Temporary Senior Dietitian - Cancer Care

Position Summary:

• To work/function as an efficient and effective member of the dietetic team in Beaumont Hospital and the multidisciplinary team in Oncology and Haematology (assigned clinical area), with the aim of providing optimum nutrition and dietetic care to patients attending this service
• To be responsible for and provide a high quality dietetic service for all patients within their specialist clinical area
• To contribute to the continuing development of the dietetic service for patients in their assigned clinical area, by providing expert advice and guidance for other healthcare professionals. This involves attending meetings and actively participating in the multidisciplinary team as well as national and local strategic service planning groups
• To initiate and participate in nutrition related research in their assigned clinical area
• To perform such other duties appropriate to office as may be from time to time assigned by the Chief Executive Officer or a designated officer.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Planning, Organising & Service Provision

• To provide a nutrition and dietetic service to clients and their families/carers in the area of Critical Care and assigned clinical areas
• To be involved in development and dissemination of evidence based, best practice guidelines on dietetic care in Critical Care and other clinical care area locally, regionally and nationally
• To deliver care within the multidisciplinary team approach by regularly liaising with relevant personnel (medical, nursing, clinical and non clinical).
• To attend appropriate ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings in order to provide expert advice at an appropriate level to clinicians, patients and carers
• To develop a planned approach to providing a dietetic service to Inpatients, Outpatients and Day Cases so that clients are assessed and advised appropriately
• To be able to use highly developed communication and teaching skills to educate and support a diverse and multicultural population with complex barriers to understanding
• To work with the surgical staff to ensure that patients and carers have consented to dietetic interventions
• To advise on suitable nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals in consultation with the surgical staff
• To work in close co-operation with the catering department to ensure clients nutritional needs are met.
• To participate in Dietetic teams within the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics by providing dietetic cover as required for other members of the department during periods of leave, which may require attending St Joseph’s Hospital, Raheny or Raheny Community Nursing Unit

Education, Training & Development

• To work in close co-operation with the catering department to ensure clients nutritional needs are met.
• To act as a resource by participating in the education and training of dietetic colleagues, other health professionals and client groups as required
• To design, prepare and evaluate suitable educational resources used for both client and professional education
• To play an active role in the training and development of undergraduate dietitians
• To develop appropriate referral patterns and systems of prioritisation for this patient group
• To maintain a portfolio of 'Continuous Professional Development'.
• To be an active member of the Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at Beaumont Hospital participating in departmental developments and attending regular staff and continuing professional development meetings
• To be actively involved in professional clinical groups, specifically those relating to the area of Upper Gastro-intestinal Surgery and any clinical area assigned
• To initiate and/or participate in departmental and multidisciplinary initiatives which develop services that enhance the standard of care to clients

Management and Administration

• To maintain patient records and to collect statistics as required by the department and service and in accordance with departmental, hospital and professional standards
• To evaluate and develop services in Upper Gastro-intestinal Surgery and any other assigned area, and to advise the Dietitian Manager of future service provision requirements
• To liaise with dietetic team colleagues providing dietetic cover, ensuring best clinical practice
• To participate in the development, monitoring and review of departmental standards, protocols and guidelines to ensure optimal client care
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of information relating to staff and patients
• To make an appropriate contribution to operational and strategic planning of the dietetic services at Beaumont Hospital
• To participate in the clinical supervision and appraisal of other staff where appropriate
• To undertake mentoring of junior staff members as appropriate
• To be involved in the accreditation process as appropriate
• To provide cover for the Dietitian Manager In Charge if required
• To participate in the recruitment and selection of dietitians where deemed appropriate by the Dietitian Manager In Charge
• To carry out any other duties deemed appropriate and requested by the Dietitian Manager In Charge

Research and Audit

• To initiate and participate in research and audit within the specialised area. This may include co-ordination and supervision of projects for undergraduate dietetic students as appropriate
• To participate in research projects in Surgery or in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics as appropriate

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:
1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
Candidates for appointment must:
- Be registered, or be eligible for registration, as a Dietitian by the Dietitians Registration Board at CORU.
AND
- Have 3 years full time (or an aggregate of 3 years full time) post qualification dietetic experience.
AND
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
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
On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Dietitians Register maintained by the Dietitians Registration Board at CORU.
AND
Practitioners confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

Experience & Knowledge:

• Minimum of 3 years post graduate experience
• Relevant previous dietetic experience in Oncology with a broad range of related clinical expertise including nutrition support skills (both enteral and parenteral) and patient education
• Demonstrates ongoing review of practice based on emerging evidence
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working such as aassisting in patient care meetings and having involvement as part of MDT in setting patients short and long term goals
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Skills & Ability:

• Provide patients with nutritional care based on evidence based practice, and appropriate to their requirements and medical care
• Considers social, cultural and lifestyle preferences that may influence patient choices
• Ability to plan, review & adapt the service
• Involvement in quality improvement initiatives & audit
• Effective time management skills to deliver on all requirements of the job specification
• Demonstrates good motivation/ counselling skills
• Complies with relevant professional ethics, code of professional practice, CORU code of practice
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good presentation skills
• Basic computer skills using Word, PowerPoint, Excel and dietary analysis programmes
• Evidence of development of patient education material eg diet sheets

Personal Attributes:

• Confident
  • Self motivated, reliable and able to work independently
  • Active advocate of the patient
  • Flexible, adaptable and creative
  • Able to reflect and appraise own performance
  • Able to maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders
•  
• Desirable
• • Active member of the Irish Nutrition & Dietetics Institute
  • At least 6 months experience delivering the Dietetic service in a cancer specialty or related area
  • Behavioural Change skills
  • Knowledge of healthcare services in Ireland
  • Experience of clinical audit and research
  • Training in nutrition focused physical assessment

Informal enquiries:

paulaoconnor@beaumont.ie