Specialist Dietitian - Head and Neck Cancer and Nutrition Support

The Methodist Church in Britain; Doncaster; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Extensive learning opportunities

Health and wellbeing support

NHS car lease and salary sacrifice

Job summary

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a specialist dietitian for head and neck cancer and nutrition support. You will manage a caseload of inpatients and outpatients, act as the main contact for the service, and supervise junior dietitians and students across multiple sites.

The role emphasizes oncology nutrition, MDT collaboration, and autonomous prioritisation while supporting CPD, education resources, and research initiatives within the acute dietetic

Qualifications

• HCPC registration with the UK
• Hospital-based dietetic practice experience
• Working as part of an MDT
• Post-registration CPD evidence required

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload of inpatients and outpatients with head and neck cancer.
• Provide a specialist dietetic service across Doncaster and Bassetlaw.
• Make timely clinical judgements within the head and neck cancer pathway.
• Act as main contact for the Head and Neck Cancer Service.
• Supervise and support junior staff and supervise students.
• Develop and update patient education resources.
• Contribute to audit and research; maintain CPD.

Skills

Clinical dietetics

Head & neck cancer

Enteral nutrition

MDT collaboration

Supervision

CPD

Education

Degree in Dietetics or postgraduate diploma

HCPC registration

Ongoing CPD evidence

Job description

The Acute Team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a specialist dietitian for head and neck cancer and nutrition support. The post holder manages a caseload of inpatients and outpatients with head and neck cancer, acts as the service's main contact and supervises junior dietitians and therapy assistants. The role stands out for its oncology and complex nutrition focus, and it requires travel across all the trust's sites. Applicants must be HCPC-registered dietitians with at least 12 months' post-registration experience.

What the job involves

• Manage own caseload of inpatients and outpatients with head and neck cancer, assessing every referred patient holistically
• Provide a specialist dietetic service to head and neck cancer patients across Doncaster and Bassetlaw
• Make timely clinical judgements and provide specialist therapy as part of the head and neck cancer pathway
• Act as the main point of contact for the Head and Neck Cancer Service
• Work autonomously, planning and prioritising to meet deadlines
• Work with the MDT on patients with complex needs
• Communicate complex, sensitive information to patients with complex needs
• Delegate, supervise and support junior dietitians and therapy assistants, including 1:1s, updates and clinical supervision
• Train and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student dietitians
• Help develop and update patient education resources in line with trust guidelines
• Take responsibility for own CPD and take part in audit and research
• Attend regular team huddles and provide cover across the acute dietetic team as required

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree in Dietetics or Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics, with relevant post-registration training
• Willingness to maintain evidence of ongoing CPD
• Original certificates of qualifications to be presented if successful

Registration & licences

• HCPC registration as a UK dietitian

Experience

• Clinical experience of working in a hospital
• Applying general dietetic knowledge to patients needing oral and artificial nutrition support, with good working knowledge of enteral tube feeding
• Experience working as part of an MDT
• At least 12 months' post-registration experience in dietetics

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent communication skills
• Assertive
• Ability to work to deadlines and use own initiative
• Able to cope with difficult situations
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Ability to acknowledge own limitations and seek support when appropriate

Other

• Well organised working, good time management and good record keeping
• Ability to manage a busy caseload

Nice to have

• Clinical experience in an outpatient setting
• Clinical experience with head and neck oncology patients
• Experience of training dietetic students
• Postgraduate study in appropriate clinical or non-clinical areas
• Membership of the British Dietetic Association
• Membership of relevant special interest groups
• Evidence of post-registration CPD
• Behaviour change or motivational interviewing skills

What’s offered

• NHS Pension Scheme
• Generous holiday entitlement in line with terms and conditions
• Extensive range of learning opportunities
• Comprehensive health and wellbeing support
• NHS car lease and salary sacrifice schemes
• Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping and finance through external providers
• Flexible working arrangements considered
• Opportunities to develop audit and research skills, including publication or presentation