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Job summary

Main area
Mental Health Services for Older People
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5- 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
346-DDM-043-24
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Auckland Park Hospital
Town
Bishop Auckland
Salary
£28,407 - £42,618 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Dietitian (Band 5-6 Developmental post)

NHS AfC: Band 5- 6

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

Band 5-6 progression Dietitian for Older People's Services

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and proactive Dietitian to join our Care Home Liaison Team within County Durham and Darlington.

The role would like to offer an opportunity to a keen dietitian to develop knowledge and skills within older peoples services with onward progress to a B6 Specialist Dietitian within 2 years. 

This post provides an opportunity to work as part of a broader and supportive team of Dietitians working within a specialist mental health and learning disabilities NHS Foundation Trust.

 

Main duties of the job

This exciting post provides an opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills with our older people who have a Behaviour that Challenges, most likely due to a cognitive impairment (dementia) or functional illness. The role is to work in to and support patients in the care homes across County Durham and Darlington, preventing hospital admission and improving quality of life for those who have a behaviour that is challenging, care staff/families/other health and social work professionals to manage. This will involve an holistic assessment, nutritional analysis of current food and fluid intake, assessment of eating environment, social and carer interactions and functional eating skills, personalised recommendations, support for carers and families, specific recommendations to help maintain independence and making meal times more relaxed and enjoyable, liaising with GP and community nursing staff and promoting the importance of nutritional screening for food intake monitoring. 

The post holder will have the opportunity to participate in policy development, audit, research activities, pathway development, menu planning, staff and student training. 

Working for our organisation

The Dietetic Team in the Trust is the largest and most established dietetic team in mental health and learning disabilities in the UK and has excellent links with the Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA.  We are a dynamic team of dietitians, Associate Practitioners, Dietetic Assistants and Nutritionist’s working in a number of clinical areas throughout Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. We have several experienced Clinical Lead Dietitians in the clinical areas of adult eating disorders, adult mental health, children and young people, forensics and older people.  We have strong links with the Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA and are committed to providing first class professional development.

TEWV provides specialist care across Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, North Yorkshire and the Vale of York. Some of the benefits for staff working in the Trust include:

  • Travel: Free parking, car sharing scheme (via Lift Share), Business Car Lease Scheme, Non Business Use Car Lease Scheme.
  • Staff Wellbeing: Access to Trust gyms, rapid access to an independent counselling service, rapid access to physiotherapy, Occupational Health Services and many more.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Candidates should be a HCPC Registered Dietitian with experience in dietetics including some awareness of the skills required to work with service users with mental illness, dementia, and/or challenging behaviours. They should have excellent communication and IT skills.  Regular clinical and management supervision will be provided and there will be a strong emphasis to complete the competencies portfolio to progress to a Band 6 in 2 years. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • B.Sc. (hons.) in Dietetics or postgraduate diploma in Dietetics
  • Registration with HCPC
  • Willingness to undertake the Preceptorship Programme and Competency Framework (within an agreed timescale)
  • BDA Clinical Supervisory Skills course (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale).
  • Certificate in Food Hygiene (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
  • Willingness to undertake Trust training in Appraisal and Recruitment (within an agreed timescale)
  • Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable criteria
  • Member of the British Dietetic Association and relevant British Dietetic Association specialist group

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a wide variety of dietetic practice areas whilst on student placements
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of dementia/cognitive impairment
  • Worked with Older People

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • National guidance and key standards in own specialist area
  • Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Actand its application in practice.
  • Clinical Risk Assessment and Management and its application in practice.

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Communicate complex and sensitive information in a manner appropriate to the individual and situation.
  • Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Motivate and work positively and constructively with other members of the team.
  • Manage own caseload and prioritise effectively

Other Requirements

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel independently in accordance with Trust policies and service need

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Paula Warwick
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01388 645350
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