Highly Specialist Dietitian

Cygnet Hospital Taunton; Taunton; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent supervision & CPD

Full multidisciplinary team support

25 days annual leave

NHS discounts

Free meals on duty

Job summary

Cygnet Hospital Taunton is opening a new 15-bed neuro‑cognitive service. The Highly Specialist Dietitian will manage a small caseload and work closely with the catering team, SLT and MDT to optimise diet plans and feeding regimens for older adults with complex cognitive and neurological conditions.

Applicants should be Registered Dietitians with HCPC and BDA. Desirable experience includes neurology or mental health settings, enteral nutrition, and diabetes management.

Qualifications

• Registered Dietitian with HCPC registration and BDA membership.
• Degree or postgraduate diploma in Dietetics with appropriate registration.
• Desirable: knowledge of enteral nutrition; CPD available.
• Experience with weight management or diabetes is essential.
• Experience in older adults, neuro-rehab, or neurodegenerative conditions is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive Dietetic assessments and develop individualised plans.
• Provide 1:1 input, staff guidance, and group clinics as needed.
• Collaborate with catering, SLT and MDT to optimise meals and feeding regimens.

Skills

HCPC registration

BDA membership

Dietetics degree

Enteral nutrition

Weight management

Diabetes knowledge

Neuro rehab experience

Team player

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Dietetics

Job description

Due to the opening of a new service, an exciting opportunity has become available for a Highly Specialist Dietitian to join our team at Cygnet Hospital Taunton. Cygnet Taunton is opening a new 15-bed neuro‑cognitive service, which will provide comprehensive, long‑term inpatient care for older adults living with complex cognitive and neurological conditions alongside a psychiatric sequelae. The Neurocognitive Health Pathway offers patients an improved quality of life and improved functionality often not easily available to them due to their complex psychiatric and physical presentations. Treatment and therapy is provided to optimise their abilities and reduce the impact of the neurodegenerative diagnosis they have; providing a stabilisation of symptoms and symptom management which reduces complications and preserves independence as long as possible. Care and treatment is delivered within a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment by an interdisciplinary team.

Job Role As the Dietitian in this new service, you will have scope to determine how dietetic input is best delivered to meet the needs of the individuals and the service. This will involve holding a small active caseload and may involve a combination of direct 1:1 input, advice and guidance to staff supporting individuals, unit-based clinics and possibly group work to manage a range of complex presentations. You will provide comprehensive Dietetic assessment of need to those referred for Dietetic input, producing individualised Dietetic plans for individuals and work in close collaboration with the catering team, Speech and Language Team and wider multi-disciplinary team to provide specialist advice on meal plans and feeding regimens, as required.

Candidates should be a Registered Dietitian, preferably with some experience of working in either a neurology or mental health setting.

Qualifications

• A degree / postgraduate diploma (or equivalent) in Dietetics, registration with HCPC (Health Care Professions Council) and membership of the BDA (British Dietetic Association)
• Knowledge and experience of managing alternative (enteral) nutrition is desirable but CPD is available for this should this be required
• Knowledge and experience of supporting those with weight management and / or diabetes is also essential
• Experience of working in the field of older, adults, neuro-rehabilitation or neurodegenerative conditions and / or mental health is strongly desirable
• Evidence of being a strong team player with a genuine desire to help others
• Excellent communication / time management skills

Enthusiasm, motivation and passion

Cygnet have been amazing with the supervision and support from my manager. They helped me identify my skill set to work on my strengths and weaknesses.

Cygnet recognised my study achievements at the Staff Achievement Awards where I was a finalist for learner of the year At Cygnet I have been able to develop and grow while learning new skills, Tara has stepped up as Acting Team Leader, confidently running some of the most challenging shifts, managing incidents and her team with positivity and resilience, earning clear respect and trust through her excellent communication with staff, seniors, and managers.

Rebecca (Becca) excels as Activity Coordinator with heartfelt care and positivity, treating Spencer ward ladies as humans and building their confidence. Called unsung hero" by a discharged patient. Goes above and beyond daily.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary up to £21,297 per year DoE (£53,242 WTE)
• Excellent Clinical Supervision, CPD and developmental opportunities for clinical and non-clinical duties
• Full support from an onsite multidisciplinary team
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Free meals on duty
• Employee rewards and discount benefits scheme including NHS discounts and cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Smart Health Toolkit, providing fitness programmes, nutrition consultation and health checks.
• Full induction training
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS and reference check and an offer of employment will be subject to successful clearance.

Pension and Insurance

• Group Pension We'll look after you beyond Cygnet by helping you save for your future with a pension scheme. Cygnet provides a monthly contribution into your pot for every month you actively pay in.
• Free Mortgage Broker & Insurance Cover Cygnet understands that buying a home is probably the biggest and most important financial decision for most of us. As a result we have partnered with L&C to offer free mortgage advice, free insurance cover and receive a voucher on completion of your mortgage
• Enhanced Maternity In addition to statutory pay, Cygnet provides enhanced maternity pay.
• Free Life Assurance Cover Cygnet provides a Group Life assurance scheme which pays out a lump sum benefit to your family or next of kin in the event of your death whilst employed by Cygnet.