We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated dietitian to join The Christie Nutrition and Dietetic Team on a Band 7 fixed-term contract or secondment (33.5 hours per week) for 12 months to cover maternity leave. This post is the clinical lead for the Head and Neck Outpatient Dietetic Service, working alongside the Band 7 Head and Neck Dietitian leads. You will work as part of a highly skilled and supportive Head and Neck MDT within our world-class cancer centre, while also contributing to the wider Nutrition and Dietetic Service. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading and developing the outpatient Head and Neck dietetic service, providing expert nutritional assessment and intervention throughout the patient pathway. The role includes service development, quality improvement, and supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care.
As a senior specialist oncology dietitian, you will
- Be clinically responsible for the nutritional care and management of head and neck outpatients and independently plan organise and prioritise patient related and professional demands daily.
- To act as a specialised resource on nutrition and cancer for head and neck patients, carers, medical staff, nursing staff, and other health care professionals associated with the Christie Hospital and at regional and national level.
- To provide education and training to medical staff, nursing staff and other health care professionals in the Trust.
- To provide support and supervision to band 6 rotation dietitians.
- To take an active role in the research and audit.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.
We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.
Duties and Responsibilties
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 head and neck dietetic service alongside the other band 7 head and neck dietitians with the support of the dietetic manager.
3. To work alongside the band 7 proton head and neck outpatient dietitian and provide cover when required including an evening clinic.
4. To nutritionally assess head and neck oncology patients by interpreting and evaluating anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data, whilst considering the patients social and ethnic circumstances, prognosis and treatment.
5. To convey complex specialised dietary advice and lifestyle changes, to head and neck oncology patients and carers using advanced counselling and communication skills.
6. 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.
7. To attend appropriate multidisciplinary meetings and outpatient clinics and wards to provide expert advice to clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for head and neck oncology patients and carers based on clinical evidence.
8. To communicate, liaise and advise the head and neck team, key workers,
nursing staff, AHP’s and other health care professionals on the appropriate
evidence based nutrition care plan.
9. To prescribe the appropriate dietary regimen for head and neck oncology patients using evidence-based practice and to manage, monitor and re-evaluate the treatment plan as necessary.
10. To refer patients to other services for monitoring and therapeutic support following discharge.
11. 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.
12. To initiate, facilitate and coordinate the setting up of a home enteral feed to ensure a safe discharge.
13. To be responsible for the ordering, delivery and monitoring of specialist nutritional supplements (ACBS endorsed) for individual client needs.
14. To write, deliver and evaluate internal and external education and training sessions on head and neck nutrition and specialist dietetics in relation to oncology to medical staff, nursing staff, AHP’s, dietitians, other health care professionals, patients, and carers.
15. To act as a clinical educator by participating in student dietetic placements.
16. To provide supervision to allocated band 6 dietitians daily, carrying out regular one to one meetings, and carrying out annual PDR process.
17. To take an active role in the research and audit.
18. 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.
19. To record and submit patient data and statistics as required by the manager and provide information for annual reports and service development and planning.
20. To attend and participate in departmental, professional update meetings and trust nutrition related meetings leading them when required.
21. To attend and contribute to the trust nutrition steering committee.
22. To be responsible for own clinical professional development (CPD) to maintain competency and to ensure best practice.
