Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team on Ward 2 at Blyth Community Hospital as a Nutritional Assistant.
Ward 2 at Blyth Community Hospital is a 26 bedded Care Of The Elderly ward, providing in-patient rehabilitation care.
We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic individual who would welcome the opportunity to work within the team providing support to our patients with meeting their nutritional needs.
Experience of working within a Hospital / Caring environment is desirable.
Knowledge and experience of computer skills is desirable, however, full training will be provided for the I.T systems that you will be required to use.
As a Nutrition assistant, your main duties will be:
- To assist the qualified nursing staff in promoting and providing nutritional support for patients, including assisting patients with meals and promoting additional nutritional snacks.
- To assist patients with ordering their meals ensuring dietary preferences are met and assisting with feeding where appropriate.
- To keep an updated record of any additional nutritional support required and provided.
- To monitor stock levels of nutritional supplements and snacks and order appropriately to ensure sufficient stock is readily available for patients.
- To maintain high standards of nutritional support to patients.
- Duties outlined are general nutrition duties for the ward as designated by the Ward Manager, Sister, Charge Nurse, or Nurse in charge.
All staff who are coming to work for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust or current staff who are new to the role of a Nutrition Assistant, will be expected to undertake the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Care Certificate Programme. This is a development programme mapped against the standards of the Care Certificate and to facilitate your development as a Nutrition Assistant. Full Participation in the programme is mandatory, you will not be able to commence in clinical practice until you have completed the initial three days of the programme.
- The main element of the role is to assist and supervise with feeding patients and preparing drinks and snacks.
- You will be expected to ensure documentation such as food diaries and fluid balance charts are completed accurately.
- You will be responsible for ensuring MUST charts are completed, patients are weighed on specified days and other specified tasks to meet individual patient needs.
- The post holder will be required to monitor quality standards and report deficiencies and take appropriate action, able to communicate effectively with respect to patient confidentiality.