TITLE:Prescribing Team Dietician

JOB DESCRIPTION

CCG:NHS Milton Keynes

HOURS:37.5

BAND:7

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Associate Director of Transformation and Delivery

WORK BASE: Medicines Management Team, Sherwood Place, Sherwood Drive,

Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6RT

MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY:Associate Director of Transformation and Delivery

PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY:Specialist Dietician in Health Promotion Manager, Nutrition & Diabetics MKHFT

DETAILS OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS:Initially fixed term - 1 year

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE POST:

To work in partnership with key stakeholders including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, patients, carers and the private sector (care homes) in delivering the QIPP agenda around cost effective nutrition prescribing within Milton Keynes.
To be responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of primary care prescribing guidelines, protocols and care pathways relating to nutritional products.
To provide specialist advice and support on nutrition prescribing in primary care and establish links with secondary care.
To provide education and training for primary care staff including GPs on assessment of patients, cost effective prescribing of nutritional products and patient monitoring.
To provide education and training for staff in care homes regarding nutrition screening, adapting menus and the appropriate use of nutritional products.
To advise on the dietary management of individual patients in identified GP practices and care homes with a range of medical conditions.

MAIN TASKS – PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Medicines management

To develop, implement and monitor prescribing guidelines, protocols and care pathways for nutritional products in Milton Keynes.
To work on a regular basis with GP practices to achieve a pattern of prescribing that maximises appropriateness and cost effectiveness, minimises risk and is in line with local prescribing guidelines in relation to nutritional products.
To work with the medicines management team analysing prescribing data to monitor prescribing practices and costs.
To produce detailed reports on prescribing costs for nutritional products on a regular basis.
To endure that communication between primary and secondary care regarding the prescribing of nutritional products is timely and effective.

Clinical advice

To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for advice relating to the nutritional needs of patients in the community.
To analyse and interpret information from a variety of sources regarding individual patients including biochemistry, medication and clinical condition in order to provide best advice to other healthcare professionals.
To judge the appropriateness of nutritional product prescriptions and advice on suitable nutritional management plans.
To communicate complex nutrition and dietetic information in an understandable form to healthcare staff, clients and carers using negotiation, persuasion, motivation and counselling skills. This may include situationswhere there are barriers to understanding.
To use appropriate communication skills and resources to ensure that suitably accessible information is available on dietary treatment/care plans.
To advise on nutritional issues with respect to catering for people in care homes to ensure nutritional needs are met, minimising the need for nutritional products.

Responsibility for Resources

To evaluate patient information in line with current evidence and produce new patient information as required.
To provide and where necessary develop up-to-date resources for healthcare professionals and care home staff to support nutritional management care plans.

Communication

Using high level skills based on extensive training to motivate, counsel and support patients, clients, staff and carers in behaviour change. This will require well-developed skills in negotiation, persuasion, tact and diplomacy and will include group work and one-to-one contacts.
To discuss with other health professionals at all levels to promote the dietetics services, and to enhance patient care. This will include using electronic communication systems as well as more traditional methods of communication.

Responsibility for Research

To collect data for audit and research purposes as required.
Undertake audit projects to ensure the maintenance of high standards and to inform and enable change of practice fulfilling the QIPP agenda.

Education and Training Responsibilities

To be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluation training for health care staff (GPs, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, non- medical prescribers) on the assessment of patients, cost effective prescribing of nutritional products and patient monitoring.
To be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluation training for care home staff on nutrition screening, adapting menus and the use of the nutritional products in consultation with the community dietetic service.
To be actively involved in the training and clinical supervision of dietetic students.
To recognise the need for continuous professional development. Within the PDR system and after discussion with the departmental manager you will be responsible for accessing and attending your own training for professional development; meet Health Professions Committee standards for registration.
To ensure own clinical supervision needs are met.

Strategic and Service Responsibilities

To attend, be active and interactive in Medicines Management departmental meetings as required.
To be involved in departmental activities and service development.
To access and critically appraise and use best practice/evidence based information for the production and review of clinical guidelines, and to inform care pathways for patients/clients.
Ensure dietetic practice is current and evidence-based by critically appraising literature, attendance at study days, journal reviews, peer group reviews, clinical supervision and attendance at relevant specialist courses.
To be involved in review of professional standards, protocols and national guidelines (e.g. NICE guidelines) as they apply to the dietetic input of multidisciplinary teams.

Organisational/Administrative Responsibilities

To work with the Medicines Management team administrator and practice systems to identify caseload and record activity.
To follow department and CCG clinical guidelines, policies and procedures.
To be aware of the importance of being up-to-date with IT policies and plans, using electronic communication and reporting methods wherever possible. This includes reporting activity in a timely manner.
To be responsible for maintaining patient records in line with department standards and Data Protection Act requirement.
To report on activity monthly to Associate Director of Transformation and Delivery.
To be legally, professional accountable for all aspects of professional and clinical work recognising own professional boundaries.

CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU – Enhanced

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Health and Safety at Work Act

The post holder is required to take responsible care for the health and safety of him/herself and other persons you may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work. The post holder is also required to co-operate with the CCG to ensure that statutory and departmental safety regulations are adhered to.

Confidentiality

The post holder has a responsibility to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Code of Practice on Confidentiality and Data Protection.

Infection Control

The CCG has designated the prevention and control of infection as a core issue in the organisation’s clinical governance, managing risk and patient safety programmes. In consequence, all employees are expected to:

1)Following consistently high standards of infection control practice, especially with reference to hand hygiene and aseptic techniques

2)Be aware of all CCG infection control guidelines and procedures relevant to their work.

Equal Opportunities

The CCG welcomes all persons without regard to age, ethnic or national origin, gender or sexual orientation, religion, lifestyle, presenting illness, marital or parental status or disability. We aim to provide a non-judgemental service at all times.

Other duties

The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties according to the needs of the service. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities, but rather an outline of the main areas of responsibility. Any reasonable changes will be discussed and agreed with the post holder before any variations to the job description are made.

Travel to other sites

You may be required to travel to other CCG locations. Please complete the travel expenses form; details of allowances can be obtained from the Human Resources Department.

Smoking statement

In line with the Smoke Free Site Policy, smoking is not permitted in any part of the premises or entrance managed, lease or owned by the CCG.

November 2013