Head and Neck Advanced Specialist Dietitian

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a dietitian enthusiastic about oncology to work in our head and neck services. Northwick Park Hospital is a regional centre for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation and this role would support patients before surgery, during their inpatient and outpatient care. This is a critical role in delivering expert , evidence-based nutritional care to patients throughout their head and neck journey. The dietitian will work effectively within the multidisciplinary team, and will be integral to the discussions relating to nutrition support.

Your expertise will be vital in optimising nutritional status, improving treatment outcomes and enhancing the quality of life of this patient group. The candidate should have strong experience in oral and enteral nutrition. Experience of head and neck oncology is a requirement of the role, but not essential.

You will work alongside another band 7 and a band 6 rotational dietitian. The wider multidisciplinary team is very friendly and inclusive, the dietitians are respected members of the team. This post will allow the candidate to provide specialist nutritional care, alongside leading service developments in this specialist area.

The Head and Neck Advanced Specialist Dietitian would be an autonomous practitioner in a highly specialised area of clinical dietetics. They will lead the delivery of complex nutritional support, including prescribing and managing enteral tube feeding systems in acute and out patients, and also offer telephone advice for patients at home.

As a clinical expert, they will provide supervision, mentorship, support and training to junior dietetic staff and students within the team. The post-holder would be expected to lead audit, research and service evaluation within this specialist clinical area, which is aligned with national guidance. They would also lead and provide education and training to multi-professionals across Head & Neck local and regional services.

The post holder will develop and deliver structured patient education and resources to empower patients and carers in self-management of their nutritional needs.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:

Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK

St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease

Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice

Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Summary of the Role

• To lead, plan, deliver and evaluate the clinical dietetic service to Head and Neck (Maxillofacial and ENT) in and outpatients at Northwick Park Hospital.
• To lead and carry out regular clinical audit or research into this specialist area.
• To provide theoretical and practical training, teaching and professional development support for dietitians, student dietitians, medical, nursing staff and allied health professionals in the Head and Neck dietetics.
• To ensure work is in line with departmental, Trust and national Dietetic standards.
• To participate in the organisation, management and development of the dietetic team