Mental Health Dietitian | Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London seeks a dedicated dietitian to provide high-standard dietetic services in mental health settings. In this role, you will manage a complex caseload, perform assessments, and contribute to health promotion activities. The ideal candidate should be a registered dietitian with strong clinical assessment and communication skills, capable of working autonomously and providing nutritional advice to patients and healthcare teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in clinical dietetics, particularly in mental health settings.
• Ability to manage complex patient caseloads autonomously.
• Knowledge of relevant health and safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-standard dietetic service in community and acute mental health settings.
• Perform comprehensive dietetic assessments of patients.
• Support patients with complex physical and psychological conditions.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Nutritional advice

Communication with healthcare professionals

Evidence-based practice

Supervision and training

Education

Registered Dietitian

Job description

Overview

As part of the Nutrition and Dietetic Service providing care to a multi-cultural and diverse population, you will deliver a high‑standard dietetic service in the community and acute mental health setting.

We require a dietitian to perform comprehensive dietetic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, support patients with mental health needs, manage an autonomous caseload of specialist and complex patients, undertake evidencebased audit and research projects, and contribute to health promotion activities within the service and wider Trust initiatives.

Responsibilities

• To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, holding responsibility for own caseload of specialist and complex patients.
• To undertake evidence‑based audit and or research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice with support and guidance from more senior staff.
• To be aware of and highlight to the line manager any clinical governance issues pertaining to the role and practice.
• To contribute to the delivery of health promotion activities within the service and wider Trust initiatives.
• To provide clinical dietetic service within designated mental health sites and be actively involved in the development and provision of the nutritional service in those areas.
• To be responsible for safe and efficient management of a patient dietetic caseload through assessment of clinical need and effective prioritisation.
• To provide complex nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians based on clinical evidence.
• To contribute to the multidisciplinary team in making decisions on all aspects of dietetic intervention, thus contributing to overall patient care.
• To translate complex scientific, medical, biochemical and nutritional information into simple and easily understood practical advice for individuals and carers, both on a one‑to‑one and in group settings.
• To communicate with other healthcare professionals regarding nutrition related prescriptions and nutritional management of patients and provide information and education to clinicians, patients and carers.
• To coordinate safe discharge‑planning and follow‑up of patients requiring artificial nutritional support in the community.
• To advise and liaise with the catering staff concerning the dietary needs for the specialist clinical.
• To be responsible for organising and planning own clinical caseload to meet service and patient priorities.
• To undertake the accurate collection of data for use in service reporting, audit and for monitoring the Service level agreement, including completing RIO/other patient‑based system data in a timely fashion, fully complying with data quality requirements.
• To keep patient and other confidential data secure in line with Trust policy.
• To be responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment, through teaching and supervision of practice.
• To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of own work and implement any policies, reporting accidents to senior staff.
• To be aware of and support any Dietetic Service plans.
• To comply with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in reviewing and updating as appropriate.
• To attend mandatory training and keep up to date in line with organisational requirements.
• To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the Service manager.
• To maintain own competency to practice through relevant CPD activities and maintain a CPD portfolio which reflects personal development.
• To implement knowledge of evidence‑based practice, developing specialist dietetic knowledge of particular conditions and patient types and disseminate learning to others.
• To be responsible for supervising student dietitians or dietetic support workers under the supervision of more senior staff.
• To be an appraisee in the staff appraisal scheme, complying with agreed development programmes.
• To undertake the appraisal of the dietetic assistant where appropriate.
• To undertake measurement and evaluation of own work through the use of evidence‑based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, individually or as part of a team with more senior clinicians.
• To be responsible for implementation of any National, Service and Organisational policies and guidance that apply to own role.
• To liaise with catering services regarding individual patient’s requirements and help resolve any catering issues on wards or in the Day Hospital.
• To participate in statutory inspections that involve nutrition and dietetic standards.

This advert closes on Monday 8 Dec 2025.