Highly Specialist Dietitian

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-service education programme

Support for study leave

Professional development

Job summary

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a 12-month, highly specialist dietitian post in the Nutrition and Dietetics service. The role supports late effects patients with GI symptoms across cancers, managing inpatients and outpatients across sites.

It is a multidisciplinary post contributing to treatment planning, rehabilitation and teaching for less experienced colleagues. HCPC registration and at least three years’ nutritional support experience (two with cancer) are

Qualifications

• BSc or PG Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics is required.
• Postgraduate study in oncology or nutritional support is preferred.
• HCPC registration is essential.

Responsibilities

• Interpret biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history to diagnose nutrition issues.
• Develop treatment plans, calculate nutritional requirements and set client-centred goals.
• Decide the route of feeding: oral, enteral or parenteral.
• Prescribe dietary treatment where guidelines are limited.
• Provide expert advice to patients, carers and colleagues.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and ward rounds on treatment planning and late effects.

Skills

Advanced clinical reasoning

Troubleshooting enteral feeding tubes

Oral and written communication

Presentation skills

Knowledge of cancer issues

Clinical governance knowledge

Education

BSc or PG Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics

Postgraduate study in oncology or nutritional support

Job description

A 12-month post as a highly specialist dietitian in the Nutrition and Dietetics service at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a cancer centre. The role provides cross-site cover for late effects patients, mainly those with gastrointestinal symptoms across a range of cancers, managing inpatient and outpatient caseloads. The work is specialist and multidisciplinary, with input into treatment planning, rehabilitation and teaching for less experienced colleagues. Applicants need HCPC registration and at least three years' nutritional support experience, two of them with cancer patients.

What the job involves

• Interpreting biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history to make nutritional diagnoses
• Developing treatment plans, calculating nutritional requirements and setting client-centred goals
• Deciding the route of feeding: oral, enteral or parenteral
• Prescribing dietary treatment where professional guidelines are limited
• Directly prescribing ACBS nutritional products
• Ordering biochemical tests as appropriate
• Monitoring and reviewing nutritional care plans against outcome measures and adjusting them to meet goals
• Providing cross-site cover for late effects patients, with a focus on gastrointestinal symptoms
• Carrying a caseload of inpatients and outpatients across a range of cancers
• Participating in multidisciplinary meetings and ward rounds on treatment planning, rehabilitation and late effects
• Giving expert advice to patients, carers, clinicians and less experienced colleagues
• Taking part in service development and teaching

What’s required

Qualifications

• BSc or Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Postgraduate study or training in a specialist area, such as oncology or nutritional support

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration

Experience

• At least 3 years in nutritional support, including 2 years with cancer patients
• Experience supervising junior members of staff
• Experience of conducting audits, evaluating evidence or research
• Ability to work across the scope of dietetics within an NHS environment

Skills & knowledge

• Advanced clinical reasoning
• Detailed knowledge of troubleshooting enteral feeding tubes
• Excellent oral and written communication with people from varied backgrounds
• Presentation skills, including to large groups
• Sound knowledge of current issues in cancer
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance

Other

• Evidence of professional development and commitment to lifelong learning
• Ability to work effectively alone and with individuals and groups
• Ability to deal with distressed patients, carers and staff

Nice to have

• Membership of the BDA oncology group
• Teaching on higher education or professional courses
• Representation on internal or external working parties
• Evidence of intermediate leadership skills
• Previous specialist publications
• Commitment to clinical supervision

What’s offered

• In-service education programme
• Support for study leave
• Support for professional and personal development
• Opportunities to work flexibly across areas and specialities, with flexible working requests welcomed from point of hire
• Wide range of staff benefits
• Learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways