Job overview
This post is maternity cover from 1/10/26 until 30/9/27
An opportunity has arisen to cover maternity leave within the dietetic department at Colchester Hospital.
We are a friendly, supportive dietetic service, who aim to focus on the development of your skills and confidence as an autonomous practitioner, whilst maintaining a good work/life balance.
This role would be an excellent opportunity for someone who is currently working at Band 5 level with some experience in renal and who feels ready to progress to a Band 6 position. The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate experience in renal dietetics and be keen to continue to develop their knowledge and skills in this area.
In addition to renal, this role will also cover orthopaedics and general inpatients. The post holder will be supported to gain competency in parenteral nutrition and the opportunity to contribute to audit, and service development projects.
There is an expectation to contribute to our established student-training programme and support other team members in their development including preceptorship.
You will participate in a variety of activities to build your CPD portfolio including training provided internally and access to external training relevant to your role.
***The fixed term post will be offered as a secondment to internal candidates.***
Main duties of the job
- To provide a highly specialised service to in-patients using specialist knowledge and expertise in dietetic management of complex inpatients including renal and orthopaedics, to manage ward patients, as well as supporting the adult acute referral pool to identify and prioritise appropriate patients.
- To provide a highly specialised service to inpatients with renal conditions, shared with the Specialist renal Dietitians as required.
- To work with the Professional Lead for Nutrition & Dietetics to develop the renal and orthopaedic and general dietetic service in line with national guidance.
- To cover for all areas of renal dietetics as required including covering twilight sessions with the specialist renal dietitian
- To provide an out- patient service to renal patients as required.
- To attend multidisciplinary team meetings and case conferences as required
- To undertake joint assessments with the Speech and Language Therapists as required
- To be involved in the discharge planning of patients on continuing nutrition support
- To undertake QI projects relevant to the role.
- To develop competency in PN and provide cover for specialist colleagues in the delivery of Parenteral Nutrition to ensure continuity of care during absences.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Good organisational skills
- Good time management and ability to prioritise workload
Knowledge
Essential
- Good clinical knowledge
- Evidence of commitment to life long learning
- Demonstrate own practice is up-to-date and evidence-based and be able to demonstrate an awareness of current relevant research
Experience
Essential
- Clinical Supervisory Skills Course/ Student training/ Mentorship course
- Proven experience in dietetics
Desirable
- Experience in Audit
- Experience working in different clinical settings and proven clinical experience in working with mental health and eating disorder patients or in frailty
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent
- Current HCPC Registration in Dietetics
Desirable
- Membership of BDA Specialist groups relevant to the clinical area
- Member of British Dietetic Association
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Dietitian with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Colchester, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Dietitian role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed term / secondment until 30.09.2027). The application deadline is 25 Jun 2026.
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