Clinical Specialist Dietitian

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Sefton is seeking a specialist dietitian with expertise in Nutrition Support. The successful candidate will manage complex cases, provide clinical support to junior staff, and contribute to service development in an acute care environment. Candidates must have excellent leadership and communication skills, along with a commitment to multi-disciplinary teamwork. Flexible working options are offered, alongside competitive benefits.

Benefits

Pension

Annual leave

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering clinical services in Nutrition Support.
• Strong communication skills to motivate and guide a team.
• Ability to work autonomously and contribute to service development.

Responsibilities

• Take clinical responsibility for complex nutrition support caseload.
• Provide support and supervision to junior staff and students.
• Develop and deliver dietetic services in collaboration with the team.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Client-centered approaches

Education

Specialist dietitian with experience in Nutrition Support

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a specialist dietitian with experience in Nutrition Support to deliver a specialist clinical service at Southport & Ormskirk Hospital sites within the Mersey West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and contribute to supervision of the team of dietitians and support staff.

Responsibilities

• Take clinical responsibility for a complex nutrition support caseload on the Spinal Injury Unit and for a caseload of patients with complex, critically ill needs using advanced knowledge and evidence‑based, client‑centred approaches to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions across the acute wards.
• Provide specialist clinical support to junior staff and students; act as a professional practice educator and supervisor for dietetic students on clinical placements.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills to motivate, develop, guide and advance dietetic skills within the team to provide a high‑quality responsive acute service.
• Provide specialist assessment and management advice for patients while working closely with multidisciplinary team members.
• Assist in meeting Therapy and Rehabilitation/Trust objectives in relation to patient care; support the clinical lead in risk assessment for the dietetic team.
• Coordinate, organise, assess and deploy dietetic students on clinical placements; contribute to training of dietetic staff and other staff in dietetics skills across the acute wards.
• Take part in planning, development and delivery of dietetic services to adults in conjunction with the team leader and clinical therapy manager; hold responsibility for defined projects (e.g., risk assessment, documentation, operational policies).
• Be involved in extended working rotas as appropriate, including potential 7‑day and evening work; deputise for the team as needed.
• Establish links and networks with other dietetic staff in defined clinical areas at other hospitals and in the community.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Specialist dietitian with experience in Nutrition Support and a focus on adult nutritional care.
• Strong organisational, communication and leadership skills; ability to work autonomously as a specialist dietitian and contribute to service development.
• Commitment to MDT (multidisciplinary team) working and to continuous professional development, including service/quality improvement initiatives.
• Flexible approach to working patterns including potential extended rosters, with good time management and prioritisation abilities.

Work Environment and Location

Acute care is provided at Southport and Formby and Ormskirk District General Hospital, including emergency, intensive care and various medical and surgical specialties. The post holder will contribute to supervision of the dietetic team and support staff across Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to offering interviews to disabled applicants and Armed Forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria where applicable. The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting and monitors equality information to review recruitment practices and adjust as needed. We provide information on eligibility for visa/work permits as relevant.

Application and Additional Information

Flexible working options are supported. The Trust offers benefits including pension, annual leave, and NHS discounts, with a focus on staff wellbeing. Applicants should review the Trust values and behaviours (KIND, OPEN, INCLUSIVE) and follow the applicant guidance provided. If you require disability adjustments or assistance with the online application, contact the provided HR channels.