Dietetic Consultant and Trust Wide Lead

Job overview

This is a rare opportunity to shape Dietetic practice at a Trust-wide level within a progressive mental health and learning disability organisation. You will have the opportunity to influence strategy, lead change, and contribute meaningfully to improving outcomes for service users, while maintaining expert clinical practice.

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Dietetic Consultant and Trust-wide Lead to provide strategic, professional and clinical leadership for Dietetics across Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

This senior role will lead the development, quality, safety and innovation of Dietetic practice across mental health and learning disability services, ensuring consistent, evidence-based and high-quality care. The postholder will work closely with the Director of Allied Health Professions (AHPs), senior clinical leaders, operational managers, and external partners to shape Dietetic services aligned with Trust priorities and national standards.

The role includes a strategic leadership remit alongside a specialist clinical caseload, contributing expert opinion to highly complex cases, service development, research, and quality improvement.

This is a part-time (0.6 WTE / 22.5 hours per week), permanent role at Agenda for Change Band 8b.

Main duties of the job

As Dietetic Consultant and Trust-wide Lead, you will:

• Provide professional and clinical leadership for Dietetic staff across the Trust, ensuring high standards of practice, governance, and professional accountability.
• Lead the strategic development and expansion of Dietetic services, working in partnership with operational leads and senior AHP colleagues.
• Act as a clinical expert, managing a specialist caseload and providing highly complex assessment, consultation, and intervention.
• Lead and embed evidence-based practice, research, audit, and quality improvement across Dietetic services.
• Co-chair and support delivery of the Trust-wide Food and Nutrition Plan, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives.
• Take a senior role in clinical governance, risk management, complaints, and patient safety investigations related to Dietetic practice.
• Contribute as a key member of the AHP Senior Leadership Team, leading agreed workstreams and influencing Trust strategy.
• Support workforce development, including recruitment, supervision, CPD, education, placements, and leadership development.
• Represent Dietetics at senior strategic and external forums, advocating for Dietetic and AHP contributions to service redesign and policy development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Essential

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Dietetics
• HCPC registration
• Substantial post-qualification experience as a Dietitian, including advanced practice and specialism (mental health / learning disability or related field)
• Demonstrated clinical leadership experience at a senior level
• Expert knowledge of specialist Dietetic practice and evidence-based interventions
• Experience of service development, audit, research, and quality improvement
• Strong communication skills with experience of multidisciplinary and interagency working
• Experience of supervising, developing and mentoring staff
• Ability to manage complex clinical and organisational issues with sound judgement

Desirable

• Doctoral-level study or advanced postgraduate qualification
• Management qualification or formal leadership training
• Experience of managing budgets and contributing to workforce planning
• Membership of the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
• Experience of working strategically at Trust or system level