Regional award for Jatinder who has taken up 'dream role' as Dietetic Champion
A long-serving member of UHDB's catering team who took on her 'dream role' supporting patients' nutrition to aid their recovery has been recognised at a regional awards ceremony.
Jatinder Kalirai has been awarded with the New to Care Award at the Joined Up Care Derbyshire (JUCD) Healthcare Support Worker Awards - which recognises the vital roles of healthcare support workers across Derby and Derbyshire who have been in their role for less than a year - for her role as Dietetic Champion / Ward Nutrition Assistant at Royal Derby Hospital.
Despite only joining the team in May 2023, Jatinder has made a big impact and is providing 'excellence' in patient care, which saw her awarded with a certificate at a ceremony which took place recently.
After first joining the Trust 16 years ago as a Catering Assistant, Jatinder last year was appointed as a Dietetic Champion / Ward Nutrition Assistant - a new role to the Trust aimed at bridging the gap between our dietitians and patients on Ward 304 and 305 which are gastroenterology wards. In her role, Jatinder support patients to make more informed choices about their food and nutritional needs to enhance their recovery, as well as providing guidance for their care plans and ongoing dietary requirements and supplements they may need specific to their individual health needs.
As soon as she saw the role being advertised, Jatinder knew it was something she wanted to pursue and hasn't looked back since.
She explained: "It was a new role that allowed me to share my knowledge of food, nutrition and the food requirements of those with different medical conditions. I saw that I could also be a friendly face for these patients and answer any questions they may have and help them to make better choices that would aid their recovery.
"I felt so comfortable right away and I knew this was the job for me. I have already learned so much and getting this award is just the cherry on top."
Although Nutrition Ward Assistants are already on hand to provide guidance to patients, Jatinder's role was introduced to be specifically managed by our Dietetics team for patients under their care who require referrals and specific nutrition plans. The role of the Dietetic Champion also supports consistency on the wards when completing food record charts and distributing supplements to patients and was inspired by demand as well as vacancies on Wards 304 and 305, which receive a large number of referrals for patients with dietary needs.
Specialist Dietitian, Rhiannon Robinson, is Jatinder's manager and nominated her for the award due to the positive impace she has had in such a short space of time.
Rhiannon said: "Because the Dietetic Champion is a new role as part of a local 12-month pilot project, having the right person in the role was crucial to determine its success, and Jatinder is that and more. She is so committed to helping others and we are so proud to have her in our team."