinical Lead Dietitians in specialist areas, Team Lead Dietitians and the Dietetic Services Manager. There is a range of clinical, research and innovation, and leadership professional development opportunities within trust, along with funding to support external training. We encourage every Band 7 to protect time within the role to development, both individually and as a service. This can include quality improvement projects, clinical audit and CPD, as well as service development, such as updating ward-based procedures and protocols in conjunction with the MDT.Main duties of the job Provide a high quality and comprehensive Nutrition and Dietetic Service relating to enteral feeding across the trust, working alongside MDTs, Dietetic Assistants and Dietitians and across multiple specialities. Act as a source of expertise for Dietetic colleagues regarding the nutritional management of enterally fed patients within both OUH adult and paediatric services. Have responsibility for leading, supervising and supporting the Dietetic Assistants working across all sites; particularly in relation to enteral feeding processes, stock management, and improving enteral feeding pathways. Alongside the Dietetic Services Manager, to be responsible for the ongoing development of enteral nutrition services including governance and assurance processes. Work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team to provide a flexible, prioritised service based on clinical need; including contributing to complex enteral feeding decision making (e.g. PEG MDT's). To educate, train and disseminate information to healthcare professionals including clinicians, nurses, AHPs, Dietetic colleagues and students in all aspects of enteral nutrition and feeding pathways. To participate and play a key role with other dietitians in the development of evidence-based trust-wide guidelines, policies, and formularies relating to enteral feeding and nutritional supplements. To initiate and lead discussion on organisational, professional and clinical issues relevant to enteral feeding services., The post holder has responsibility for providing a highly skilled Dietetic Service into the management of complex enterally fed patients across both adult and paediatric services, primarily through clinical oversight, advisory support, and multidisciplinary working. Support Dietetic Services across the trust by providing expert guidance on enteral feeding and nutritional support. Support the appropriateness of referrals relating to enteral feeding, ensuring effective use of time and resources across the service. Provide specialist advice based upon the interpretation of relevant clinical information from multiple sources (e.g. medical notes, nursing documentation, dietetic assessments), contributing to comprehensive decision making regarding enterally fed patients. Support assessment and monitoring of nutritional status in complex patients, advising on appropriate methods and interpretation of anthropometric, biochemical, diet history and other validated methods of nutritional assessment as appropriate. Calculate nutritional requirements in the development of enteral feeding regimens, considering clinical condition, established guidelines, and individual patient needs. Contribute to discussions regarding treatment options, supporting the wider MDT and Dietetic Team in establishing appropriate and patient centred enteral nutrition plans. Formulate individualised patient care plans, including artificial feeding regimens; taking into consideration factors which may affect requirements or help/hinder provision of nutrition support such as prescribed drugs, biochemical derangements etc. and the practical factors affecting the delivery of nutrition support. Evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional goals and modify as necessary, based on ongoing analysis and assessment of information available with changing patient needs and clinical condition. Communicate effectively with patients, carers and other health professionals. Skills of negotiation, motivation, explanation and gaining consent are used in a wide variety of sometimes sensitive situations. The ability to communicate complex information at an appropriate level to enable understanding is important. Barriers to communication may be evident e.g. loss of hearing, receptive and expressive problems with the formulation and understanding of language, difficulties with speaking. The use of communication aids such as letter/picture boards may be necessary. Work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), including participating in PEG MDTs alongside Gastroenterologists, Specialist Nurses and other members of the MDT. Lead upon education and training in enteral nutrition for the Dietetic Team and the wider MDT across adult and paediatric services. Liaise and communicate with healthcare professionals in the acute and community setting. This may include: 1. Contributing to the processes relating to discharge preparation and HEF registration where appropriate, 2. Maintaining safe and effective processes for providing detailed handovers to Dietetic colleagues in local hospitals. 3. Coordinating training and community follow-up for patients requiring on-going Dietetic input both locally and out of area. Provide specialist advice and support to Dietetic colleagues and MDT members as required, including remote or ad hoc input for complex cases. To be actively involved with the development of evidence-based, trust-wide guidelines e.g. feeding protocols and other resources such as diet sheets in liaison with Dietetic colleagues, senior nurses or clinicians. Demonstrate sound knowledge of adult and paediatric enteral feeding products including adult, paediatric and paediatric allergy formularies across Thames Valley ICB Represent OUH at enteral feeding meetings including supplier contract review meetings, operational meetings, and enteral feeding stakeholder meetings. Act as a proxy for the Dietetic Service Manager and/or Paediatric Team Lead where required. TEAM LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES To work as part of the team to support the smooth running and quality service delivery of the Dietetics Department, within the OUH. Lead on service planning and development of enteral feeding pathways across the OUH Trust. Work collaboratively with the paediatric dietetic team within OUH as indicated. Undertake team leading responsibilities for Dietetic Assistants supporting the dietetic acute services, including but not limited to responsibility for authorising and recording annual leave for the team, overseeing service cover arrangements, managing sickness and absences, and contributing to wider team planning where appropriate. Support development and competency of Dietetic Assistants within the service, including ensuring that all team members receive clinical supervision in conjunction with clinical specialists, and an annual appraisal. Maintain monitoring and allocating workload / distribution of responsibilities including oversight of annual and study leave requests and managing sickness / absence of team members. Lead on recruitment to vacant posts in clinical team (in conjunction with the Dietetic Services Manager) Act as an advisor regarding likely changes and requirements resulting from developments relating to enteral feeding services; including anticipated changes in demand, product use, and service requirements. Lead on the development and implementation of service improvements within the enteral feeding pathway. To organise and lead the operational aspects of the acute enteral feeding pathways including: 1) Provision of reports/documentation relating to enteral feeding activity, service performance, and product usage as required in a timely manner. 2) Ensure regular team meetings, incorporating service updates, training, and development objectives related to enteral feeding. 3) To develop and deliver training programmes for Dietetic Assistants and Dietitians in relation to enteral feeding processes and pathways. To represent the Dietetic Teams at Divisional/Directorate Clinical Governance and business meetings, procurement, and clinical governance. PROFESSIONAL Be accountable for own actions working within the professional, ethical and legal framework for Dietetics set out in the Health Profession Councils Dietitians Standards of Conduct Performance and Ethics and the British Dietetic Association's Professional Standards for Dietitians and Code of Professional Conduct. To take responsibility for own continuing professional development (CPD) and provide evidence for this by maintaining a CPD portfolio. CPD involves critical evaluation of scientific papers, attending professional development meetings, working as a reflective practitioner and attending relevant internal/external courses. Participate in own annual appraisal, identifying own development and training needs and setting personal development objectives with line manager. To participate in departmental audits and initiate audits within own work area to monitor and evaluate whether local/ national standards are being met and make recommendations for change. To be involved with the planning of departmental clinical effectiveness and audit strategies. To have responsibility to provide input into own clinical area policies and guidelines. Be involved with the Dietetic student training programme, facilitating the development of skills and knowledge and participate in the assessment process. To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to all members of the multidisciplinary team regarding the nutritional management of patients within enteral feeding. This involves regular participation in in-house training courses. Participate in external training / teaching when requested to do so for example teaching undergraduate dietetic or nursing students at local university. To contribute to service development, audit, and quality improvement within this specialist area. ORGANISATIONAL To determine priorities for own work area based on clinical need and balance patient caseload with professional demands. The caseload is large and varied and requires a lot of flexibility, organisation and prioritisation of caseload to ensure an effective service. To provide cover for other colleague's patient caseloads, this requires time management and excellent organisational skills. Oversee operational processes including feed stock management, ordering systems, and enteral feed registrations, and support improvements and efficiencies where possible. To collect activity data daily as required by the department, trust and outside agencies. To maintain accurate and legible documentation of patient interventions within patient records. To communicate Dietetic interventions to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team by documentation within nursing/medical notes or by letter/report.

• Recognised Nutrition & Dietetic Degree or equivalent
• Registered with Health Professions Council as a Dietitian
• Evidence of successful completion of significant specialist post graduate training equivalent to Masters level in this clinical area
Desirable criteria
• Member of the British Dietetic Association
• Member of a relevant Specialist Interest Group
• Evidence of training as clinical supervisor, Evidence of high level of specialist dietetic knowledge/skills in this clinical area as a result of experience/CPD
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of clinical nutrition
• Demonstrates excellent and up to date knowledge of national policies and guidelines relevant to whole service as well as to specific clinical area
• Evidence of research / audit / project work
• Experience of student training including supervision, mentoring and assessment
Desirable criteria
• Is able to demonstrate evidence of clinical service development
• Evidence of leadership experience, Able to easily and efficiently travel to clinical sites and training venues across the county, to provide a dietetics service and to support staff/colleagues, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
  
  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence., Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel. In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism., Sexual Safety Charter: In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.