Job summary
** Fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity until 10th August 2026**
We're looking for a Specialist Dietitian to join our Oncology team, supporting Head & Neck and Upper GI patients covering both inpatients and outpatients. You'll be welcomed into a truly diverse, multi-talented department where everyone's background and perspective are valued. Our team brings together a wide range of experiences, cultures, and ideas--making us stronger and more innovative.
You'll work closely within supportive multidisciplinary teams, with regular supervision and opportunities for professional growth. We're proud of our open, inclusive culture--your voice matters, and you'll be encouraged to shape how we work.
Outside of work, we love to connect and unwind, with regular social events and monthly lunches celebrating cuisines from around the world. We believe in working hard, supporting each other, and having fun together.
If you want to develop your skills, make a real impact, and join a team that lives its PRIDE values--People-focused, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence--apply now. You'll gain new friends, fresh perspectives, and a workplace where you truly belong.
If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.
Main duties of the job
As a Specialist Dietitian in our Oncology team, you'll independently manage a caseload of Head & Neck and Upper GI patients, providing expert nutritional assessment, advice, and support. You'll develop and review complex care plans, using advanced communication and motivational skills to help patients and carers navigate challenging diagnoses and treatments. You'll work closely with our multidisciplinary teams, contribute to service development, and act as a role model for our PRIDE values.
We're looking for someone with strong clinical knowledge, empathy, and the ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment. Excellent communication, organisational skills, and a commitment to ongoing learning are essential.Typical decisions you'll make:
- Adjusting nutritional care plans in response to changing clinical needs and patient feedback.
- Prioritising your workload to balance direct patient care, MDT meetings, and service improvement projects.
- Choosing the best approach to engage and motivate patients and carers, using counselling and behaviour change techniques.
If you want to make a real impact, develop your expertise, and join a team where your ideas and individuality are valued, we'd love to hear from you.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To act as an independent advanced practitioner and be professionally and legally accountable and take responsibility for all aspects of own specialist clinical caseload.
- To work independently to undertake nutritional assessments and calculate nutritional requirements of patients with complex conditions using anthropometry.
- To communicate evidence based nutritional and dietary advice in an understandableform.
- To use highly developed communication and informal counselling skills such as reflective listening, open questioning, empathy, explanation and reassurance to communicatedietary intervention to patients and carers.
- To gain valid consent to treatment and negotiate change with patients by breaking downbarriers, using motivational skills, to enable them to achieve dietary targets set.
- To devise, monitor and review complex nutritional care plans against outcome measures taking into account social, psychological, cognitive, behavioural and cultural needs, as well as taking into account the needs of the carer and adjust care plan to facilitate achievement of goals.
- To work in an often-stressful environment of looking after patients with a terminal illness and helping support the patient and carers through the emotional responsibility this can entail.
- To undertake designated specialist outpatient clinics.
- To actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
- To ensure safe and timely transfer of patients by liaising with appropriate internal and external agencies.
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To act as an independent advanced practitioner and be professionally and legally accountable and take responsibility for all aspects of own specialist clinical caseload.
- To work independently to undertake nutritional assessments and calculate nutritional requirements of patients with complex conditions using anthropometry.
- To communicate evidence based nutritional and dietary advice in an understandableform.
- To use highly developed communication and informal counselling skills such as reflective listening, open questioning, empathy, explanation and reassurance to communicatedietary intervention to patients and carers.
- To gain valid consent to treatment and negotiate change with patients by breaking downbarriers, using motivational skills, to enable them to achieve dietary targets set.
- To devise, monitor and review complex nutritional care plans against outcome measures taking into account social, psychological, cognitive, behavioural and cultural needs, as well as taking into account the needs of the carer and adjust care plan to facilitate achievement of goals.
- To work in an often-stressful environment of looking after patients with a terminal illness and helping support the patient and carers through the emotional responsibility this can entail.
- To undertake designated specialist outpatient clinics.
- To actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
- To ensure safe and timely transfer of patients by liaising with appropriate internal and external agencies.
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
- Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration in Dietetics
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience, some of which should be in the specialist area
Skills
Essential
- Good time management and ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to deal with distressed patients/relatives/carers and staff
- Motivational interviewing skills
- Behaviour change skills
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Ability to use own initiative
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent
- Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration in Dietetics
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience, some of which should be in the specialist area
Skills
Essential
- Good time management and ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to deal with distressed patients/relatives/carers and staff
- Motivational interviewing skills
- Behaviour change skills
Attitude, aptitude
Essential
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Ability to use own initiative
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
