Job summary
- Main area
- Dietetic and Nutrition
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover)
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 358-7194134-CSI
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £46,148 - £52,809 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

SENIOR SPECIALIST DIETITIAN – Head and Neck Cancer
NHS AfC: Band 7
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Job overview
We are looking for a Dietitian to work alongside a dedicated and very experienced team of cancer specialist dietitians including a Senior Specialist Dietitian (Head and Neck Cancer), Senior Specialist Dietitian (Pancreatic Cancer), Senior Specialist Dietitian (Upper GI Cancer), Senior Specialist Dietitian (Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant), Senior Specialist Dietitians in Upper & Lower GI Cancer & rotational Band 6 Oncology Dietitian.
You will join a multi-disciplinary Head and Neck Cancer care team consisting of Maxillofacial and Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons, Oncology Consultants and their medical teams, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Speech and Language Therapists providing an expert nutrition and dietetic service to Head and Neck Cancer patients. You will be a core and much valued member of the multi-disciplinary Head and Neck cancer team.
Alongside the existing lead Head and Neck Dietitian, you will provide a proactive and co-ordinated dietetic service to Head and Neck patients at diagnosis and pre-assessment, to surgical and oncological in patients, day case patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy and outpatients attending MDT clinics. You will also support the transition to home through liaison with the Home Enteral Nutrition teams in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
Main duties of the job
To have specific dietetic responsibility for the care of Head and Neck cancer patients that are receiving nutritional support including inpatients, MDT outpatient reviews, Dietetic outpatient reviews, linking with primary care/outside agencies, on behalf of the UHL NHS Trust.
To be a joint core member of Head and Neck Cancer MDTs. To attend pre/post clinic review meetings and multi-professional meetings in order to provide expert nutrition and diet advice regarding provision of nutritional care to patients based on clinical evidence.
The post holder will work as a Senior Specialist Dietitian undertaking complex assessments in order to diagnose, plan, deliver and monitor complex dietetic intervention(s) independently and as part of the MDTs. The post holder will promote and be responsible for appropriate and best practice /evidence based advice on nutrition and dietetic issues received by patients, families, carers and health care professionals. This will involve making dietary, enteral and parenteral feeding recommendations and providing highly specialist advice after completing full dietetic assessment including calculation of nutritional requirements based on interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, anatomy and physiology, clinical condition/prognosis, nutritional and other physical parameters.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To work alongside the existing Head and Neck Cancer Dietitian (0.6 Band 7 WTE) to provide a specialist, extended scope, high quality, evidence based, effective nutrition and dietetic service for patients with head and neck cancer, their relatives and carers. Provision of service will focus around providing dietetic care to inpatients and outpatients (including on chemotherapy suite, radiotherapy units and MDT and dietetic outpatient clinics which could be face to face, telephone or video).
To work with head and neck cancer patients under the care of the Cancer, Haematology, Urology and Gastroenterology and General Surgery (CHUGGS) and Musculoskeletal and Specialist Surgery (MSSK) Clinical Management Groups.
To be an active member of the wider cancer care/CHUGGS dietetic team and wider adult dietetic team.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A four year Undergraduate or a Two Year Post Graduate Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics or similar non-UK qualification.
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of having completed an Accredited course or equivalent level of professional experience at Masters Level
- Completion of a Clinical Teaching Skills Course
Desirable criteria
- Supplementary non-medical prescribing qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Dietetic experience in a varied dietetic environment
- Has developed expert practice in nutritional support dietetics to include different ways of caseload management and delivering services.
- Dietetic experience relevant to the specialist field preferably head and neck cancer
- Evidence of audit, service development or quality improvement project
Desirable criteria
- Experience in cancer care
- Line management experience
Communication
Essential criteria
- Team working
- Clear and concise application
- MDT working
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
- Ruth Boyce
- Job title
- Speciality Dietetic Clinical Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0116 258 5400
- Additional information
Interested? If you would like more information or an informal chat, please contact me as above.
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