Band 6 Mental Health Dietitian - Bath
Job Description
Job summary
Are you looking to step into a specialty where you can utilise your complex physical health skills while developing deep, holistic clinical relationships?
We are seeking an autonomous and motivated Band 6 Mental Health Dietitian to join our BSW (Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire) Dietetics team. Based primarily at Hillview Lodge inpatient unit in Bath, you will work alongside an integrated AHP team and ward staff to deliver excellent care to adult service users. The role also includes travel to Green Lane Hospital in Devizes and other BSW sites as required.
Maintaining a connected, psychologically safe team atmosphere is vital to us. Although our dietitians are geographically spread across BSW and Bristol, we have a strong virtual network to ensure no one works in isolation. Daily MS Teams check-ins, quarterly Team Days and regular 1:1 clinical supervision (including monthly face-to-face visits to Bath) provide consistent support. Protected CPD time and dedicated reflective practice space are built into the role to support your development as a mental health specialist.
We are a progressive, flexible team and warmly welcome informal discussions prior to application or interview.
Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.
Main duties of the job
Under the guidance of the Lead Dietitian for BSW, this role will contribute to the work of the AWP Nutrition and Dietetics service in the following capacity:
- Providing, maintaining and developing a clinical dietetics service.
- Plan, justify and be responsible for the delivery of specialised dietary advice to service users and their families / carers.
- Plan, manage and prioritise own clinical workload and to ensure maximum efficiency in all areas.
- Plan, coordinate and deliver dietetics training for professional and support staff.
- Participate in training student dietitians.
- Ensure safe practice at all times through the recognition and appreciation of clinical governance.
- Maintain accurate and appropriate clinical records and statistical information as required, in accordance with professional standards.
- To maintain strong links within your professional structures and your profession's lead within the Trust, supporting ongoing professional development, modernisation, and adherence to professional standards and codes of practice.
- Undertake training relevant to the post.
- Work as a member of a clinical multi-disciplinary team, this will include close working with Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and inpatient teams.
About us
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
We aim to provideHigh Quality, Compassionate Careeverywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.
Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job responsibilities
To take a lead role in the planning, development and delivery of the Dietetic service.
To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
To assess the nutritional status and lifestyle of appropriately referred Inpatients within the Mental Health services and collaborate with the service users to establish realistic and achievable aims and objectives, plans and interventions.
To formulate individualised management and treatment plans to help promote optimal physical and mental health and nutritional status with regular supervision from Dietetic Manager. This will include providing advice on the appropriate timing of interventions such as food fortification, nutritional supplements and Enteral nutrition.
To monitor patients and alter treatment plans according to changes in physical or psychological conditions taking into account biochemical and anthropometric measurements, changes in medication and dietary compliance.
To provide highly effective dietary and medical information in a clear and straightforward manner, in conjunction with carers and interpreters when necessary (e.g. sign and language interpreters).
To communicate effectively with patients in an empathic and sensitive way.
To also communicate effectively with medical and nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team through personal, written or telephone contact. This will include the provision of high quality written reports to GPs, Consultant Psychiatrists and other health care professionals regarding patient progress and Dietetic concerns.
To have an appreciation of the barriers to communication that can occur when working with clients within the mental health setting.
To participate in multidisciplinary team working and ensure that Dietetic intervention is evidence-based, timely and tailored to the individual patients needs.
To attend multidisciplinary meetings to discuss patients care and discharge planning.
To liaise with catering services on the provision and implementation of appropriate diets for inpatients.
To use motivational techniques to enable to comply with dietetic treatment plans when there are barriers to understanding or acceptance of the need for treatment.
To provide group education and training to patients, health care professionals and students on a regular basis.
To record and submit professional activity data in accordance with departmental and Trust standards.
To maintain accurate and up to date patient records that meet departmental, Trust and British Dietetic Association (BDA) standards.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- BSc degree in nutrition and dietetics or post graduate diploma in dietetics
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- Motivational interviewing qualification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Experience / interest in working in mental health setting
- Clinical experience in Malnutrition, Diabetes, Weight Management
- Comprehensive, in depth knowledge and understanding of clinical nutrition and dietetics and a wide range of clinical conditions
Desirable
- Experience of providing clinical supervision
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Good presentation and teaching skills
- Experience of evaluation of practice / managing a project
- Demonstrates ability to reflect on practice with peers or mentor
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate leadership qualities
Other requirements
Essential
- Car driver
- Aware of and meets professional code of conduct
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems
- Ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times
Desirable
- Member of the BDA
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Hill View Lodge, RUH
Combe Park
Bath
BA1 3NG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)
