Specialist Dietitian

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Dietitian to join the Nutrition and Dietetics Team at Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust. Our service is part of one of the largest trusts in the UK and the dietetic team are well valued within the organisation so we are looking for a Dietitian with a passion to make a difference to our Oncology & Acute services, supporting with a 12 month fixed term maternity cover post.

The job will involve a varied caseload providing a specialist dietetic service to Oncology patients (including a caseload of Home Enteral Tube Fed patients) & also Acute General inpatients. The service is delivered in mainly out-patient clinics including telephone / virtual, Oncology Day Units, wards including the Palliative Care Unit & there may be the occasional home visit.

This role will be based at North Tyneside General Hospital where you will join a friendly team of Dietitians, Dietetic Assistant Practitioners (DAPs) and Dietetic Assistants (DAs). The post holder may be required to work Trustwide at times to meet the needs of the service which covers the counties of Northumberland and North Tyneside.

We are a supportive department and will provide you with relevant training and support required. CPD is really important to us and we encourage participation in training & education. We have a monthly journal club & you will also become a member of the North East Oncology Group who meet quarterly to share best practice.

Main duties of the job

The post requires the successful applicant:

• To act as a Specialist Oncology Dietitian within a multi-agency team
• To manage a caseload of Specialist Community Oncology Patients & General Inpatients
• To provide a quality Nutrition and Dietetic Service in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust.
• To work as part of multidisciplinary teams which could include Medical Staff, Specialist Nurses, Ward Staff, Speech Therapy & Dietitians from other Trusts.
• To link in with Acute & Community Oncology Teams.
• To be an active member of the team and play a vital role in patient service delivery, education and resource development.
• To role model compassionate and inclusive leadership in order to shape the creation of a collective leadership culture within the trust. This means demonstrating a consistent leadership style which: engages, enables uses coaching to promote ownership of learning and quality improvement facilitates team working and collaboration within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries.
• engages, enables
• uses coaching to promote ownership of learning and quality improvement
• facilitates team working and collaboration within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries.

We participate in student training & actively provide A, B and C placements for Leeds Beckett University, Newcastle University and Teesside University. All of our staff are encouraged to take part in student training with support provided to help you in this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for a diverse caseload of Oncology patients within North Tyneside & Northumberland in a variety of settings including face to face and telephone outpatient clinics, Oncology Day Units at North Tyneside & Hexham General Hospitals, Palliative Care Unit at North Tyneside General Hospital & occasionally within patients own homes if needed. You will also be responsible for an acute caseload within North Tyneside General Hospital, providing care in a variety of speciality wards.

You must be able to work both autonomously and as part of a team within the wider MDT. It is also expected you will contribute to student training and act as a support for our Band 5 Dietitians, Apprentice Dietitians, DAPs, DAs. We encourage participation in regular CPD activities and we hold regular departmental and team meetings including a monthly journal club allowing the opportunity to learn from training, case discussions and peer support.

The post holder is expected to:

• Manage a busy & complex caseload of patients with a variety of Oncological diseases including a caseload of Home Enterally Tube Fed patients & General Acute Inpatients
• Be an active part of the Upper GI Oncology MDT & North East Oncology Group
• Provide regular cover to Oncology Day Units & Palliative Care Unit
• Deliver highly specialised dietetic advice to Oncology patients and their families / carers
• Work in a strategic manner and have a positive attitude to caseload & specialist area
• Act as a specialist resource for patients, their families and other health professionals
• Be able to implement change using advanced counselling and motivational interviewing techniques
• Plan and organise education and training sessions for colleagues, student dietitians, other health professionals, and other outside agencies
• Advise and formulate policies relating to specialist area of work (Oncology)
• Participate in audit & research
• Contribute to, develop, monitor and comply with standards and policies for the dietetic department and the Trust

This post would be appropriate for those currently working in a Band 5 position who are ready for a Specialist Band 6 post and for current Band 6 Dietitians with an interest in developing their career specialising in Oncology.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.