Senior Dietitian

Job overview

This is a Band 6 Senior Dietitian role based at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, delivering a range of acute dietetic service across cardiology, stroke, gastroenterology and surgical services. The post holder manages a defined caseload, undertakes comprehensive nutritional assessments and develops and reviews individualised care plans in line with evidence based practice.

A proportion of the role focuses on cardiology, supporting patients with cardiovascular conditions, contributing to elements of the cardiac rehabilitation pathway and delivering nutrition education. The role involves close MDT working, participation in ward based activity and outpatient clinics and support for dietetic assistants and student dietitians.

The post requires HCPC registration and post registration experience in general dietetics. The post holder works independently within professional boundaries, contributes to audit and quality improvement activity and benefits from a supportive team environment, supervision and continuing professional development.

This role delivers a high quality generalist acute dietetic service to inpatients and outpatients across cardiology, stroke, gastroenterology and surgical services. The post holder manages a defined caseload, undertakes comprehensive nutritional assessments and develops, implements and reviews individualised care plans in line with clinical guidelines and departmental protocols.

A defined proportion of the role focuses on cardiology, supporting patients with cardiovascular conditions and contributing to elements of the cardiac rehabilitation pathway. The post holder works as part of the multidisciplinary team through ward based activity and MDT meetings, providing dietetic expertise to support coordinated patient care.

The role includes communicating effectively with patients, carers and families, contributing to discharge planning and continuity of care and advising on oral nutritional supplements and enteral feeds. The post holder also provides cross cover as required and contributes to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activities, working in accordance with HCPC standards and Trust policies.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff.

As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

The post holder will deliver a high quality Band 6 generalist acute dietetic service across a range of medical and surgical specialties within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The role includes managing a defined caseload with regular dietetic input into cardiology services alongside work within stroke, gastroenterology and surgical services, supporting the nutritional management of patients with diverse clinical needs across both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The post holder will undertake comprehensive nutritional assessments, including the collection and interpretation of dietary history and relevant clinical information, to inform individualised care planning. They will develop, implement and evaluate dietetic care plans and feeding regimens using evidence based practice, national guidance and established departmental protocols. Patient progress will be monitored through regular review, with interventions adjusted as required to support agreed clinical outcomes.

A defined proportion of the role will focus on cardiology dietetics. This will include assessing patients with cardiovascular conditions, contributing to agreed elements of the cardiac rehabilitation pathway, updating…