Macmillan Dietitian Head/Neck Cancer

Be among the first applicants.

NHS

Wakefield

GBP 37,000 - 45,000

Be among the first applicants.

Yesterday

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Macmillan Head and Neck Cancer Team at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust for the role of Band 6 Macmillan Head and Neck Specialist Dietitian. The post is for 15 hours per week, Monday and Tuesday and will be a job share with the current post holder who works the remaining 22.5hours of the post Wednesday to Friday.

The post is based at Pinderfields hospital within the Head and Neck Cancer team and although has links to, is separate from the main dietetic department. You will support the Lead Macmillan Head and Neck Specialist Dietitian to provide the dietetic service for the Head and Neck cancer team. Our Macmillan Head and Neck Cancer Team includes the Lead Macmillan Head and Neck Specialist Dietitian, 3 Clinical Nurse Specialists and 4 Speech and Language Therapists.

Main duties of the job

The clinical duties of the post include management of head and neck cancer patients before and after their surgical and non-surgical treatment and cancer follow up for 5 years after their treatment. This takes place in joint CNS /AHP clinics, consultant clinics, MDT meetings, MDT clinics and with inpatients. The post can occasionally also involve cover of consultant led cancer follow up clinics at Pontefract Hospital, Dewsbury Hospital and MDT clinic at Leeds St James. We work closely with the Head & Neck cancer dietitians at Leeds Hospitals, who manage our patients during treatment, and with the enteral feed nurses in the community. The post offers excellent opportunities for professional and personal development within the specialist area of head and neck cancer.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is well situated in the heart of West Yorkshire, with excellent travel links, being located close to the M1 and M62 motorways and rail networks.

When applying for this post it is essential that you read the job description and person specification. Use the supporting information space on the application form to demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and previous experience meet the job description requirements and which clinical areas you have experience in.

You must currently be registered with the Health Care Professions Council.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Application guidance: We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. Its important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year pay is pro-rata for part time positions

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

C9377-SURG1190

Job locations

Pinderfields Hospital

Aberford Road

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 4DG

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assess, differentially diagnose and manage appropriately all clients referred within assigned caseloads. Provide nutritional and dietary advice that is suitable to the patients medical, biochemical, social and cultural factors, based on current evidence, local professional and national guidelines and standards.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients communication and the clients psychological processes in order to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.
To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual agreed nutritional care plan and to adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances.
To maintain legally defensible clinical records as described in service policy, and to follow current administrative procedures, and to provide statistical returns as required.
To produce clinical reports and to deal with general correspondence.
To liaise appropriately with other agencies dealing with clients, and with family and/or carers of clients, as part of the episode of care, and to attend case conferences and review meetings as appropriate.
To know the limits of ones skills, and the boundaries of ones role; to ask for advice and second opinions where needed, particularly in more complex cases and to take responsibility for reflecting on ones practice, and for individual contribution to clinical governance.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on own practice with peers, senior colleagues/line managers and/or clinical supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.
To demonstrate the ability to target any training (formal and informal) if appropriate to the needs of trainees and colleagues, demonstrating the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To take appropriate steps, in consultation with line manager, to pursue continuing professional development, in accordance with BDA guidelines, regulations and requirements
To take all reasonable steps to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided.
To comply with Trust and professional requirements and policies on equality and diversity.

Specific Responsibilities:

Clinical:

To liaise closely with other MDT members on the patients nutritional status at diagnosis.
To contribute to MDT discussion on treatment decision and related issues e.g. need for enteral feeding.
To provide ongoing psychosocial support to the patient throughout the patients journey as a member of the MDT.
To provide rehabilitation for Mid Yorkshire patients in the post-treatment phase as appropriate.
To provide ongoing support for patients with palliative care needs and their carers as appropriate

Job responsibilities

To assess, differentially diagnose and manage appropriately all clients referred within assigned caseloads. Provide nutritional and dietary advice that is suitable to the patients medical, biochemical, social and cultural factors, based on current evidence, local professional and national guidelines and standards.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of patients communication and the clients psychological processes in order to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.
To develop clear care plans based on best practice.
To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual agreed nutritional care plan and to adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances.
To maintain legally defensible clinical records as described in service policy, and to follow current administrative procedures, and to provide statistical returns as required.
To produce clinical reports and to deal with general correspondence.
To liaise appropriately with other agencies dealing with clients, and with family and/or carers of clients, as part of the episode of care, and to attend case conferences and review meetings as appropriate.
To know the limits of ones skills, and the boundaries of ones role; to ask for advice and second opinions where needed, particularly in more complex cases and to take responsibility for reflecting on ones practice, and for individual contribution to clinical governance.
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on own practice with peers, senior colleagues/line managers and/or clinical supervisors and identify own strengths and development needs.
To demonstrate the ability to target any training (formal and informal) if appropriate to the needs of trainees and colleagues, demonstrating the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To take appropriate steps, in consultation with line manager, to pursue continuing professional development, in accordance with BDA guidelines, regulations and requirements
To take all reasonable steps to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided.
To comply with Trust and professional requirements and policies on equality and diversity.

Specific Responsibilities:

Clinical:

To liaise closely with other MDT members on the patients nutritional status at diagnosis.
To contribute to MDT discussion on treatment decision and related issues e.g. need for enteral feeding.
To provide ongoing psychosocial support to the patient throughout the patients journey as a member of the MDT.
To provide rehabilitation for Mid Yorkshire patients in the post-treatment phase as appropriate.
To provide ongoing support for patients with palliative care needs and their carers as appropriate

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Significant and varied clinical experience following graduation
Significant and varied experience in nutrition support
Experience of training student dietitians
Previous experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

Previous experience in working within the Specialist area of Head and Neck Dietetics
Evidence of audit work

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Good written and oral communication skills
Good interpersonal skills
Basic computer key board skills
Good written and oral presentation skills
Good time management
Able to prioritise workload
Able to liaise with professionals at all levels including consultants
Able to work well under pressure

Desirable

Good organisational skills
Knowledge of Microsoft Office

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

Sound clinical knowledge relating to issues concerning Head and Neck Cancer
Sound knowledge of current issues relating to nutritional support
Knowledge of troubleshooting complications associated with enteral feeding
Awareness of own limitations

Desirable

Has attended Clinical Supervisory Skills Course, or equivalent.

Qualifications

Essential

BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or Equivalent.
HCPC registration.

Desirable

BDA membership

Experience

Essential

Significant and varied clinical experience following graduation
Significant and varied experience in nutrition support
Experience of training student dietitians
Previous experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

Previous experience in working within the Specialist area of Head and Neck Dietetics
Evidence of audit work

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Good written and oral communication skills
Good interpersonal skills
Basic computer key board skills
Good written and oral presentation skills
Good time management
Able to prioritise workload
Able to liaise with professionals at all levels including consultants
Able to work well under pressure

Desirable

Good organisational skills
Knowledge of Microsoft Office

Knowledge and Awareness

Essential

Sound clinical knowledge relating to issues concerning Head and Neck Cancer
Sound knowledge of current issues relating to nutritional support
Knowledge of troubleshooting complications associated with enteral feeding
Awareness of own limitations

Desirable

Has attended Clinical Supervisory Skills Course, or equivalent.

Qualifications

Essential

BSc (Hons) Nutrition & Dietetics or Equivalent.
HCPC registration.

Desirable

BDA membership

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust

Address

Pinderfields Hospital

Aberford Road

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 4DG

Employer's website

https://www.midyorks.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust

Address

Pinderfields Hospital

Aberford Road

Wakefield

West Yorkshire

WF1 4DG

Employer's website

https://www.midyorks.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.