Job summary

This role is an exciting opportunity to work within the oncology dietetics team at Bedford Hospital.

Main duties of the job

This role will be responsible for managing a caseload of non-complex oncology patients and supporting dietitians to manage patients in the community receiving enteral nutrition. The post holder will be supported by the oncology dietetics team and as such will need to have experience working as part of a team. You must have a degree or be working towards one in a relevant subject. Previous work in a health or social care setting would be considered advantageous.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To manage a caseload of non-complex oncology patients at the Macmillan Primrose unit, endoscopy unit, local hospices and in the North and Mid Bedfordshire community. This service encompasses all tumour sites including upper gastrointestinal, hepato-pancreato-biliary, head and neck, lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, gynaecological and haematological. Patients will be supported prior to, during and post treatment in line with the survivorship and rehabilitation agenda. To support service improvement projects in conjunction with the dietitians and as directed by the team lead. To have a good understanding of and contribute to the effective running of the oncology dietetics service. To act as the first point of contact for patients, health/social care professionals and members of the public with queries regarding oncology dietetics. This includes responsibility for the oncology dietetics shared email inbox. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients within your own scope of practice and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To work as an autonomous practitioner by planning and prioritising own workload according to locally agreed priority coding. To develop and maintain a basic knowledge of evidence-based practice, the common conditions you come across and national and local standards within oncology. To undertake a comprehensive assessment (interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinical condition and diet history) of patients including those with non-complex presentations and use clinical reasoning skills to set nutritional goals for each patient. To negotiate and agree dietary interventions with patients and their carers, using appropriate counselling and motivational skills to optimise their nutritional status. To make recommendations for appropriate prescription of nutritional products according to local guidelines regarding the use of nutritional supplements, and ask oncology dietitians to action this to GPs. To ensure adequate monitoring and review of patients. To communicate with healthcare professionals with regards to incoming referrals to ensure all the necessary information is available, and to input referrals onto the oncology electronic patient record system, liaising with the dietitians to determine triage status. To make appropriate follow up, discharge arrangements and outward referrals to other services in order to facilitate the safe, and timely discharge/transfer of care as directed by the dietitians. To support dietitians in making suitable arrangements for patients requiring home enteral feeding including inputting information into the online home enteral feeding management system. Ordering feed products and ancillaries in accordance with local guidelines regarding the use of enteral feeding products. To have insight to recognise and act appropriately if vulnerable patients are at risk or deemed to be in need. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with BDA, Trust and department standards, and provide statistics of patient contacts in a timely fashion. To liaise with healthcare professionals within the oncology service, the wider community and across the network. This includes involvement in the local dietetic assistant practitioner network which provides peer support, learning and development. To communicate non-complex, specialised and sensitive information with empathy and understanding to patients and their carers or other family members where appropriate. To take appropriate action using problem solving skills to assist patients, health and social care professionals, and members of the public with queries relating to oncology. To work as an integral part of the oncology dietetics team, support other dietetics teams and work alongside the wider multi-disciplinary team. To plan, deliver, evaluate and develop training and education sessions to patient and multi-disciplinary staff groups in conjunction with the team lead. To work within Trust, departmental, HCPC and BDA clinical and professional guidelines, policies and procedures. To support the clinical lead in ensuring guidelines relating to oncology are fully implemented across the department/MDT. To report information required for managing and monitoring the service such as referral numbers, key performance indicators, waiting list management, prioritisation of caseloads, DNA rates, outcome measures and user satisfaction surveys. To participate in audit, research and service evaluations to help deliver improvement in in service delivery and clinical practice following discussion with the team lead. Work with colleagues to help the Trust meet the CQC standards for nutrition. To be responsible for maintaining own development and competency to practice through CPD activities. To participate in and contribute to the organising and delivery of the department's CPD programme in collaboration with senior staff. To be an active member of the department by the attendance and presenting at staff meetings, attending tutorials and training sessions. To participate in the department appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with agreed Personal Development Plans to meet knowledge and competencies. To participate in regular supervision. To support the induction and recruitment of new staff members within the oncology dietetics team. To be responsible for the supervision of students during their placement. This will include the role as buddy. To comply with the lone worker policy. To work flexibly to support the oncology dietetics team. To provide cover for other wards/departments at short notice to cover unplanned and planned absences within the post holders competency and skill level. To undertake any other duties as identified by the team lead as required for the successful delivery of the oncology dietetics service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Degree or working towards

Desirable

Relevant CPD

Experience

Essential

Team working Managing own workload

Desirable

Experience in health/social care Experience presenting to groups

Knowledge

Essential

Time management skills Prioritisation skills Problem solving skills