Senior Dietitian Neurosciences

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a Senior Dietitian to join their neurosciences team. The role involves delivering expert dietetic input to neurosurgical patients, participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, and managing a Band 5 dietitian. Candidates should possess a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, HCPC registration, and significant experience in acute nutritional management. A full-time permanent position with a salary range of £46,419 to £55,046 is offered, emphasizing professional development and teaching opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in acute environments.
• Knowledge of Dietetics within the NHS.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Deliver dietetic input to the neurosurgical inpatient service.
• Manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.
• Perform clinical audits and research.

Skills

Good oral and written communication skills

Ability to prioritise own workload

Presentation skills

Ability to undertake audit/service development

Education

BSc/Post graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics

HCPC registration

Job description

Senior Dietitian Neurosciences

The closing date is 29 January 2026

We are seeking to employ a driven and dynamic dietitian to join our neurosciences team at the Denmark Hill site of King's College Hospital. This will be an incredibly rewarding post for a dietitian wishing to further develop their skills in nutrition support and multidisciplinary team working.

Main duties of the job

As part of the neurosciences team, you will be responsible for delivering the dietetic input to the neurosurgical inpatient service. King's is a major regional centre for neurosurgery. Strong skills in inpatient nutrition support are required with experience of managing complex patients, as part of an effective MDT.

This role sits within the neurosciences team of 4 other dietitians. There will be an opportunity to also provide cover to patients across neurosciences high dependency, stroke, neurology and brain injury. The post holder will be expected to assist in planning the strategic development of the service and in line managing a Band 5 dietitian.

You will play an integral role in the large, supportive dietetic team at King's College Hospital. Our dietetics department expects all staff to be involved in the teaching of other healthcare professionals, in line with our mission to provide excellence in clinical care, research and teaching in King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre.

We also undertake student training and you would play an active role in student supervision. The department supports flexible working under the King's Flex system.

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King's to another level.

Job responsibilities

Development, application and dissemination of expertise

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work in compliance with the ethical code of practice set out by the Health and Care Professions Council.

Formulate and deliver individual dietetic treatment plans for patients based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide range of dietetic treatments.

Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment regimens as required.

To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload with the support of more senior staff.

Work within Trust clinical guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor quality of practice as appropriate.

To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with British Dietetic Association (BDA) and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards of practice.

Team working, decision making and communication

Represent the dietetic service and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate dietetic therapy into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.

Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. Use persuasive and empathetic communication skills to motivate patients so enabling them to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding and/or communicating.

To provide expert nutritional advice to patients, carers and clinicians regarding provision of nutritional support for patients based on clinical evidence. This requires detailed nutritional assessment; to include the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics and clinical condition.

To take delegated responsibility from more senior staff for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing dietetic assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.

To be responsible for the discharge planning of patients going home on artificial nutritional support.

• Liaise with the Catering department to promote optimal nutrition for patients.

Audit and research

Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with more senior dietitians.

To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. To manage and undertake research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives.

Development activities

Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.

To complete a service improvement project during each appraisal period.

To be an active team member of the dietetic department at Kings participating in departmental developments and attending monthly staff and continuing professional development meetings.

To assist the Head of Nutrition & Dietetics in ensuring that department resources are used to best effect and in appropriate aspects of budget management.

Compliance with Trust and National operational procedures and guidance

To keep statistics and written records of all inpatient and outpatient contacts in accordance with Trust and departmental standards for record keeping.

To comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and departmental policies.

To carry out good office practice in accordance with the departments policies and procedures.

To maintain strict confidentiality of patients records in accordance with Trust policy, the Health Professions Council Code of Practice and the Data Protection act 1984.

To understand the Trusts Equal Opportunities policy and provide a fair and non-biased service.

To understand the Trusts Health & Safety policy and be aware of personal responsibilities.

Contribution to service continuity

To demonstrate flexibility in providing cover in times of staff shortage within the rotational areas with senior support.

• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as requested by the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidenced-based practice in the each area, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient groups.

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

Responsibilities for the training and development of others

To line manage a Band 5 dietitian within the team, participating in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensuring they have a clear set of objectives and development plans.

To be responsible for teaching student dietitians to graduate level on dietetic practice, including skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.

To provide clinical supervision to dietetic assistants.

To supervise dietetic assistants and student dietitians record keeping according to professional and dietetic service standards.

To develop resources to support the delivery of high quality care, including diet sheets, posters and presentations as required.

General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• To live and role model the Kings Values of: Kind, Respectful, Team.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Safeguarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• BSc/ Post graduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics
• HCPC registered

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of working in acute environments
• Experience in the nutritional management of dysphagia
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Knowledge of Dietetics within the NHS
• Experience of nutrition support within Neurosurgery
• Experience in line management

Skills and Competencies

• Good oral and written communication skills with people from a variety of backgrounds and those with cognitive impairment.
• Presentation skills and ability to work autonomously with individuals and groups.
• Ability to identify and undertake audit/service development under supervision of senior colleagues.
• Ability to prioritise own workload.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Address

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£46,419 to £55,046 a year, including high cost allowance

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

213-Division-A-7730710

Job locations

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust