Audrey

Who am I?

Name: Audrey
Job Title: Advanced Clinical Lead Dietitian
Department: Dietetics
Care Organisation: Bury
Length of service in the NCA: 1 year in this role and 1 year as a locum dietitian prior to this.
Length of service in the NHS: 8 years.

1. Why did you want to join the NHS?
   I wanted the opportunity of using my knowledge and skill of being a dietitian to help other and be part of an organisation
2. What is the best thing about working at the Northern Care Alliance?
   One of the best things is being joined with the other hospitals and services to share knowledge and experience and work together to improve services.
3. What are your main responsibilities in your current job?
   I am responsible for the dietary assessment of patients who are at high risk of malnutrition and devise an appropriate plan to help meet their nutritional need. I mainly see patients in our acute respiratory unit and intensive care but help to cover other wards such as general medicine and stroke.
   Dietetic intervention may include managing of different dietary needs, prescription oral nutritional supplements, tube / enteral feeding and intravenous / parenteral nutrition. I also share responsibility with leading the dietetic team, which involves providing support and supervision to the team, implementing projects, audits and changes to Trust policies to help improve service and patient care. I am also the Student Lead, which involves working with the Community Dietitian Student Lead to provide placement to all levels of dietetic students.
4. What skills have you developed during your career?
   I enjoy working as a dietitian because it has helped me develop as a professional and become more confident in my own abilities. I have been able to work with so many different people including patients and staff to respect how individual we all are and how different one person’s needs can be from another.
   I have learnt the importance of effective communications skills and benefits of working within an MDT approach.
   I have learnt the importance of supervision and reflection to ensure continues professional development.
   I have enjoyed progressing into my leadership role and developing my leadership skills and be more involved in supporting staff and help implement strategies to improve patient care.
5. What achievements are you/your team most proud of?
   We are proud of how well we work as a team to support each other, even through the busy times, to maintain good patient care and service improvements and support staff wellbeing.
6. If someone wanted a similar career to yours, what would be your biggest advice?
   Go for it! For a career in healthcare there is no better place to start than working for the NHS. Being able to use your knowledge and skill to help others is extremely rewarding. There are many opportunities to learn and progress to steer your career along with support and supervision.