Dietitian staff grade

Clontarf Hospital provides post-acute rehabilitation services to patients transferred from acute hospitals with a variety of conditions and rehabilitation needs including: post Covid, post elective and trauma orthopaedic surgery, frail older adults, post- acute medical conditions, multiple co-morbidities, post amputee, post neuro surgery and neurological conditionsClontarf Hospital provides post-acute rehabilitation services to patients transferred from acute hospitals with a variety of conditions and rehabilitation needs including: post Covid, post elective and trauma orthopaedic surgery, frail older adults, post- acute medical conditions, multiple co-morbidities, post amputee, post neuro surgery and neurological conditions.

To work and function as an efficient and effective member of the Nutrition & Dietetic team and the relevant multidisciplinary teams, and to provide optimum clinical dietetic services to patients under the care of the dietitian.

Flexibility is essential for this role. Areas of work will be discussed and then allocated in a range of areas including:

· Age Related Rehabilitation

· General Rehabilitation

· Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (trauma and elective)

Neurological & Neurosurgery Rehabilitation

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Professional/Clinical

The Staff Grade Dietitian will:

· Provide a dietetic service that is evidence based and prioritized.

· Recognise the need for effective self-management of workload, available time and resources.

· Identify nutritional problems through individual assessment of nutritional status and calculation of requirements and devise and implement appropriate nutritional care plans.

· Monitor and evaluate intervention outcomes.

· Actively participate in the development of nutrition and dietetic services.

· Review existing resources and compile, develop and evaluate new resources to support and meet the needs of the target patients.

· Work within own scope of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct and clinical governance.

· Seek the advice of relevant personnel when appropriate/as required.

· Liaise with catering staff in development of menus and specialised therapeutic diets in accordance with National Standards for Hospitals.

· Liaise and contribute effectively with multidisciplinary teams, staff colleagues as per all relevant issues.

· Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences when requested to do so.

· Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace.

Education & Training

The Staff Grade Dietitian will:

· Attend mandatory training programmes.

· Participate in induction and mentoring with professional colleagues. S/he will be open to reflective practice.

· Maintain professional knowledge on relevant areas of scientific research and practice development.

· Maintain standards of practice and levels of clinical knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at relevant courses as appropriate.

· Participate in research and in developing databases for relevant patient groups.

· Engage in career and personal development planning.

· Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of dietetic colleagues, other health professionals and service users as required.

Health & Safety

The Staff Grade Dietitian will:

· Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

· Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.

· Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action

· Report any adverse incidents or near misses.

· Adhere to Clontarf Hospital policies in relation to the procurement, care and safety of any equipment supplied

· Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.

Administration

The Staff Grade Dietitian will:

· Maintain appropriate patient records and statistics in accordance with local guidelines, the Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection/ Confidentiality standards.

· Use audit and quality improvement methods to facilitate high quality care.

· Assist in ensuring that the dietetic service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.

· Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health Service.

· Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as required from time to time by the Dietitian Manager.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

1. Statutory Registration, professional Qualifications, Experience etc

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

I. Be registered, or be eligible for registration, as a Dietitian by the Dietitians Registration Board at CORU

and

II. Candidates must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office

and

III. Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Dietitians Register maintained by the Dietitians Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.

2. Annual Registration

I. On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Dietitians Register maintained by the Dietitians Registration Board of CORU

II. Practitioners confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)

3. Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character

Candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character