Specialist Oncology Dietitian

Job responsibilities

1. To be clinically responsible for a highly complex area of work, as agreed with the dietetic manager and independently plan, organise and prioritise patient related and professional demands.
2. To develop the dietetic service alongside the surgical teams with the support of the dietetic manager.
3. To work closely with the other band 7 dietitians to support the service by cross covering when required and support the junior members of the team on a day to day basis.
4. To work closely with the multidisciplinary team to enhance the persons health, wellbeing and quality of life and contribute to the management of frailty syndromes, prior, during and post-treatment.
5. To nutritionally assess oncology patients by interpreting and evaluating anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data, whilst considering the patients social and ethnic circumstances, prognosis and treatment.
6. To convey complex specialised dietary advice and lifestyle changes to patients and carers using advanced counselling and communication skills.
7. To follow patients post operatively on critical care unit.
8. To attend appropriate multidisciplinary meetings and outpatient clinics in order to provide expert advice to clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support to surgical patients and carers based on clinical evidence
9. To diagnose malnutrition and to liaise with the appropriate consultant, with an aim of optimising treatment outcome, by recommending the appropriate method of nutrition intervention and reducing risk of Refeeding Syndrome.
10. To communicate, liaise and advise the team, key workers, nursing staff, AHPs and other health care professionals on the appropriateevidence based nutrition care plan.
11. To prescribe the appropriate dietary regimen for surgical oncology patients using evidence-based practice and to manage, monitor and re-evaluate the treatment plan as necessary.
12. To refer patients to other services for monitoring and therapeutic support following discharge.
13. To work with the catering department to ensure suitable meal provision to meet the special needs of the oncology patient in line with national standards.
14. To initiate, facilitate and coordinate the setting up of a home enteral feed to ensure a safe discharge.
15. To be responsible for the ordering, delivery and monitoring of specialist nutritional supplements (ACBS endorsed) for individual client needs.
16. To work alongside the other band 7 leads and support the wider inpatient service.
17. To write, deliver and evaluate internal and external education and training sessions on nutrition and specialist dietetics in relation to lung and SAO to medical staff, nursing staff, AHPs, dietitians, other health care professionals, patients, and carers.
18. To act as a clinical educator by participating in student dietetic placements.
19. To provide supervision to allocated band 6 dietitians daily, carrying out regular one to one meetings, and carrying out annual PDR process.
20. To take an active role in the research and audit.
21. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation on individual patients in line with local and national standards and be responsible for the appropriate storage of d with the Health Care Professions Council (H.C.P.C) and trust policy on confidentiality.
22. To record and submit patient data and statistics as required by the manager and provide information for annual reports and service development and planning.
23. To attend and participate in departmental, professional update meetings and trust nutrition related meetings leading them when required.
24. To attend and contribute to the trust nutrition steering committee.
25. To be responsible for own clinical professional development (CPD) to maintain competency and to ensure best practice.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or BSc degree in relevant science subject plus Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics.
• HCPC registration.
• Clinical supervision training
• Masters level or equivalent course e.g. Advanced course in nutritional support (e.g., BDA PEN course), masters modules

Desirable

• Teaching qualification course.
• Evidence of post-graduate specialist counselling skills course in oncology, bereavement counselling or breaking bad news
• BDA oncology group member

Experience

Essential

• Recent NHS experience of working in acute surgical oncology (pelvic/ gyne/Lower GI)
• Some recent critical care experience
• Experience of enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Presentations/talks to large groups
• Clinical supervision
• Demonstrate evidence in Leadership.
• Experience in setting up patient pathways/service.
• Evidence of recent CPD.
• Evidence of recent audit/ research experience
• Evidence of multidisciplinary team working.
• Student training

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking annual appraisals and absence management
• Experience of leading or co-ordinating audit or research work

Skills

Essential

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Good presentation skills and evidence of presentations to large groups.
• Standard keyboard skills
• Ability to work effectively single-handed with individuals and groups.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Accurate anthropometrics measurement skills.
• Ability to interpret complex information.
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Supervision skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding the complex effects of cancer and treatments on nutritional status of patients.
• Conversant with enteral feeding systems.
• Excellent up to date knowledge in cancer and treatments
• Sound knowledge of current issues relating to cancer and nutrition support.
• Surgical oncology (pelvic/ lower GI)
• Knowledge of clinical governance
• Knowledge of national oncology strategies/ polices/ guidance / pathways.
• Evidence of oncology / nutrition support courses

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Other

Essential

• Self-motivated, reliable
• Able to recognise own limitations
• Positive mindset in respect of supporting organisational change; learning, and continuous improvement.
• Effective interpersonal and intrapersonal skills including high degree of self -awareness and self-regulation.
• Willingness to support preregistration students
• Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity and tact with patients and their families

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).