Job summary
- Main area
- Dietetics - E00274
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 413-94762-CSSS-AK
- Employer
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Dietetics - E00274
- Town
- Manchester
- Salary
- £37,338 - £44,962 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Oncology Dietitian - Rotational
Band 6
Job overview
Due to expanding our dietetic service in gyne, HPN and UGI we have an exciting opportunity for 3 oncology dietitians to be part of a large dietetic department, you will be supported by dietetic managers and colleagues and will contribute to the overall dietetic service including clinical supervision, student training and CPD activities.
Working within a world class cancer centre you will have the opportunity to gain experience in a wide range of different cancer types and treatments including specialist surgery, haematology, stem cell transplants and CAR-T therapy along with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy (including proton beam therapy). There will be the opportunity to work in inpatients and outpatients with surgery, haematology, head and neck, HPB, and UGI outpatient rotations. Band 6 rotations include oncology related competencies, working within ward team areas will enable you to do this.
You will gain the strong foundation you need to develop as an oncology specialist. For experienced professionals, we will encourage you to develop your leadership skills and take part in our leadership training programmes.
The successful candidate will require recent acute experience in oncology, advanced nutritional support skills in enteral nutrition (parenteral feeding would be an advantage), along with excellent organisation and advanced communication skills.
You will be encouraged to participate in research and audit and will be supported to share this work.
Main duties of the job
As a specialist oncology dietitian, you will
- You will be clinically responsible for the nutritional care and management of patients and independently plan organise and prioritise patient related and professional demands daily.
- You will work as part of a rotational team and be responsible for overseeing a designated clinical area with the support of your team lead.
- You will provide education and training to medical staff, nursing staff and other health care professionals in the Trust.
- You will support the service and contribute to the department’s annual objectives.
- To provide support and supervision to band 6 rotation dietitians
- To take an active role in the research and audit.
Working for our organisation
We are a supportive and dynamic department of 26 dietitians and 3 nutrition specialist nurses who work closely together, daily. The teamwork in line with the Core values and behaviours of the trust.
The team’s vision is to be an expert leader in oncology nutrition and dietetics putting patients at the centre of everything we do through innovation, education, and research. We aspire to be the best department to work in by valuing and respecting each other, working as one team, and supporting and developing the current and future workforce through experience, education, opportunities and positive learning environment.
We provide a service to inpatients and outpatient areas and engage in and support research and audit. We encourage and support professional development with regular CPD, inhouse courses and training programmes on leadership, different disease groups and advanced communication skills with the support of the School of Oncology. The trust supports and is currently developing career pathways for AHP’s.
The department engages in student training, education, and networking at a local and national level.
We encourage continuous professional development with professional update sessions, journal clubs, and offer inhouse / external courses and training programmes on leadership, different disease groups / treatments and advanced communication skills with the support of The Christie’s School of Oncology.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To support the band 7 dietitian in a clinical area, and be responsible for own caseload.
- To rotate in areas such as lung, upper GI, head and neck, HPB, gynecology, surgery, haematology, acute admissions, and other areas of inpatients and outpatients.
- To plan, organise and prioritise patient related and professional demands.
- To nutritionally assess oncology patients using the interpretation and evaluation of anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary data, whilst considering the patients social and ethnic circumstances, prognosis and treatment.
- To convey complex specialised dietary advice and lifestyle changes to patients and carers using advanced counselling and communication skills.
- To diagnose malnutrition and/or risk of Refeeding Syndrome and to liaise with the appropriate consultant with an aim of optimising treatment outcome by recommending the appropriate method of nutrition intervention.
- To attend appropriate ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings in order to provide expert advice to clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for oncology patients and carers based on clinical evidence.
- To communicate/ liaise with nursing staff, AHP’s, catering and other health care professionals on steps required implementing patient’s dietary prescription.
- To prescribe the appropriate dietary regimen for clients using evidence-based practice and to manage, monitor and reevaluate the treatment plan as necessary.
- To initiate, facilitate and coordinate the setting up of a home enteral feed to ensure a safe discharge.
- To refer patients to primary, secondary or alternative tertiary care for monitoring and therapeutic support following transfer or discharge.
- 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.
- To write, deliver and evaluate internal and external education and training sessions on nutrition and specialist dietetics in relation to oncology to medical staff, nursing staff, AHP’s, dietitians, other health care professionals, patients and carers.
- To act as a clinical educator by participating in the ABC model of student dietetic placements.
- To take an active role in the research, development, implementation, and audit of departmental resources such as diet sheets, policies and standards and to ensure they remain in line with evidence-based practice including Standards of proficiency: Dietitians, The National Dietetic Standards, and Code of Professional Conduct.
- To take an active role in the research, development, implementation and audit of evidence-based trust wide nutrition strategies and standards with medical staff, nursing staff, pharmacy and other AHP colleagues to promote safe effective practices of nutrition support.
- 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.
- To record and submit patient data and statistics as required by the manager and provide information for annual reports and service planning.
- To be responsible for the ordering, delivery, and monitoring of specialist prescribable nutritional supplements for individual client needs.
- To attend and participate in departmental, professional update meetings and trust nutrition related meetings leading them when required.
- To be responsible for own clinical professional development (CPD) to maintain competency and to ensure best practice.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or BSc degree in relevant science subject plus Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics.
- HCPC registration.
- BDA membership
Desirable criteria
- Teaching qualification course.
- Evidence of post-graduate specialist counselling skills course in oncology, bereavement counselling or breaking bad news.
- Advanced course in nutritional support (e.g. BDA PEN course).
- Student clinical educators course.
- Member of B.D.A oncology group
Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of recent acute oncology and nutrition support experience including enteral feeding
- Evidence of multidisciplinary team working.
- Evidence of recent CPD.
- Evidence of audit/ research experience and ability to critique research papers
Desirable criteria
- Clinical supervisory skills
- Parenteral feeding
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Good presentation skills and evidence of presentations to large groups.
- Standard keyboard skills – word processing, internet, data inputting, dietary analysis.
- Ability to work effectively single-handed with individuals and groups.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills.
- Accurate anthropometrics measurement skills.
- Ability to interpret complex information.
Desirable criteria
- Parenteral feeding
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understanding the complex effects of cancer and treatments on nutritional status of patients.
- Conversant with enteral feeding systems.
- Sound knowledge of current issues relating to cancer and nutrition support.
- Knowledge of clinical governance
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of oncology / nutrition support courses
- Parenteral feeding
Values
Essential criteria
- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.
Other
Essential criteria
- Self motivated, reliable
- Able to recognise own limitations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Loraine Gillespie
- Job title
- Manager Nutrition and Dietetics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0161 918 7588
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