Specialist Dietitian stroke​/acute services Band 6

Job Summary

Are you an experienced, motivated dietitian that has experience working with stroke patients? We have a role available for a full‑time fixed term Specialist Dietitian working with patients in our acute services, particularly those affected by stroke. This is a key role in our dedicated team that aims to provide high‑quality and compassionate care to this patient cohort, where you will help advise and aid decision making in providing timely/appropriate nutritional support.

You will be joining our friendly team of acute dietitians based in Cheltenham. You'll work with patients who depend on nutritional support/enteral feeding, managing cases where your ability to assess, diagnose and plan treatment makes a direct, visible impact on their recovery and quality of life.

With flexible working opportunities we will support you with a good work‑life balance.

• Work as an integral member of our stroke multidisciplinary team (MDT), communicating and advising on nutrition and dietetic treatment of patients to other multidisciplinary health professionals.
• Provide training for the stroke MDT, acute ward staff and our dietetic staff about nutritional care for patients experiencing a stroke.
• Work closely alongside other dietitian colleagues in providing cover and care to those patients in the stroke and acute care setting.
• Use your specialist nutritional knowledge and clinical expertise to assess, agree, implement and monitor patients' nutrition and dietetic care plans for patients who often have complex medical, nutritional and psychological needs.
• Use your communication/behaviour change skills and motivational techniques to treat patients with multifaceted dietary needs, navigating barriers to communication such as dysphasia, deafness, blindness and depression to effectively negotiate changes to diet, which may be lifelong.
• Provide leadership and clinical support to Band 5 dietitians, dietetic assistants/support workers in delivering patient care and be an expert resource to them.
• Support the planning of the program, supervising and assessing dietetic students within this area.
• Support the department in delivering and monitoring the services we provide to ensure the provision of quality care.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we’re proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals.

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognize and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

Date posted: 09 March 2026

Pay scheme:
Agenda for change

Band: 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year (pa, pro rata if part‑time)

Contract:

Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern:
Full‑time

Reference number: 318-26-T0159

Job locations:
Cheltenham General Hospital, Sandford Road, Cheltenham, GL537AN

• Degree or Diploma in Dietetics
• Registered with HCPC
• Experience of working within the NHS in areas of acute and stroke care and enteral tube feeding
• Demonstrate specialist clinical knowledge in acute and stroke care
• Demonstrate specialist clinical knowledge in decision making in enteral feeding
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening, caring and empathy skills and can relate well to staff and patients.
• Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills including active listening skills.
• Ability to assess individuals with complex medical problems and to plan their dietetic care
• Ability to make decisions regarding change of practice based on clinical evidence and disseminate the same to other health professionals.
• Able to implement research evidence‑based practice and apply to practice for continuous service…