SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE DIETITIAN
JOB PROFILE
Post:- Specialist Palliative Care Dietitian
Responsible to: - Clinical Operational Manager Accountable to:- Director of Clinical Services
Job Summary
Work within the policy framework of the Hospice in the provision of Specialist Palliative and Supportive Care to ensure that the aims and objectives of the Organisation are met. Provide a specialist nutritional support and dietary education for the patients accessing the hospice services to promote nutritional health.
As a member of the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) to act as a role model for the clinical staff, demonstrating a professional and pro-active approach, providing expert clinical practice and advice. He/she will actively participate in improving the service and will, in collaboration with the Clinical Operational Manager, initiate and support future developments. These will include involvement in clinical audit, education and research programmes within the Organisation. Act in Accordance with the Health and Care Professions Council & British Dietetic Association Code of Conduct.
St Ann’s Hospice delivers a service across three sites. You are required to provide cross-site/service cover.
Although this is a comprehensive job description, you may be required to undertake other duties assigned by your manager.
Communication
Effectively communicate complex specialised dietary advice and life style changes to patients and carers.
Provide specialist advice to clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for oncology and palliative care patients and carers based on clinical evidence.
Communicate/liaise with nursing staff, AHPs catering and other healthcare professionals on steps required to implement patients dietary prescription.
Establish and maintain effective communication between dietitian working in the primary, secondary and tertiary settings to enable a smooth transfer of dietetic care and a
continuation of dietetic monitoring/therapeutic support following transfer of discharge, where appropriate.
Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation on individual patients in line with hospice policy and those of the Health and Care Professions Council.
In consultation with the Line Manager, represent the organisation in the capacity of Dietitian at external meetings as required.
Record and submit patient data and statistics as requested by the clinical operational manager and provide information for reports and service planning as required.
Liaise and confer with medical representatives regarding the provision of dietetic equipment, nutritional produces +/or product information.
Work in accordance with Hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Personal & People Development
Actively participate in the Hospice Individual Performance Review process to identify own learning needs and take necessary steps in order to reach personal/professional objectives. Be responsible for own clinical professional development to maintain competency and to
ensure the provision of evidence based practice.
Practice in accordance with the Code of Practice by the Health and Care Professions Council & British Dietetic Association Code of Conduct, and ensure your professional registration is maintained.
Utilise staff support systems e.g. clinical supervision, as appropriate
In consultation with the Line Manager, to attend and participate in local regional and national professional dietetic and nutrition meetings.
Health, Safety & Security
Work in accordance with Hospice information, policies and procedures.
Attend organisational mandatory training as required by your manager relevant to your role. Actively engage in the organisational incident reporting system.
In collaboration with the Infection Control Nurse, promote an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures. Ensure that you and other staff practice in accordance with these.
Service Improvement
Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary team colleagues in the development of services. Contribute to and participate in organisational service development.
Follow systematic evaluation in implementing new initiatives, thus improving the
effectiveness and efficiency of the dietetic service and ensuring the maintenance of high clinical standards.
Quality
Lead the dietetic service for the organisation working across all 3 sites, managing and delivering the service.
Take an active role in the research, development, implementation and audit of evidence based nutrition strategies and standards with medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy and other AHP colleagues to promote safe effective practices of nutrition support.
With your line manager and identified others contribute to the identification of practices relevant to your role that could improve service delivery outcomes through –
o Audit
o Research
o Evaluation
o Education/training
o User involvement
Ensure own clinical practice is evidence based, effective in terms of clinical outcome and is patient centred.
Organise and manage own workload, ensuring it reflects core components of your role in a manner that ensures quality and reduces risk.
Be aware of and work in adherence to the National Standards and requirements of the Care Quality Commission.
Work with the Catering Department to ensure suitable meal provision to meet the special needs of the palliative patient.
Equality & Diversity
Promote a culture which respects and recognises diversity and supports patients, visitors and staff who need assistance in exercising their rights.
Play a key role in providing an environment and service which reflects the diversity of individual needs.
Demonstrate enhanced knowledge and understanding of organisational objectives relating to equality and diversity.
Ensure care with your practice is consistent with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (2007)
Assessment & care planning to meet health and wellbeing needs
Nutritionally assess patients on the inpatient unit using the interpretation and evaluation of biochemical, clinical and dietary data, whilst considering the patient’s social and ethnic circumstances, prognosis and treatment.
Work in conjunction with community dietitians as appropriate to ensure that patients accessing day therapy, community and supportive outpatient services are appropriate assessed and receive dietetic advice, support and interventions.
Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs
Be conversant with processes that are in place to support patients and carers to make informed choices about their care and ensure they are utilised effectively.
Ensure necessary steps are taken to enable patients to make their own decisions about treatment and care in order to maximise their potential.
Act as an advocate to ensure that the patient’s perspective is heard within the multi-disciplinary team.
Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needs
Act as a specialised resource on nutrition and cancer for patients, carers, medical staff, nursing staff and other health care professionals associated with the hospice and with external agencies
Be clinically responsible for a highly complex area of work, as agreed with the manager and independently plan, organise patient related and professional demands of a palliative care specialist dietitian
Be responsible for the ordering, delivery and monitoring of specialist prescribed nutritional supplements for patient use and individual client needs.
Interventions & Treatments
Provide appropriate dietetic advice, support and interventions to patients accessing hospice services and review the effectiveness of these interventions.
Prescribe the appropriate dietary regimen for patients using evidence based practice and to manage, monitor and re-evaluate the treatment plan as necessary.
Diagnose Refeeding Syndrome and liaise with the medical staff with an aim of optimising treatment outcome by recommending the appropriate method of nutrition intervention.
Learning & Development
Contribute to the in-service training and education training programmes within the hospice and to participate in the organisational conference programme as required.
Write, deliver and evaluate internal and external education and training sessions on nutrition and specialist dietetics in relation to oncology and palliative care to medical staff, nursing staff, AHPs dietitians, other health care professionals, patients and carers as appropriate. Organise, deliver, facilitate and evaluate education and training sessions to the hospice
nutrition link nurses with the purpose of improving their knowledge and delivery of service around nutrition matters. Act as a resource and support to them in the provision of this service.
Contribute to the provision of an effective learning environment for students of all disciplines on clinical placements.
SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE DIETITIAN
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Desirable Method of
Assessment Qualifications
BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or BSc degree in relevant science subject plus Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
Teaching qualification Advanced course in
nutritional support (eg British Dietetic Assoc; Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition Course or equivalent Evidence of advanced communication skills Certificates Application form Experience:
Evidence of post registration experience
Specialist oncology/palliative care experience. Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working Evidence of recent CPD Evidence of audit/research
experience and ability to critique research papers. Nutrition Course Application Form Interview References Personal skills:
Excellent oral and written communication skills Good presentation skills and
evidence of presentations to large groups
Standard keyboard skills – word processing, internet, data inputting
Ability to work independently with individuals and groups
Good organisational and time management skills
Clinical supervision skills Ability to interpret complex
information
Application Form Interview References
Knowledge
Understanding the complex effects of cancer and treatments on nutritional status of patients. Understanding the importance of
nutrition in palliative care. Conversant with enteral feeding
systems
Sound knowledge of current issues relating to cancer
Knowledge of clinical governance
Evidence of oncology courses Application Form Interview References Other
Self motivated, reliable Full driver’s licence, driving on
business insurance and own car. Able to recognise own limitations
Application form Interview
