Dietitian

Beechwood Road,

Fishponds,

Bristol,

BS16 3TD.

We are seeking and enthusiastic and experienced Dietician to support our clinical team and improve our patient services within our practice. The practice is moving towards a broader approach to healthcare and the post holder will be part of a practice team offering a holistic approach to lifestyle medicine.

This is a new post funded by the additional roles reimbursement scheme of our Primary Care Network. The post holder will work as a highly autonomous practitioner and benefit from a named mentor in our practice whilst also working collaboratively within a primary care multi-professional team.

There is scope to develop this exciting opportunity from the beginning and to make this role your own by developing a new model of Dietetic care.

You will be a highly skilled Dietitian with a dynamic, self-motivated and innovative approach to your work. You will be passionate about holistic patient care, with excellent communication and engagement skills, team working and strong time management.

This is a new exciting and excellent opportunity to work alongside enthusiastic and highly skilled GPs and multi-disciplinary teams to improve patients’ access to nutritional advice, quality of care and outcomes. To showcase the added value of dietetic care.

Providing holistic care to our patients within our practice.

1.      Maintain accurate record keeping on our medical record system (EMIS Web).

2.     To work as a first contact practitioner in primary care and/or develop dietetic led services, as required.

3.     To undertake nutritional assessments by examination and history taking. This includes assessing the nutritional and lifestyle factors influencing health and wellbeing, calculation of nutritional requirements; interpreting and actioning biochemistry results and assessing the efficacy, safety and routes of nutritional support as well as offering evidence-based lifestyle choices.

4.     To contribute to the existing Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction Group for Type 2 Diabetes, obesity and fatty liver and identify other areas where group work may benefit patients.

5.     To be involved in the development and implementation of relevant policies, formulary updates and clinical management plans.

6.     To provide resources such as patient information leaflets, recipes and menu plans.

7.     To undertake clinical practice in line with local policy and guidelines, including nutrition screening policies and using oral nutritional supplements in line with the local Formulary.

8.     To promote the role and value of the Community Dietitian in all aspects of nutritional care.

9.     To be an expert lead in nutrition in the practice.

Professional Responsibilities:

1.     Attend and contribute to relevant internal and external meetings as required including practice clinical meetings, team meetings and any other relevant meetings.

2.     Maintain a personal progress and training plan to keep up-to-date with current thinking and developments as well as identifying own training deficiencies and attending suitable courses and appropriate.

3.     Promote evidence based practice through use of the latest research based guidelines.

4.     Maintain professional registration and work within the latest code of conduct for your professional body.

5.      Keep up to date with pertinent health policy and work with the practice team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation.

6.     Work collaboratively with colleagues both internally and externally.

7.     Demonstrate leadership.

8.     Pro-actively promote the role of a primary care dietitian within the practice and with the public.

9.     Contributes to practice audit/research activity as required.

10.  Promote effective communication, relationships and team working within the practice.

Personal Responsibilities:

1.     To ensure an up to date knowledge of practice policy and procedures relating to this post.

2.     To attend relevant training courses as requested by the management team.

3.     To ensure knowledge of the contents of the Staff Handbook.

4.     Facilitate the use of up to date information technology in order to collate accurate and timely information as and when required by the practice.

5.     Makes recommendations and initiate raising of practice standards and service delivery.

6.     To observe confidentiality at all times.

7.     To present and conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times.

8.     To attend for an IDPR with the Practice Manager on an annual basis.

9.     To ensure an up to date knowledge of data protection issues relating to the post.

10. To report and record all accidents in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review with the post holder. 

• Degree or equivalent qualification as a Dietitian
• HCPC registration
•  Able to operate at an advanced level of clinical practice
• Highly autonomous and independent practitioner
• Ability to undertake full dietetic assessment of patient and formulate specialist nutrition plans.
• Ability to assess suitability of various feeding routes, taking full clinical picture into account.
• Ability to interpret data and make appropriate clinical decisions.
• Working knowledge of nutrition screening tools such as MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool).

• Prior practice experience or knowledge of general practice systems
• Excellent computer skills
• Member of BDA
• Post Graduate qualifications in Nutritional Support.
• Clinical Supervisory Skills training.

• Ability to work core hours
• Flexibility for cover
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and team working skills.
•  Highly self-motivated.

• Enthusiastic about general practice and developing wider system of working
• Have an appreciation of the importance of nutrition for a variety of chronic conditions as well as its role in ensuring optimum health at various stages of life
•  A positive role model
• Dietetic experience in community settings.
•  Dietetic experience in a range of specialties.