Principal Dietitian | Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Care Foundation Trust; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an experienced Dietitian to lead dietetic services in mental health inpatient wards. This role involves professional leadership, ensuring high standards of practice, and mentoring a team. Candidates should have a strong background in clinical care and a passion for improving patient standards. Flexible working arrangements are encouraged.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Positive work/life balance

Qualifications

• Proven track record in delivering safe, effective dietetic services.
• Experience in mental health settings preferred.
• Ability to mentor and lead a team of dietitians.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership for dietitians in mental health inpatient services.
• Ensure high standards of dietetic practice and patient experience.
• Hold a clinical caseload and offer support to other dietitians.
• Lead evidence-based assessments and interventions.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical expertise

Research

Education

Education

Registered Dietitian qualification

Job description

Overview

Are you an enthusiastic and driven professional ready to lead and shape the future of dietetic services?

We are excited to offer a rare and rewarding opportunity for an experienced Dietitian to take on a pivotal leadership role within our newly established network of Dietitians. This role provides professional leadership to a dedicated team delivering dietetic care to patients on our mental health inpatient wards. We are seeking a self-motivated, forward-thinking individual with a passion for improving care standards and fostering cross-system collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in delivering safe, effective services, championing a culture of research, and leading transformational change.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership for dietitians across our mental health inpatient services.
• Ensure the highest standards of dietetic practice, patient experience, and clinical outcomes.
• Hold a clinical caseload at The Harbour in Blackpool and offer clinical support to dietitians across the Trust, including in-person support as needed.
• Mentor a Band 6 Dietitian based in the Fylde network, requiring regular travel to the area.
• Lead on the delivery of person-centred, evidence-based assessments and interventions.
• Develop and support educational and research initiatives to enhance clinical practice.

Role Scope

To act as a Principal Dietitian and professional Lead for Mental Health In-patient Services with responsibility for advancing evidence-based clinical practice in this speciality, particularly across the multi-disciplinary team within the service.

To exercise advanced clinical expertise, levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care demonstrated through the four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice: Clinical skills, Leadership & Management, Research, and Education. This will be done in collaboration with AHP, medical and nursing colleagues.

About the Trust

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Working Arrangements

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

Additional Information

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

This advert closes on Thursday 9 Oct 2025