Job Description

This exciting position is ideal for anyone with an interest in oncology and/or elective surgical (Upper GI and Lower GI).



This specialist role will support the department to deliver high quality care to patients being treated on the oncology wards, including Upper GI Ward, and Lower GI surgical wards. The role involves working closely with the Oncology multi-disciplinary teams and specialist nurses.



You will be well supported by an Oncology Team Lead and a Clinical Lead Dietitian for Upper GI. The team is currently ~10 Dietitians, with Dietetic Assistant support.



We encourage every Band 6 to protect 20% of their time within the role to development, both individually and as a service.

As a valued member of our team, you will receive:

Flexible working , including opportunities for home working

Clinical supervision and support from experienced and specialist dietitians

Dedicated time for professional and service development

Regular appraisals and personalised development plan

Access to a range of CPD opportunities , the Oxford AHPs Research & Innovation Unit, and Bodleian Library collection.



The position is based in the Department of Therapies and Dietetics within a purpose-built cancer and surgical centre at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford.



The post holder will be responsible for providing a dietetic service to patients with an Oncology diagnosis treated at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. This will involve working with patients with a range of diagnoses, throughout their cancer journey. It will involve working flexibly with the Oncology Dietetic Team to provide a Dietetic service to patients based on Clinical Priority.

Responsibilities of the post holder:

To contribute to the oncology dietetic service, working alongside a team of experienced oncology dietitians.

Responsibility for the dietetic care of Oncology, Haematology and Elective Surgery patients treated at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford.

This will include inpatients on the Upper GI ward, Oncology ward, Lower GI & Gynaecology, Urology, Head & Neck and Haematology wards

It will also include telephone support to patients prior to, during or after their oncology treatment

Working as a member of large multi disciplinary teams



Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please view OUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu



Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.



We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.



These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .



CLINICAL



To work as part of a team of oncology dietitians and as an integral member of multidisciplinary teams to ensure a holistic approach to patient care. This involves liaising with oncologists, haematologists, nursing teams, specialist nurses, AHP's, Macmillan Dietetic Support Workers and Dietetic Assistants.

Organise own workload:

prioritising and balancing patient-related and professional demands and contributing to the effectiveness of the oncology team.



To determine the appropriateness of referrals made by members of the multidisciplinary team in order to ensure effective use of time and resources.



Assess patient's diagnosis, medical care and biochemistry making decisions as to who needs dietary management.



Obtain and analyse relevant information from different sources including electronic patient records, the patient, family/ carers and ward staff, 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 receiving oncology treatment.



Assess patients' nutritional status by diet and weight history, nutritional intake, losses such as drain outputs, stool or stoma 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 oncology patients.



Advise on appropriate artificial feeding routes for patients taking into account their diagnosis, tumour site and treatment side-effects (such as dysphagia, mucositis, Graft versus host disease, newly acquired Diabetes Mellitus, pancreatic insufficiency, stoma formation, malabsorption).



Formulate individualised patient care plans taking into consideration factors which may affect requirements or help/hinder provision of nutrition support such as prescribed drugs, biochemical derangements, fluid balance etc. The care plan could include modified-texture diets, low carbohydrate/ high protein diet, low residue diet, oral nutritional supplements, enteral tube feeding regimes or 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 e.g. acute hospitals outside Oxfordshire, community hospitals, district general hospitals, nursing homes, or to their own home, and advising members of staff or family members accordingly.



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. Barriers to communication may include loss of sight, loss of hearing and limited English 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 cover for dietitians when sickness or leave necessitates.



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.



To provide specialist advice, teaching and training to all members of the multidisciplinary team, regarding the nutritional management of oncology or haematology patients. This involves participation in in-house training courses e.g. new staff nurses and doctor orientation program. Also to participate in external training/teaching when requested.



To have a detailed understanding of medical conditions/drugs and nutritional implications.



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.



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 dietetic interventions on electronic records and to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team.