Oncology Dietitian - Head and Neck - Band 6

Job summary

Due to EMCA funding, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Band 6 Head and Neck Oncology Dietitian on an 18-month fixed-term contract. Based primarily across Lincoln County Hospital, Pilgrim Hospital and Grantham Hospital, this role offers the opportunity to develop prehabilitation pathways in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals, improving care and treatment for head and neck cancer patients across organisational boundaries.

The successful candidate will manage an independent caseload whilst working closely within the multidisciplinary team. Previous oncology experience is desirable but not essential, as training and support will be provided.

Applicants should demonstrate excellent clinical, communication and organisational skills, with an interest in the care of head and neck cancer patients. A proactive approach to service development, evaluation, audit and quality improvement is essential, alongside the ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively.

You will contribute to innovation and service development while receiving regular clinical supervision and support to achieve your professional development goals.

NHS experience and membership of relevant BDA specialist groups are desirable. As the role involves travel between hospital sites and patients' homes, applicants must be able to travel independently where public transport may not be available.

Main duties of the job

In conjunction with the Oncology Team Lead Dietitian, the post holder will provide a specialist dietetic service for patients with Head and Neck Cancer across Lincolnshire, delivering evidence-based nutritional assessment, intervention and support to both inpatient and outpatient services. The role involves supporting patients before, during and after cancer treatment to optimise nutritional status, treatment tolerance, recovery and quality of life, while contributing to MDT clinics, specialist dietetic clinics and wider cancer care pathways.

We are seeking a motivated, innovative and flexible Dietitian with a commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. The successful candidate will be able to manage the changing needs of patients throughout their cancer journey, including supporting effective transitions between inpatient and community care and adapting treatment plans as required.

The role offers opportunities to contribute to service development, quality improvement and innovation within a supportive Therapy Service. Applicants must be able to travel between hospital sites and community locations as required. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering and developing specialist nutrition services for Head and Neck Cancer patients across Lincolnshire.

About us

This is a great opportunity to advance your dietetic career and gain experience in the specialist area of Head and Neck cancer, working with patients in both in and outpatients, including face to face MDT clinics. . Prior experience of working with cancer patients is preferable, but we are able to provide training for those applicants with minimal oncology experience.

We are an inclusive, supportive department who offer flexible working and opportunities for professional development. We actively participate in student training in conjunction with the other ULTH sites.

Job responsibilities

Key Duties - Please read Job description for full details

Nutritional assessment and monitoring

• o Screen for malnutrition and nutritional risk.
• o Assess weight, dietary intake, symptoms and nutritional requirements.
• o Monitor patients throughout diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and palliative care.

Pre-treatment counselling

o Educate patients and carers about the likely nutritional consequences of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and systemic treatments.

Management of treatment-related symptoms

o Provide dietary strategies for:

• Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
• Odynophagia (pain on swallowing)
• Mucositis
• Xerostomia (dry mouth)
• Taste changes
• Poor appetite, nausea and weight loss

Nutritional intervention

o Advise on food fortification and high-energy, high-protein diets.

o

Enteral tube feeding management

• o Assess the need for nasogastric, PEG or other feeding tubes.
• o Support decision-making regarding tube placement.
• o

Multidisciplinary team working

o Work closely with oncologists, surgeons, speech and language therapists, clinical nurse specialists, pharmacists and community teams.

Long-term follow-up and survivorship

o Support patients living with the long-term effects of treatment.Advise on healthy eating, weight management and ongoing swallowing-related nutritional issues.

Education, audit and service development

o Provide training and advice to healthcare professionals.

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential

• HCPC registration
• BSc Dietetics or Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics

Desirable

• Facilitation of Learning training
• FODMAP Training
• Membership of the BDA
• Membership of relevant specialist interest groups or professional bodies

Experience

Essential

• Experience of nutritional support across a range of clinical areas.
• Proven ability to work independently with a high degree of autonomy
• Knowledge of the boundaries of own practice and able to appropriately access relevant sources of support
• Experience of contributing to Clinical Governance

Desirable

• At least 12 months' experience working as a dietitian post-registration
• Experience of delivering group education sessions
• Experience of disordered eating
• Experience managing complex nutritional support patients
• Experience of enteral feeding via different routes/tubes

Knowledge

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of the evidence base surrounding nutrition support and gold standard care relating to relevant health conditions

Skills

Essential

• Excellent training and presenting skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills, including timekeeping, note taking and ability to manage a caseload independently
• Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality at all times.

Desirable

• Experience of service development, including writing policies and procedures

Specific

Essential

• Eligible for DBS clearance
• Home visiting post holders will require standard driving skills to visit patients or transport equipment from one location to another; all other roles require the ability to travel to all sites on request and external meeting locations on request.
• Ability to travel across Lincolnshire not serviced by public transport
• Car driver.