Specialist Oncology Dietitian

Job summary We are looking for a driven and dynamic full time ( a week) specialist oncology dietitian (band 6) to join our friendly, supportive and growing dietetic team.
If you are you passionate about working in oncology and want to extend your knowledge and skills in a wide range of cancer types and treatments and have recent experience in advanced nutritional support, then this will be the post for you.
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 head and neck and UGI outpatient rotations.
Band 6 rotations include oncology related competencies, working within ward team areas will enable you to do this.
Main duties of the job You will gain the strong foundation you need to develop as an oncology specialist.
For experienced professionals, we will encourage you to progress into clinical leadership roles and take part in our leadership training programmes.
The successful candidate will require recent acute experience in oncology, advanced nutritional support skills (including enteral and parenteral feeding) along with excellent organisation and advanced communication skills.
Having supervision skills will enable you to support the student training programme.
Excellent presentation skills will be required to carry out training and education to the HCP's on a regular basis.
Opportunity to be involved in audit and research Please note previous applicants need not apply.
As a specialist oncology dietitian, 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.
About us The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year.
We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.We are a dynamic and supportive 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.We provide a service to inpatients and outpatient areas and are involved in and support research and audit.
We encourage professional development with professional update sessions and offer inhouse courses and training programmes on leadership, different disease groups and advanced communication skills with the support of the School of Oncology.The department is involved in student training, education, audit and research and networking at a local and national level.
Job description Job responsibilities DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To support the band 7 dietitian in a clinical area, and be responsible for own caseload.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 life style 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, AHPs, catering and other health care professionals on steps required implementing patients 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, AHPs, 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 ( 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 prescriptible 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 BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or BSc degree in relevant science subject plus Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics HCPC registration BDA membership Desirable Teaching qualification course Evidence of post-graduate specialist counselling skills course in oncology, bereavement counselling or breaking bad news Advanced course in nutritional support ( BDA PEN course) Student clinical educators course Member of oncology group Experience Essential 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 Clinical supervisory skills Skills Essential 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 Knowledge Essential 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 Evidence of oncology / nutrition support courses Other Essential Self motivated, reliable Values Essential Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.