Community Dietitian

Job Summary

We are looking for self-motivated, committed Dietitian to provide a quality dietetic service to the Ipswich and East Suffolk population. You will manage a caseload of nutritionally vulnerable patients in the community settings across Ipswich and East Suffolk including home visits, outpatient clinics in both the acute and community settings and community hospitals. You will lead on MUST and food first initiatives.

You will work closely with the assistant practitioners to deliver this service.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering a quality, evidence-based service, who relishes working in a busy setting and are a strong team player. We are seeking someone with excellent team working skills with both Dietetics colleagues and the wider MDT, as well as an ability to work independently and flexibly.

You will benefit from being part of an integrated inpatient (Ipswich Hospital), outpatient and community service that incorporates a range of clinical specialisms including renal, paediatrics and oncology. The Dietetic Team consists of 26 Dietitians with 8 Dietetic Support Staff providing a service to both acute and community settings with secretarial and administrative staff.

You will have access to regular supervision and have opportunities to undertake continuing professional development through work shadowing, tutorials and courses as identified by your training needs and objectives.

We will consider both Band 5 & Band 6 applications.

• To provide nutritional support, education and advice to patients in Ipswich and East Suffolk community and the acute setting as required. To support the implementation of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and food first project.
• To act as a source of expertise to patients and carers, medical practitioners and AHP within the hospital, MDTs, outpatient settings, small hospitals, care homes and patient own homes.
• To provide education and training for professional colleagues as requested across East Suffolk Health and Social Care agencies.

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts.

Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients. We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here -

• Date posted: 06 February 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 5
• Salary: £31,049 to £46,580 a year per annum
• Contract:
  
  Fixed term
• Duration: 11 months
• Working pattern:
  Full-time
• Reference number: 432-HR1265-25
• Job locations:
  Ipswich Hospital;
  Ipswich; IP4 5PD

Job responsibilities:

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Essential

• Experience:
  
  Portfolio of evidence of CPD
• Wide range of clinical placements ideally including the community setting and home enteral tube feeds

Desirable

• Prior work/voluntary experience working with people
• Prior work/voluntary work with the elderly
• Experience of working in Community Dietetics
• Experience of MUST training

Essential

• Degree/Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• Member of British Dietetic Association
• Full UK Driving license and ability to drive between various locations

Desirable

• Member of Special Interest Group
• Leadership qualifications e.g. LEO and Supervisory Skills

Knowledge

• Broad up to date knowledge and practical application of clinical dietetics
• Awareness of current issues
• Ability to analyse complex professional, clinical and ethical issues and apply in practice
• Knowledge and understanding of BDA professional standards
• Good knowledge of the MUST tool and food first principles.

Desirable

• Understanding of current initiatives regarding ONS prescribing Clinical supervisory skills
• Completed audit and research…