Specialist Dietitian

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced Specialist Dietitian to join our Adult Nutrition & Dietetics team at Weston General Hospital on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover.

Working alongside Dietitians and Dietetic Support Workers, you will deliver high-quality nutritional care across a range of acute inpatient pathways, with a particular focus on medical wards, our 5-bedded Intensive Care Unit and surgical step-down patients. You will be required to demonstrate core skills in oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition support.

The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload, providing specialist dietetic assessment and intervention for patients with complex nutritional needs while working closely with the multidisciplinary team. The role also offers opportunities to contribute to service development, education and student training.

Due to the fixed-term nature of this maternity cover post and service requirements, priority will be given to candidates who can demonstrate:

• Ability to commence employment within three months
• Experience in an NHS or similar acute hospital environment
• The knowledge, skills and experience to work effectively with a high degree of autonomy and minimal supervision

All members of the team work one bank holiday each year.

Main duties of the job

The post will provide expert nutritional care across a range of pathways, notably critical care & medicine.

• The role works closely with a wide range of professionals within the MDT
• Ensure effective communication at all levels of health care professionals regarding the nutritional care of individual patients.Impart information to patients in situations which could be distressing / emotional for the patient, therefore require use of holistic skills.
• Use negotiation skills to motivate and negotiate dietary change this will require using a variety of evaluation strategies and adapting communication techniques if necessary.
• Educate, support and direct patients by advising on therapeutic dietary regimens which may involve significant and continuous lifestyle changes.
• Translate nutritional concepts into practical everyday terms for patients, staff and professional colleagues of all levels.As a key member of the multi-professional team, provide expert dietetic advice at case conferences, care and discharge planning meetings.
• Liaise with partners including clinical MDTs, pharmacy, catering and the community to ensure continuity of care across service providers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.