Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced dietitian to lead the oncology dietetic service at Worthing Hospital.
The successful candidate will provide highly specialist nutritional care to patients with predominantly head & neck and upper gastrointestinal cancers together with supporting all oncology patients who require enteral feeding at home. Patients requiring radiotherapy services are treated in Brighton and those undergoing UGI surgery have this in Guildford, so the ability to be able to support patients in conjunction with other dietetic teams is essential. Worthing provides many of the systemic anti-cancer treatments (SACT) in our dedicated outpatient unit and we are the West Sussex centre for breast and colorectal cancers. You will lead a team of 4 oncology dietitians delivering a dietetic service to all tumour types at all stages of the cancer pathway. Patient consultations are caried out in a variety of settings including consultant led outpatient clinics, SACT unit, home visits or via telephone or video consultations.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a self-motivated, confident and team-focused individual to lead and develop the nutritional oncology service alongside an already well-established team of dietitians. You will need excellent communication, effective leadership and organisational skills, a practical, forward-thinking approach to service development, and the ability to teach and support others.
Our department is committed to student dietitian training and undertake A, B and C clinical placements for Surrey students - we get exceptional feedback from both the students and the university on the quality of the placements we offer. This role will include participating in student training.
You will be responsible for a caseload of oncology patients, mainly head and neck and upper GI. A number of these patients are on short on longer term home enteral feeding and you role will involve setting up and supporting them with this, including home visits and telephone contacts.
You will lead the oncology team, including day to day management of the team and longer term goal setting.
About us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post is based at Worthing Hospital and will join our department of around 30 dietitians, providing services to Worthing Hospital (approx. 540 beds), outpatients and the surrounding community. The department has clinical speciality areas in acute medicine, critical care, diabetes, elderly care, gastroenterology, home enteral tube feeding, oncology, paediatrics, stroke/neurology and surgery. The dietitians at Worthing are part of the wider Dietetic team based across the South coast in Brighton to the East and Chichester to the West. Close collaboration with these teams is encouraged.
We are committed to supporting your CPD and to the provision of evidence-based practice, research and audit.
This is a great opportunity for you to get involved in staff training, patient group education sessions, health promotion activities, audit and research.
You will also be part of training the next generation of dietitians who undertake A, B and C clinical placements with us.
To work as part of the Dietitians Department in providing a quality dietetic service to oncology patients. The post-holder will manage their own caseload and support and train other members of the team where needed and lead the oncology team.
As part of the dietetic services, the post-holder will also:
- Participate in supervision of student dietitians on clinical placement level will depend on experience and training.
- Cover/support the clinical workload of other dietitians, e.g. during annual leave
- Undertake normal activities of department MDT working, projects, meetings, service developments, audits & research, CPD, developing resources, training other health professionals, etc.
This workload may be subject to change depending on internal department service review, e.g. maternity or sick leave cover.
Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for more details
Job description
Job responsibilities
This post is based at Worthing Hospital and will join our department of around 30 dietitians, providing services to Worthing Hospital (approx. 540 beds), outpatients and the surrounding community. The department has clinical speciality areas in acute medicine, critical care, diabetes, elderly care, gastroenterology, home enteral tube feeding, oncology, paediatrics, stroke/neurology and surgery. The dietitians at Worthing are part of the wider Dietetic team based across the South coast in Brighton to the East and Chichester to the West. Close collaboration with these teams is encouraged.
We are committed to supporting your CPD and to the provision of evidence-based practice, research and audit.
This is a great opportunity for you to get involved in staff training, patient group education sessions, health promotion activities, audit and research.
You will also be part of training the next generation of dietitians who undertake A, B and C clinical placements with us.
To work as part of the Dietitians Department in providing a quality dietetic service to oncology patients. The post-holder will manage their own caseload and support and train other members of the team where needed and lead the oncology team.
As part of the dietetic services, the post-holder will also:
- Participate in supervision of student dietitians on clinical placement level will depend on experience and training.
- Cover/support the clinical workload of other dietitians, e.g. during annual leave
- Undertake normal activities of department MDT working, projects, meetings, service developments, audits & research, CPD, developing resources, training other health professionals, etc.
This workload may be subject to change depending on internal department service review, e.g. maternity or sick leave cover.
Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for more details
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree Nutrition and Dietetics
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
- HCPC registered Dietitian
Knowledge, training and experience
Essential
- Clinical experience in oncology
- Experience of managing home enteral feeding patients
- Experience of service development
- Experience of supervising students/dietitians
Desirable
- Experience of leading/managing a team
- Experience in advance practice - home enteral feeding
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- excellent communication skills - articulate in all forms - written, verbal
- experience of presenting and teaching/leading groups
- Training and/or extensive experience in motivational interviewing
Personal Qualities
Essential
- demonstrates behaviours and attitudes to support Trust's Vision of 'we care'
- attention to detail
- Other relevant experience eg previous roles, volunteering
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree Nutrition and Dietetics
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
- HCPC registered Dietitian
Knowledge, training and experience
Essential
- Clinical experience in oncology
- Experience of managing home enteral feeding patients
- Experience of service development
- Experience of supervising students/dietitians
Desirable
- Experience of leading/managing a team
- Experience in advance practice - home enteral feeding
Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential
- excellent communication skills - articulate in all forms - written, verbal
- experience of presenting and teaching/leading groups
- Training and/or extensive experience in motivational interviewing
Personal Qualities
Essential
- demonstrates behaviours and attitudes to support Trust's Vision of 'we care'
- attention to detail
- Other relevant experience eg previous roles, volunteering
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
