Acute Medicine Team Lead

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Plymouth is seeking a Dietetic Team Manager to oversee the delivery of dietetic care across acute medical wards. Responsibilities include managing a team of dietitians, ensuring nutritional needs of patients are met, and providing training. Candidates should possess a BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics, strong leadership skills, and extensive clinical experience. The position offers a salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum.

Qualifications

• Proven and demonstrable leadership skills in managing a clinical team.
• Extensive clinical practice post registration in an acute medical ward setting.
• Expertise in the practical skills of nutritional support.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of dietitians across a wide-ranging clinical caseload.
• Operationally manage a team of junior dietitians/dietetic assistants.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate nutritional care-related education.

Skills

Leadership skills

Excellent communication skills

Nutritional support skills

Education

BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics

HCPC Registration

Job description

Job Summary

The post-holder is responsible for managing the acute medicine dietetic team, delivering dietetic care to a wide range of medical patients across acute medical wards. They will provide specialist clinical care as part of a multi‑professional team, acting as the lead source of knowledge and expertise within acute medical dietetics at University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP).

The post holder is involved in all Nutrition and Dietetic Departmental activities and contributes to the delivery of a trust‑wide dietetic service as directed by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job

• Manage a team of dietitians across a wide‑ranging clinical caseload of acute medical patients, including a 7‑day service rota.
• Assist with the general running of the Dietetics Department – student training, staff supervision, outcome monitoring, recruitment, absence management and appraisal – as directed by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.
• Complete quality assurance reports and general reporting as requested.
• Work with staff from a range of departments to ensure that patients meet their nutritional needs.

Job Responsibilities

• Be responsible for a clinical caseload of medical patients and liaise with medical consultants and wider teams regarding nutritional management.
• Provide bank holiday cover for acute medical wards on a rota basis and manage a 7‑day working week rota.
• Operationally manage a team of junior dietitians/dietetic assistants – recruitment, supervision, absence management and appraisal.
• Investigate and report on any nutritional care related incidents and complaints as requested by the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics.
• Lead the collation of evidence to demonstrate compliance with CCQ requirements.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate nutritional care‑related education to clinical areas for staff of all levels.
• Produce documentation and reports to demonstrate progress against targets.
• Act as a source of expert advice on all aspects of hospital food policy at local, regional and national levels.
• Contribute to clinical governance activities, including reporting to service line level.
• Be actively involved in student dietitian training.

Person Specification – Essential

• Proven and demonstrable leadership skills in managing a clinical team.
• Extensive clinical practice post registration in an acute medical ward setting.
• BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalent qualification.
• HCPC Registration.
• Excellent communication skills – ability to communicate with all levels of healthcare personnel, patients and carers.
• Expertise in the practical skills of nutritional support.

Person Specification – Desirable

• Computer skills in database use and statistical packages.
• Completion of Clinical Supervisory Skills training course.
• Research design/statistics skills.

Pay and Working Pattern

• Band 7 – £47,810 to £54,710 per annum.
• Permanent, Full‑time.

Location

Dietetic Dept, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH.