Lead Dietitian

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health care provider in Norwich is looking for a Lead Dietitian to join their Paediatric team. The successful candidate will manage a caseload of Neonatal patients in the NICU, develop complex nutritional care plans, and work closely with multidisciplinary teams. The provider values excellence, integrity, respect, and dedication, encouraging professional growth and collaboration. Competitive benefits and flexible working hours are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Discounted gym memberships

Free Park & Ride service

Support in career development

Excellent pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in managing nutritional care for complex patients.
• Ability to develop and review complex patient plans.
• Commitment to ongoing learning.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of Neonatal patients in NICU.
• Adjust nutritional care plans as clinical needs change.
• Contribute to service development and act as a model for PRIDE values.

Skills

Strong clinical knowledge

Empathy

Excellent communication skills

Organisational skills

Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment

Education

UK professional registration

Job description

We're looking for a Lead Dietitian to join our Paediatric team, supporting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. You'll be welcomed into a truly diverse, multi‑talented department where everyone's background and perspective are valued. Our team brings together a wide range of experiences, cultures, and ideas‑making us stronger and more innovative.

You’ll work closely within supportive multidisciplinary teams, with regular supervision and opportunities for professional growth. We’re proud of our open, inclusive culture‑your voice matters, and you’ll be encouraged to shape how we work.

Outside of work, we love to connect and unwind, with regular social events and monthly lunches celebrating cuisines from around the world. We believe in working hard, supporting each other, and having fun together.

If you want to develop your skills, make a real impact, and join a team that lives its PRIDE values‑People‑focused, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence‑apply now. You’ll gain new friends, fresh perspectives, and a workplace where you truly belong.

If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported. As a Lead Dietitian within our Paediatric team, you’ll independently manage a caseload of Neonatal patients on our Level 3 Surgical NICU, providing expert nutritional assessment, advice, and support. You’ll develop and review complex patient plans balancing the importance of nutrition alongside complex NICU care needs.

As the neonatal service lead you will be expected to attend regional meetings and input into regional data collection. You’ll work closely with our multidisciplinary teams, contribute to service development, and act as a role model for our PRIDE values.

We’re looking for someone with strong clinical knowledge, empathy, and the ability to adapt in a fast‑paced environment. Excellent communication, organisational skills, and a commitment to ongoing learning are essential.

Typical decisions you’ll make:

• Adjusting nutritional care plans in response to changing clinical needs including surgical.
• Prioritising your workload to balance direct patient care, MDT meetings, and service improvement projects.
• Excellent communication skills to liaise within the MDT to advocate for best care for complex, vulnerable patients.

You will be encouraged and supported in your CPD, and as you progress in the role we’ll want you to share your knowledge with the wider department, helping to inform and develop departmental policies where required.

If you want to make a real impact, develop your expertise, and join a team where your ideas and individuality are valued, we’d love to hear from you.

Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 2259, does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa. The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

The Job Description, which includes a Person Specification, provides a full outline of responsibilities and requirements for this role. Please use your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the person specification.

Visa and Immigration

If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

Travelling to work

Staff parking is available onsite; however, this is limited during core working hours. We have more capacity in the evening and at weekends and can usually provide spaces during those hours. We look to allocate these spaces fairly. Our Travel Office have a set of criteria that staff must meet in order to qualify. If you qualify for a space, you may be placed on a waiting list if we are at full capacity. The NNUH is served by a number of public buses, and we offer generously discounted monthly passes with First Bus & Konect. The Costessey Park and Ride runs regularly each day from 06:30 (from P&R) to 20:45 (from NNUH) and this service is free for NHS staff. There is a regular Thickthorn P&R service as well which is free. Applications to the Travel Office are required for this service. We also have a discounted service from the airport P&R if you purchase a bundle. Please see Konect website for further details. The NNUH host multiple bicycle racks and a salary sacrifice scheme. We also benefit from a Beryl station onsite. If you work at another Trust site, please discuss travel and parking arrangements at interview.

DBS

If this post involves working with children or adults the application form will ask for information regarding previous convictions as you will be required to undertake a Criminal Record and Barring Check known as a DBS check.

NHS Service

Should you be appointed to the post we will need to establish any previous NHS service via the ESR IAT and we will accept the submission of your application as your agreement to this.

UK Registration

You will need to have current UK professional registration where this is a requirement of the role.

Application

Following candidate feedback and to reduce our dependency on paper, all our communication with you regarding your application will be by email so could you please check your e‑mails (and Spam) regularly. We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application. We look forward to receiving your application and if you do not hear within the next four weeks this will usually mean that you have not been short‑listed. However, if you wish to confirm this please contact the person indicated on the advert.

Flexibility

Whilst every effort will be made to recruit to the post as it is advertised, there may be occasions where we consider alternative working patterns, such as part time working, or contract types, such as secondments, depending on circumstances. Should you wish to work in a different working pattern to that stated in our advertisement, please indicate this in the supporting statement to your application.

At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is ‘provide the best care for every patient’, and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team. NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.

Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:
People-focused
We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.
Respect
We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.
Integrity
We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.
Dedication
We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.
Excellence
We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff! The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first‑class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state‑of‑the‑art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world. We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

Benefits

• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream – access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
• Free 24‑hours confidential counselling support
• On‑site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
• On‑site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics