Bank Specialist Learning Disabilities Dietitian

The post is based in the Integrated Learning Disability Services (ILDS) in the London Borough of Hackney. The ILDS is an integrated, multidisciplinary health and social care team providing services to adults with a learning disability.

This post provides dietetic services to adults with a learning disability who have compromised nutritional status. The post is a multi-disciplinary, community-based role based in clinics, and in people's homes, including residential and supported living, offering nutrition support to people with dysphagia, enteral feeding, and low volume tolerance.

The role will involve working closely with other MDT members across the service, with other Dietitians working in Learning Disabilities across the wider Trust and with key partners including mainstream services and the Acute Trusts.

There will be opportunities to link with and develop professional practice with other Dietitians across the Trust.

Clinical supervision will be provided by the Professional Development Lead Dietitian. There will be training and development opportunities for the post-holder.

Provide dietetic input in a community setting for adults diagnosed with a learning disability with a Hackney GP.

Ensure acute dietary assessments, expert advice based on evidence-based practice, and implement patient-centred treatment plans.

Effectively prioritise and review service users with learning disabilities requiring oral or enteral nutrition support, and be responsible for their dietary assessment and nutritional care planning, including related correspondence with other professionals and services involved in their care, as well as their carers/ supporters.

Delegate nutrition screening to Health Support Workers.

Ensure that accurate and comprehensive electronic dietetic records of assessment, treatment, progress and discharge summaries are maintained in accordance with legal, trust and council standards.

Monitor effectiveness of dietary interventions through goal setting, audit, outcome measurements and evaluation.

Have a thorough understanding of the current legislation and guidance relating to people with learning disabilities and their health needs.

Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are:
We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Clinical

Contribute to effective team working and capacity assessment within the multidisciplinary team for people with learning disabilities.

Offer easy-read and accessible information to communicate highly complex patient-related information to promote dignity of choice regarding decisions affecting nutrition.

Provide complex nutritional counselling to patients and carers to ensure thorough understanding of clinical condition and dietary treatment plans, empathy, negotiation, persuasion, and motivational interviewing skills to gain consent in order to support short and long term behavioural change.

Effectively prioritise and review service users with learning disability requiring enteral feeding, and be responsible for their dietary assessment and correspondence with other professionals and services involved in their care.

Liaise with local care providers to share information effectively and assess based on medical and social records.

Manage the dietetic service, ensuring the caseload is monitored, safe and allocated.

Undertake Initial/Single Assessments utilising advanced clinical skills, knowledge and experience to provide a holistic assessment covering the psychological, social and health care needs of people with learning disabilities, including establishing eligibility for support

Use professional judgement to determine a person's potential Learning Disability diagnosis, in conjunction with colleagues, as part of Eligibility Assessments.

Assess service users understanding and ability to consent to clinical interventions and the sharing of information with others, in line with the Mental Capacity Act.

Be aware of latest legislation and guidance and learning around people with learning disabilities e.g. LeDeR, Transforming care, Mental Capacity Act.

Keep up to date with evidence-based practice, applying this to clinical work.

Undertake health promotion work with people with learning disabilities and their carers e.g. healthy eating.

Provide information and support to clients, their families and carers to enable access to primary and secondary health services.

Identify, assess and manage potential risks presented to clients, taking action to minimise and / or prevent risk through advice, consultation and referrals to appropriate services.

Identify, raise, advise and consult on safeguarding concerns in relation to Vulnerable Adults or Children in Need of Protection, within the framework of…