Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Band 6 Specialist Dietitian to join our team. We will also consider offering the post at Band 5 with a development framework to move to Band 6 if you do not have the experience to fill this post at Band 6.
You will work in the Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) inpatient wards at Ferndene in Prudhoe, Northumberland and the Lotus ward at Acklam Road Hospital in Middlesborough.
Ferndene provides regional and national Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for children and young people between the ages of 12 and 18. Tier 4 CAMHS are for patients with more complex needs usually requiring inpatient treatment. Ferndene is undergoing the final stages of its building program and will fully reopen early 2025.
Lotus Ward provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients under the age of 18 years with early onset psychosis or complex mental health disorders.
Main Duties of the Job
You will work collectively with other dietitians to provide safe and effective care for all patients. You will ensure dietetics is fully involved in all treatment pathways and implement training for the introduction of nutrition screening in CYPS and other training on the wards, such as general nutrition and physical health.
Dietetic input at Ferndene and Lotus is highly regarded and considered essential for the young people there. Full support will be provided by an experienced Band 7 Advanced Dietitian and other Band 6 Specialist Dietitians, as well as the multi-disciplinary teams at both hospital sites.
Staff are actively encouraged to take part in the development of the Dietetics service within the Trust, including audit and promotion of the service through various events and initiatives. We offer excellent training opportunities to provide you with the skills needed for your role.
You will take a lead role in the specialist dietetic assessment, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and management of patients in the clinical setting, acting as a source of expertise in nutrition support and dietetics to patients, consultants, medical staff, other healthcare professionals, carers, and relatives.
About Us
You will join our expanding trust-wide Dietetics Service, which has 31 Dietitians, an Assistant Practitioner, and Clinical Support Assistants with excellent links to multidisciplinary teams and nutrition and health promotion initiatives across the Trust. We take great pride in being supportive, welcoming, and friendly as a team, aiming to create an environment where every member can succeed.
The team has strong links with local universities, and we take dietetic students from Teesside and Newcastle Universities. All staff have a valuable role and are expected to support the learning and development of our dietetic students.
The Trust aims to attract and retain a diverse, talented, and committed workforce who are caring and compassionate, able to meet the demands of the modern NHS. In return, we offer a dynamic working environment to build a long-term and rewarding career.
Job Responsibilities
You will have the opportunity to work as part of multi-disciplinary teams and develop the skills and knowledge to deliver dietetic input within inpatient, community, and specialist services, providing excellent, high-quality treatment and care. This post will provide experience and development in various clinical areas, such as nutrition support, weight management, dysphagia, dementia, diabetes, and eating disorders, across multiple specialist services.
This is a permanent position, and you will join our well-established dietetic team at CNTW, covering a wide range of services helping patients with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and/or neurological conditions.
The post will require travel to various sites, with free parking in our Trust car parks and the ability to claim expenses for travel. There are hot-desking offices available for Dietitians across the Trust, and we will provide you with IT equipment to enable you to work across multiple sites and access our electronic notes and diaries as needed.
Please see the separate job description and person specification for more information. It is essential that you have current and ongoing registration as a Dietitian with the HCPC to be considered for this post. Part-time or flexible hours will be considered.
We welcome your application.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
- Degree in Dietetics or Science/Nutrition Degree plus post-graduate Diploma in Dietetics leading to eligibility for HCPC registration
- Current valid registration as a Dietitian with the HCPC
- Evidence of Continual Professional Development including postgraduate courses
- Member of the British Dietetic Association and Mental Health Specialist Group
- British Dietetic Association: Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group (PENG) course
- Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults training
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
Knowledge and Experience
- Post-registration experience in general clinical dietetics and further post-registration experience in one or more specialist areas
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience working in and presenting to groups
- Evidence of participation in audit/research
- Experience of providing clinical supervision for junior dietitians and mentoring students
- Experience in the development of Dietetic services
- A working knowledge of vulnerable adult and child protection issues
- Knowledge of existing national guidance and key standards in eating disorders
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act
Skills and Competencies
- The ability to solve complex clinical problems requiring immediate resolution
- Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance as part of the supervision process
- Ability to be flexible, adapting approaches to suit different settings and patients
- Risk assessment, risk management, and safety planning skills
- Good IT skills and ability to use electronic systems for recording clinical information
- Basic counselling skills
- Training and induction of staff
Role/Team Specific Requirements
- Professional in approach and manner
- Ability to work independently while contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
- Committed to lifelong learning and continuing professional development
- Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner and as part of a team, prioritizing own workload and that of others
- Flexible in covering colleagues' patient cases in some circumstances
Personal Characteristics/Additional Requirements
- Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
- Good organizational and problem-solving skills
- Able to work under own initiative, under pressure, and meet deadlines
- Reliable, dependable, with good timekeeping
- Enthusiastic, flexible, and motivated to promote Dietetic services
- A commitment to equal opportunities and a positive attitude towards combating stigma
- Ability and willingness to travel around the Trust and meet the mobility requirements of the post
- Keen to learn and gain further experience with an interest in all aspects of dietetics
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.
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