Community/oncology dietitian

at  Medway Community Healthcare CIC

Are you an enthusiastic, self-motivated and experienced dietitian?
Can you work flexibly as an effective part of a team?
Would you like to develop your skills?
If so, we’d love to hear from you!
This role provides a dietetic service to adult community and oncology patients in the Medway and Swale area through the assessment, treatment and management of adult patients in the community, outpatient clinics and in their own homes. You may also be required to provide a clinical service to our inpatient rehab units including the local hospice. This is an exciting opportunity for someone to work in a varied role while gaining experience in adult oncology.
We welcome applications from band 6 dietitians or from experienced band 5 dietitians who are able to show a commitment to developing their knowledge and skills within oncology care.
The post holder will be an autonomous practitioner within the Community Team of Dietitians and will provide a clinical dietetic service through the assessment, treatment and management of adult community and oncology patients in the community, outpatient clinics and in their own homes.
The post holder will also be involved in the supervision of junior staff members and students and will have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in enteral feeding in the community.

So what else?

• This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
• We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
• We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
• You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
• MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

1. Communication and relationship skills
   Excellent communication skills are essential.
   To work in close liaison with the oncology/community dietitians and other dietitians transferring patients as required, and providing a seamless care between settings
   To assess, advise and liaise with patients and their carers in providing up to date dietary information.
   To review and update dietary information for patients and carers.
   Will be required to offer constructive feedback to support development of others
   To establish rapport with a wide range of patients and carers, working in a non-discriminatory fashion
   To liaise regularly with nursing, medical and other health professionals regarding the treatment of patients e.g. on appropriate use of nutritional supplements and enteral feeds
   To use motivational interviewing techniques to overcome barriers to change
   To deliver difficult or upsetting information in a compassionate manner
   To translate complex scientific information into an easily understood format
   To provide nutrition counselling, using advocacy services or interpreters when appropriate, to communicate with the diverse multicultural population where there are barriers to communication.
   To review, prepare, present and evaluate education and training programmes for other organisations, health care professionals and patient groups.
   To attend multi-disciplinary team meetings as appropriate
2. Knowledge, training and experience
   The post holder requires a degree/ postgraduate diploma in nutrition and dietetics. They need to have an interest in and exhibit specialist dietetic skills in oncology.
   To be registered with, and work at all times within the professional codes of practice stipulated by the health care professions council
   Is expected to take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, undertaking on-the-job and other training and study days as required.
   To be able to effectively manage time and work to deadlines.
   To review and update dietary information for patients and parents/carers.
   To exhibit supportive and supervisory skills for juniors members of the team to aid professional development.
3. Analytical and judgement skills
   Will be involved with clinical supervision and also provide support to junior members of staff. This includes clinical guidance and assisting with project work where necessary.
   To continuously assess and reflect on current practices and identify changes in clinical and working practices to ensure that recognised ‘best practice’ is implemented.
   To complete a yearly audit as required
   To demonstrate good time management skills and an ability to prioritise own workload.
   To translate complex scientific information into easily understood format
   To interpret biochemical data and use to formulate dietary requirements and advice.
4. Planning and organisational skills
   To review, prepare, present and evaluate education and training programmes for other organisations, health care professionals and patient groups.
   To undertake a yearly audit as deemed appropriate
   To submit data in a timely fashion and achieve deadlines as set by team lead
   To develop a CPD plan and personal objectives with the team lead
   To demonstrate good time management skills and an ability to prioritise own workload
   To organise self and work independently without supervision
5. Physical skills
   To use a wide range of computer software at a high level and have good keyboard skills.
   To review, prepare, present and evaluate education and training programmes for other organisations, health care professionals and patient groups.
   To demonstrate an ability to use additional equipment as required for role e.g. skin fold callipers
   To work in a range of clinical environments which may be subject to frequent interruptions
   To follow procedures for moving and handling
6. Responsibility for patient / client care
   To be responsible for providing specialised advice to adult clients within the community and outpatient setting (including outpatient clinics, nursing homes and own homes as needed) including nutritional assessment, dietary counselling, motivational interviewing, negotiating targets, developing care plans and communicating these with relevant health care professionals and other care agencies.
   Will be required to advise and assess community and oncology patients within the community setting
   To delegate responsibility for patients to other junior members of staff as appropriate.
   Must at all times respect patient confidentiality and, in particular, the confidentiality of electronically stored personal data in line with the requirements of the data protection act.
   To remain patient focused at all times by providing high quality and responsive healthcare services in the hospital and outpatient setting
   To work closely with patients, their families, carer groups, local communities and other organisations ensuring care is co-ordinated.
   To develop a safe caseload management plan by evaluating the condition of patients, the volume of caseload and workload within the role to prioritise work, thus decreasing clinical risk and achieving deadlines. These decisions will be taken without consulting the line manager.
   To prescribe nutrition related products for patients, dependent upon clinical condition e.g. enteral feeds, sip feeds, gluten free foods and advise medical staff on recommended prescriptions for intravenous nutrition and related products e.g. parenteral nutrition bags.
   To recommend prescription of pharmacological medications wherever necessary e.g. IV pabrinex and/or B vitamins to prevent refeeding syndrome
   To be responsible for the safe discharge planning/setup of patients requiring home enteral nutrition, including liaising with and coordinating numerous outside agencies, such as home enteral feeding companies, community budget holders and clinical community staff.
   To liaise with dietetic colleagues locally and nationally and other experts to ensure nutrition care, standards, advice and information are consistent with current evidence base.

To ensure that services are planned, implemented and evaluated within the framework of clinical governance i.e. demonstrate that working practices are up to date through the application of best practice, and reporting of incidents and risks and follow through to prevent recurrence

• To attend multi-disciplinary team meetings as appropriate
• To volunteer for link roles within the department as required, for example infection control

link/ safeguarding link
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
To liaise with dietetic colleagues locally and nationally and other experts to ensure nutrition care, standards, advice and information are consistent with current evidence base.
To ensure that services are planned, implemented and evaluated within the framework of clinical governance i.e. demonstrate that working practices are up to date through the application of best practice, and reporting of incidents and risks and follow through to prevent recurrence
To observe the rules, policies and procedures of Medway community healthcare CIC.
To lead and collaborate in the development of standards, protocols and pathways of care for the nutrition support of patients.
To lead and participate in audit activities relevant to the service as agreed in the service strategy and in association with key stakeholders in the service/organisation.
To share any incidents or quality service with colleagues and report through appropriate sources.
May be required to undertake duties at any location within the organisation in order to meet service needs.

Must at all times carry out duties and responsibilities with due regard to the organisation’s equal opportunities policies and procedures.

• To work alongside the community macmillan oncology specialist dietitian and other community dietitians to produce policies and guidance in the area of oncology

1. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
   To make the most efficient use of departmental resources and be mindful of budgetary limitations.
   To provide best practice and value for money by reviewing and evaluating services and sharing information internally and externally
   To ensure that costs of prescribing nutrition related products are considered whilst formulating treatment plans and long term dietetic input
   To consider the financial implications dietetic intervention may have on a patient and their family and whether it is feasible and sustainable within the patient’s environment.
2. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
   To actively participate in the planning and delivery of the department’s student training programme on a regular basis.
   To actively participate in the education of all staff (this includes dietetic staff & students) with dietetic advice. To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of research findings and new practices within nutrition and dietetics, and apply this knowledge to improve practice, thus ensuring national standards are being met.
   To participate fully in the departments Individual performance development system through portfolio-based assessment, in line with national legislation.
   To contribute to the development of own CPD plan in liaison with team lead.
   To supervise junior members of staff to enable them to prioritise and manage their workload.
   To appraise students positively and constructively. This may involve discussing performance or competency issues.
   To be innovative and proactive by encouraging staff to initiate new ideas in working practices and ensuring a process of continuous improvement in the way services are provided.
   Please see the JD attached for further information

• To work alongside the community macmillan oncology specialist dietitian and other community dietitians to produce policies and guidance in the area of oncolog