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We have a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated and flexible individual to join our Dietetic Team as an Assistant Practitioner at band 4 level within the Oncology team at Derriford Hospital. You will support a team of Registered Dietitians and work closely with our dietetic assistants, to ensure patients in hospital and in the community achieve their nutritional needs.

This post is full time.

6 months fixed term with a view to possible extension.

The post holder will work independently under the supervision of specialist dietitians to undertake clinical and administrative tasks to support the oncology service.

To assist in delivering appropriate nutritional care to individuals and patient groups and provide organisational and administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of the service.

To be responsible for organising own delegated clinical workload and administrative tasks and activities, whilst remaining flexible to the he needs of the service.

To be involved in all Nutrition and Dietetic departmental activities and contribute to the delivery of a trust wide dietetic service.

The successful applicant will join the Oncology team (1 B7, 3 B6, 1 B5 and a B3) which covers all cancer sites including Haematological cancers, Upper GI and Head and Neck.

Derriford Hospital is the largest specialist teaching hospital in the south west peninsula and the region’s major trauma centre.

We support individual personal and professional development and are passionate about health and wellbeing.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

.Available as a fixed term contract

• This post is based in the Nutrition and Dietetic Department of Derriford Hospital.
• To work independently, but under the direction of an HCPC registered dietitian to perform specific tasks for an individual or group of patients.
• Be responsible for all aspects of own work and demonstrate awareness of own level of responsibility and accountability within the service, and when to seek advice from the dietitians.
• Undertake patient reviews of selected patients under the supervision of the dietitian. This will include checking if a patient is following their nutrition plan, liaising with relevant healthcare professionals, and providing feedback to the dietitian. The role will also involve giving advice, to help patients make dietary changes and diet histories.
• Retrieve and record biochemistry results and inform the dietitian of results as appropriate.
• To work within protocols and competencies specific to this post. To act as first contact in specific situations.
• Calculating and monitoring oral food intake e.g. food record charts and discussing nutritional intake with patients directly and any barriers preventing them from meeting the nutritional care plan goals.
• Documenting in medical notes and nursing notes as part of the nutritional assessment the patient’s food and fluid intakes including estimated energy/calorie and protein intakes as part of the nutritional assessment reviews.
• Check and support the use of nutritional screening tools, this will involve weighing and measuring patients as well as ongoing staff training.
• Implementation of MUST care plan, introduction of oral nutritional supplements and monitoring of compliance.
• Work flexibly and carry out duties as directed and agreed with the dietitian.
• Assist the Dietitian, and nursing staff with effective discharge planning including facilitating the safe discharge of patients requiring Home Enteral Tube Feeding, and training patients / carers in the use of equipment e.g. feeding pump training.
• Patient management includes: nutritional assessment and information gathering to identify patient needs; development of nutritional care plans and review of progress at regular intervals.
• Ordering and management of adequate stock levels of nutritional supplements, dietary booklets and resources.
• Assist the dietitians with data collection for audit / research projects. This may include clinical data collection to demonstrate outcomes of care, patient satisfaction surveys and audit of screening in the hospital.
• Be aware of limitations of own knowledge and experience and seek advice and guidance as required.
• Assist in the collection of relevant data for facilitating care plans such as, referral information, medical summaries, requesting information from GP surgeries/other hospitals etc.
• To monitor the progress of patients receiving interventions and communicate changes back to dietitian.
• Reinforce advice given to patients/carers by dietitian as requested.
• Follow up patients by means of telephone and/or face to face reviews.
• Contribute to departmental and external meetings as delegated by a dietitian.

• Assist in the development and delivery of education and training programmes to other health professionals, patients and carers, taking into account the diverse needs of the population.
• Assist in the training and education of other members of staff including students and other assistant staff.

• To demonstrate compassion, empathy and sensitivity to patients, carers and families.
• To deal sensitively with patients; in distressing or emotional circumstances, who may have communication difficulties, providing care for distressed patients or those with challenging behaviour.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues within and outside of the department, including third party company staff in order to be able to deliver an effective service to patients and carers and to facilitate multidisciplinary working.
• Be able to identify when there may be communication difficulties; take appropriate action to ensure the patient is not disadvantaged and to ensure this information is communicated to colleagues.
• Act as a link with other healthcare professionals, agencies and third party companies as directed by the dietitian. This will include communication of diet needs to ward staff, housekeepers, and catering staff.

• Maintain competency with Trust recording systems e.g. Tiara, Somerset and ensure all contacts are recorded in agreed timescales.
• Ensure all records relating to patient care are recorded in line with Trust Record Keeping Policy and are accurate reflection of care delivered.
• Collect information and data as requested by Trust or dietitian.
• Complete mandatory training as required by the Trust and access other role specific training as agreed with dietitian.
• Maintain spreadsheets as directed by the dietitian.
• To participate in the appraisal process and follow a programme for CPD as drawn up in individual performance review and achieved agreed objectives within agreed timescales.
• To remain ‘cost aware’ and utilise equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.