Senior Dietitian

Job Description

A panel may be created for future posts within CRC National Specialist Services

It must be clearly demonstrated in your CV and supporting statement how you meet the required
skills, competencies and knowledge for the post.

Dept. of Health Salary Scale (€61,424 – €72,325) Salary Grade 3395

Informal enquiries to Hilary Colgan, Dietitian Manager (+3531 8542286) hcolgan@crc.ie.

Applications must be received on or before the 13 th September 2024.

Location of Post

The post is based in CRC Clontarf. The post holder may have to travel to other CRC sites, in accordance with service needs.
A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.

Details of Service

Central Remedial Clinic is one of the largest organisations in Ireland dedicated to the achievements, wellbeing and health of people with disabilities. Based primarily at CRC Clontarf, the Dietetic Department provides a person-centred and quality-driven nutrition and dietetic service, within a multidisciplinary team context, for children and adults attending CRC, to ensure best outcomes.
Dietetic CRC Specialist supports are required for children with complex needs, where these specific needs cannot be solely met by local Primary Care Teams and Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs).

Reporting Relationship:

The post holder will report to the Dietitian Manager in CRC or nominated person.

Key Working Relationships:

The post holder will:
 Work closely with CRC management, with CRC Children’s Disability Network Managers and the CRC Dietitian Manager.
 Work with clients of CRC, their families and carers.
 Work with other MDT members within CRC Specialist Services.
 Collaborate with colleagues locally and nationally as required, to ensure coordinated and integrated service provision.
 Liaise with and build good working relations with health service and disability service providers and other external agencies.

Purpose of the Post

 Provide a comprehensive dietetic service for children and young people, and adults with neurodisability, attending CRC.
 Act as a resource and provide expert opinion, advice and guidance to dietetic colleagues and other healthcare professionals.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:
Professional / Clinical 

 Be competent in assessing and treating a wide range of clinical presentations relevant to children with disabilities and complex health needs.
 Be responsible for nutritional assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of treatment/intervention programmes for clients according to professional standards.
 Be able to make highly specialist clinical decisions following assessment of complex cases.
 Be responsible for the organisation, provision and evaluation of nutrition and dietetic services, to clients of CRC.
 Demonstrate competency and confidence in supporting clients with complex feeding issues; oral-motor dysfunction and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders
 Be highly competent at supporting clients to self-manage complex enteral feeding regimens.
 Participate in MDT complex needs clinics.
 Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case conference and work within a multidisciplinary team approach, to promote integrated care for all CRC clients.
 Foster close working relationships with colleagues and other relevant professionals in maximising the clients potential.
 Ensure a high standard and comprehensive clinical nutrition and dietetic service is provided for children and young adults with neurodisabilities and ensure that professional standards of practice are adhered to in accordance with the requirements set out by CORU https://www.coru.ie/files-education/drb-standards-of-proficiency-for-dietitians.pdf
 Provide expert opinion, advice and guidance to dietetic colleagues, medical team members, CDNM’s and other health professionals.
 Develop and maintain high standards of clinical practice.
 Initiate and be actively involved in continuously improving the quality of the service, through audit, quality improvement initiatives and clinical research.
 Prioritise and manage client caseload according to the needs of the department and service.
 Recognise the need and ensure effective self-management of workload, available time and resources.
 Provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence and to take the lead in the provision of service during cover/leave.
 Manage clinical risk within own caseload.
 Act as a positive and supportive specialist team leader in the area of dietetics in neurodisability.
 Lead on relevant designated projects, initiatives or duties within the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.
 Be aware of national policies, guidelines and consultations and in conjunction with the dietitian manager, develop local policies and care pathways within the specialist area of paediatric dietetics in neurodisability and the wider department.
 Actively engage with relevant national bodies and research-associated bodies, as appropriate.
 Serve on local or national or organisational committees to promote nutrition and dietetic practice.
 Develop and evaluate new resources and review existing resources to support and meet the needs of the target audience.
 Participate in and develop activities which support health promotion.
 Duties should be undertaken in collaboration with your dietitian manager or nominated person and be within the strategic goals of the organisation.
 Carry out any other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post that may be assigned by the dietitian manager or nominated person.
 Ensure the privacy and dignity of the child, young person and family is respected at all times.
 Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace.
 Participate in provision of clinical placement and/ or dietetic student projects of under/post graduate Dietitians

Education & Training
 Provide leadership to senior dietitians working within the CRC Dietetic Department or on CRC CDNT’s through the process of professional supervision, clinical supervision, coaching and tutoring.
 Contribute to a structured process for the education of colleagues in dietetics in neurodisability.
 Identify own personal and professional development needs and put formal and informal structures in place to meet those needs in collaboration with the dietitian manager.
 Maintain valid statutory registration with CORU.
 Attend mandatory training programmes as directed by CRC and ensure these are kept up to date at all times (e.g., Child First/Fire Safety).
 Maintain professional knowledge on relevant scientific research and practice development.
 Actively participate within a professional and clinical supervision structure and promote the professional and personal development of staff.
 Promote objective setting, effective performance management and team-based performance management within the nutrition and dietetic team.
 Manage, participate and play a key role in the practice education of student dietitians.
 Engage in interdisciplinary education programmes as required.
 Produce current, clear, evidence-based resources for clients and carers and /
or health professionals, suitable for use locally and/or nationally.

 Act as a resource, both regionally and nationally

 Be a member of professional groups and participate in relevant forums pertaining to clinical nutrition and dietetics.

Teamwork
 Demonstrate good communication skills
 Demonstrate a commitment and ability to work within a multidisciplinary context.
 Maintain collaborative working relationships with colleagues within the discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, with colleagues in Specialist Services and with professionals across outside agencies.

Health and Safety Management

 Ensure the highest level of confidentiality pertaining to all organisational stakeholders.
 Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
 Liaise with line manager and with other departments to ensure safe and effective service delivery consistent with health service managementstrategies.
 Promote a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety legislation
 Be aware of and implement agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards
 Actively participate in risk management issues, identify risks and take responsibility for appropriate action. Adhere to all risk related guidelines as stipulated by CRC Risk Management.
 Report any adverse incidents in accordance with organisational guidelines.
 Adhere to HSE policies in relation to the procurement, care and safety of any equipment supplied for the fulfilment of duty.

Management
 Set and monitor performance standards. Work towards and deliver on KPI’s and outcome measure in the area of paediatric dietetics and / or paediatric dietetics in neurodisability.
 Develop innovative models of care and service delivery.
 Collaborate with relevant stakeholders in relation to the strategic direction of the service.
 Negotiate strategic plans for service delivery in conjunction with dietetic manager.
 Be responsible for achieving service delivery targets by monitoring, recording and reporting activity levels.
 Facilitate change where necessary in order to maintain services at an optimal level.
 Be involved in the collection, processing and analysis of data for research purposes and for use as a national resource.
 Keep accurate and contemporaneous clinical records through case file notes, reports and clinical reporting systems and comply with department policies regarding clinical documentation practices.

Other
 To undertake any other duties, appropriate to the role of Senior Dietitian as may be required from time to time or as may be specified by the Dietitian Manager.
 Communicate any concerns, queries or issues in a timely manner with the Dietitian Manager.
 Access to own transport is required.
 Make efficient use of developments in Information Technology

Note: 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.

Essential Criteria

– A recognised dietetic qualification and current registration with CORU.
– Three years post qualification experience
– Experience in paediatric dietetics
– Evidence of postgraduate continuing professional development relevant to a
specialism within dietetics
– Flexibility and strong teamwork skills
– Excellent communication, initiative, and time management skills
– Full drivers licence and access to own car

Desirable Criteria

-Experience of developing and facilitating training and intervention
programmes.
– Experience in coordinating and leading specialist clinics, working at a
consultative level
– Research and audit skills

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate:
Professional Knowledge
 A level of clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice appropriate to carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the role in line with relevant legislation and standards
 An ability to apply specialist knowledge to best practice.
 Evidence of having applied/used appropriate assessments and treatments and knowledge of the implications of outcomes for children and their families, particularly those with complex needs.
 Some evidence of practice in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research.
 An understanding of the interplay between FEDS (Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing) needs in intellectual disability, autistic spectrum disorder and physical and sensory disabilities and the role of the dietitian in the management of children with FEDS needs.
 Knowledge and experience of the nutritional issues experienced by children and adults with disabilities.
 Awareness of and sensitivity to the impact of disability throughout the course of the person, and their family’s, engagement with the service.
 Knowledge of Progressing Disabilities Services, work to date and future plans.
 Knowledge of relevant legislation and national policies pertaining to the role
 Professional supervision skills including staff supervision, performance management, service planning and strategic planning.
 Willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.
 Willingness to acquire/develop new skills where necessary.

Communication and Interpersonal
 Strong communication and influencing skills, including conflict resolution
 The ability to manage change
 Resilience and composure
 Presents written information in a clear, concise and well-structured manner /communicates complex information by tailoring the communication method and message to match the needs of the audience.

Evaluating Information and Judging Situations
 Leads on the design, delivery and implementation of a high-quality, person-centred service.
 A commitment to the evaluation of practical outcomes and quality service provision.
 Promotes collaborative working relationships as well as having the ability to wok independently and exercise a high degree of professional autonomy
 Strong problem-solving skills
 Ability to empathise with and treat children and families, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

Planning and Organising
 The ability to plan and organise effectively
 The ability to operate proactively and independently in a complex and demanding setting and environment.
 Provides flexible interventions to meet the varied needs of individual clients.

Leadership and Teamwork
 Advanced leadership and team skills
 Ability to develop positive working relationships both internally and externally and with all stakeholders
 Deal positively and constructively with obstacles and conflict within teams
 Demonstrates a commitment to managing and developing self and others in a busy working environment.