Dietitian

Are you a Dietician with experience in of inpatient and outpatient services? Do you have experience working in multidisciplinary teams? Are already a B7 looing for a new challenge or are you a Band 6 looking to develop into a B7? Would you like to work in an award-winning adult eating disorders service?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new and dynamic team in an innovative service for adults with eating disorders within the HOPE Provider Collaborative ‘Step Care’ integrated service model.

The Adult Eating Disorder Step Care Model is a new and innovative service being developed by the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes for People with Eating Disorders) Provider Collaborative, operating across parts of South East and South West England. Due to our initial successes, we are now expanding the service model and looking for a passionate Lead Dietician to join the team.

Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work for the dietetic management of patients in your care, working within the professional code of practice and Trust policies and procedures. This involves practicing in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal framework for dietitians within the Health Professionals Council and the British Dietetic Association Professional Standards for Dietitians.

Use evidence based practice to undertake comprehensive assessments of all community patients referred to the service including biochemical, anthropometrics, clinical condition, diet history and social circumstances and to use advanced reasoning skills to interpret data.

To provide the dietetic service to a specialist and complex clinical area using a high level of skills and knowledge at the level of an independent advanced practitioner.

To be assessed as competent to undertake accurate measurements to assess nutritional status and train others to perform these measurements/calculations (anthropometry, mid upper arm circumference, hand grip strength, plotting growth charts, calculating weight for height/BMI).

To provide nutrition and dietary advice suitable for the patient’s medical, social and cultural factors which is evidence based and takes into account patient/carer communication level.

Benefits of working for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Staff accommodation
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

The service will offer an alternative to inpatient hospital care by providing community and inpatient-based elements combined, as required.

Integrated step care is a new Tier 4 Clinical Model developed by our team at Oxford Health. It consists of three phases: 1. Starting well (virtual Hospital at Home programme). 2. Time limited inpatient admission. 3. Staying well (virtual Hospital at Home programme). The model is underpinned by CBT-E and is fully integrated with community teams and inpatient services to offer a seamless service.

Early results from our pilot studies indicate patient outcomes are significantly improved by using an integrated model of stepped care, based upon CBT-E for those requiring Tier 4 services.

This post not only offers the opportunity to deliver safe, excellent care for people who are at their most unwell, but also the opportunity to contribute to the expansion of the evidence-base through service evaluation and research.

Working across the geographical footprint of the HOPE Adult Eating Disorder Provider Collaborative, our innovative approach enables more people to access services in a timely way, potentially avoid admission and follow a robust treatment pathway to ensure that their needs are met in a therapeutic recovery-based treatment model.

The HOPE Provider Collaborative covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, BaNES (Bath and North East Somerset), Swindon & Wiltshire (BSW) and Gloucestershire, developing integration and collaboration across providers, partnerships and ICS’s (Integrated Care Systems), working with providers and commissioners to develop high quality service provision.

• To develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to the development of dietetic colleagues.
• This involves-Taking responsibility for own continuing professional development and performance and maintaining a portfolio including evidence of reflective practice, as required by HPC.
• Participating in annual appraisal, identifying own development needs in relation to current practice, future plans and setting personal development objectives.
• Attending relevant specialised courses and in house training.
• Involvement in the student dietitian training programme.
• Providing specialist education and advice to dietetic colleagues via regular departmental professional update meetings.
• Attending and representing the department at the regional and national Mental Health Groups.
• Attending the Support Group for Dietitians working with eating disorders.

Please note:

• New starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
• Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
• Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
• Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
• We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
• Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.