Job overview
Are you interested in nutritional support, keen to work within a specialist oncology setting and enjoy multidisciplinary working? Then this may be the job for you. An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, highly motivated dietitian to join our team in Chelsea. There will be an opportunity to gain experience in patients with a variety of cancers (including head and neck and gastro-intestinal, haematology and paediatric oncology) at all aspects of their cancer journey through an annual rotational program. You will have a caseload of both in-patients and outpatient clinics.
What can we provide for you?
The opportunity to work within the largest cancer centre in Europe and to build on your existing skills and experience. You should have at least 18 months experience in nutritional support and have experience of working with cancer patients. The hospital encourages professional and personal development through an in-service education programme and support for study leave. The post will provide ample opportunities to extend your knowledge and skill within a specialist environment and you will be encouraged get involved in service development alongside experienced specialist dietitians and teaching.
How do we work?
The Nutrition and Dietetics service is part of the Therapies department which is committed to a philosophy that addresses the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of all individuals with cancer through a genuinely multi-disciplinary approach.
Main duties of the job
Provide the Royal Marsden Hospital with an effective and flexible nutrition and dietetic service to in and out patients. The post-holder should be an experienced practitioner, who is a source of knowledge and expertise for, patients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team. This post is a rotational role with the opportunity to rotate annually and gain experience in head & neck, gastrointestinal, haematology and paediatric oncology.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Work autonomously to provide specialist advice to patients, carers and clinicians based on clinical evidence, with guidance from senior colleagues. This will involve
2. nutritional diagnosis (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and analysis of diet history)
3. the development of treatment plans (calculation of nutritional requirements and client centred goals)
4. determining route of feeding i.e. oral, enteral or parenteral
5. prescription of dietary treatment for conditions where there are limited professional guidelines
6. direct prescription of ACBS nutritional products
7. To monitor and review nutritional care plans against outcome measures and adjust care plans as appropriate to facilitate achievement of goals.
8. Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and ward rounds to provide specialist advice to facilitate
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. BSc / Postgraduate Diploma Nutrition & Dietetics
2. HPC registered
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
3. Minimum 18 months post - registration experience in nutrition and dietetics
4. Health and safety risk awareness
5. Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
6. Understanding of team dynamics
7. Knowledge of clinical governance
8. Knowledge of audit and research methodology
Desirable criteria
9. Knowledge of dietetics in oncology
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
10. Excellent oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
11. Ability to work effectively alone, with individuals and groups
12. Clinical reasoning skills
13. Evidence of professional development, commitment to lifelong learning
14. Evaluation and research skills
15. Accurate keyboard skills - data inputting, word processing, internet and dietary analysis
16. Knowledge of troubleshooting regarding enteral feeding tubes
Desirable criteria
17. Presentation skills – evidence informal presentations to small groups
18. Commitment to clinical supervision
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
19. Able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions
20. Able to set priorities and meet daily deadlines
21. Able to reflect and appraise own performance .
22. Able to deal with distressed patient, carers and staff
23. Ability to liaise with all professionals at all levels
24. Able to organise complex information
Other
Desirable criteria
25. Member of BDA oncology group
26. Teaching experience
The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.
Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff
At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.
The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.