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Specialty Dietitian – Haematology/Oncology

Job details
Posting date: 25 April 2025
Salary: £37,338.00 to £44,962.00 per year
Additional salary information: £37338.00 - £44962.00 a year
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 06 May 2025
Location: Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LE
Company: NHS Jobs
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: C9321-25-0500

Summary

Clinical To work as part of a team of oncology dietitians and as an integral member of Haematology multidisciplinary teams to ensure a holistic approach to patient care. This involves attending weekly Haematology ward MDT meetings and oncology team meetings and liaising with Haematologists, specialist nurses, nursing teams, pharmacists, dietetic colleagues, dietetic and nutrition assistants. Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources including electronic patient records, the client, ward staff and/or carers, in order to make a comprehensive assessment of the patients condition, prognosis and treatment plans so that a decision on the most appropriate dietetic treatment to support this can be made in the short and long term. Interpret and monitor biochemical data generally and specifically in relation to patients following stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy treatment. Assess patients nutritional status by weight history, fluid balance, nutritional intake, stool output, vomiting and physical signs of deficiency. Estimate nutritional requirements using specific assessment tools and calculations. To remain up to date with the literature and ensure that this is an evidence-based process and clinically relevant to haematology and oncology patients. Advise on appropriate artificial feeding routes for patients with side-effects of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant such as oral mucositis, nausea and vomiting, lower gut mucositis. Formulate individualised patient care plans, artificial feeding regimens, taking into consideration factors which may affect requirements or help/hinder provision of nutrition support such as: prescribed drugs, biochemical derangements, fluid balance etc. Within the care plan this could include modified-texture diets, nutritional supplements, specialist enteral tube feeds, parenteral nutrition. Evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional goals and modify these goals and care plans as necessary based on ongoing analysis, assessment of information available and changing patient needs. Address and monitor their changing nutritional needs over the course of their disease and advise other members of the multidisciplinary team. Be involved in discharge planning of patients to other facilities e.g. acute hospitals outside Oxfordshire, community hospital, district general hospital, nursing home, or to their own home. Advising members of staff - nursing, dietetic and catering staff on dietary modifications or nutritional support. Modify dietary advice according to biochemistry, lifestyle, treatment undertaken, drugs and associated medical conditions adding to complexity of dietetic management. Use communication techniques i.e. behavioural change and motivational interviewing to work with the patient to adapt their diet. Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, carers and other health professionals. Skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining consent may be used in a wide variety of different, sometimes sensitive, situations. It is important to be able to communicate complex information at an appropriate level. Barriers to communication may be evident e.g. loss of sight, loss of hearing, lack of English, both written and spoken, requiring the use of translators. Deal with patients with chronic conditions and those with poor outcomes/terminal conditions. To be sensitive to the religious and ethnic needs of patients' dietary requirements and have an understanding of foods eaten by multicultural populations and how they impact on hospital catering. To be actively involved with the development of evidence based, trust-wide guidelines - to be a resource to other dietitians as specialist oncology practitioners, writing and compiling diet sheets, protocols and advice. To provide specialist training and supervision of dietetic colleagues and students using skills of reflective practice. To cover for other dietitians when sickness or leave necessitates. Organise own workload: prioritising and balancing patient-related and professional demands and contributing to the effectiveness of the oncology team. To judge and determine the appropriateness of referrals made by members of the multidisciplinary team in order to ensure effective use of time and resources. Assess patients diagnosis, medical care and biochemistry making decisions as to who needs dietary management. Professional Be accountable for own actions within the professional, ethical and legal framework for dietetics set out in the Health and Care Profession Councils code of practice for Dietitians and the British Dietetic Associations professional standards for Dietitians. To take responsibility for own continuing professional development and providing evidence for this by maintaining a CPD portfolio. CPD involves critical evaluation of scientific papers, attending professional development meetings, working as a reflective practitioner and attending relevant internal/external courses. Participate in annual appraisal, identifying own developmental and training needs and setting personal developmental objectives. To participate in departmental audits and initiate audit within own work area in order to monitor and evaluate whether local/national/international standards are being met and make recommendations for change. To be involved with the planning of departmental clinical effectiveness and audit strategies. Actively contribute to the dietetic student training program, facilitating the development of skills and knowledge, being involved in the assessment process and acting as a mentor to students. To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to dietetic colleagues, students or members of the multidisciplinary team, regarding the nutritional management of patients, particularly with respect to Stem cell transplantation. To have a detailed understanding of Stem cell transplantation, chemotherapy treatments and their side effects, Sickle cell anaemia, etc. To take the lead on corporate departmental projects. Organisational To determine priorities for own work area based on clinical need and balance patient caseload with professional demands. To collect data as required by the department, trust and outside agencies. To maintain accurate and up to date documentation of patient interventions on electronic records. To communicate dietetic interventions to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team by documentation within nursing/medical notes or by means of generating a letter/report.