Specialist Dietitian

County Durham & Darlington Nhs Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Dietitian to join the Acute Inpatient Dietetic Team. Based at Darlington Memorial Hospital, you will deliver high-quality dietetic care, work across sites, and contribute to service development.

You will engage in a comprehensive preceptorship, clinical supervision and access to CPD to advance your skills and career within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Post registration experience.
• Experience in a variety of clinical settings.
• Experience in nutrition support.
• Desirable: Intensive care experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage your own caseload across inpatient, outpatient and telephone clinics.
• Provide person-centred dietetic care in hospital wards and clinics.
• Collaborate with the wider multidisciplinary team and supervisors.
• Contribute to placement planning, supervision and assessment for students.

Skills

Clinical dietetics

NHS experience

Nutrition support

Teamwork

Education

BSc(hons) Dietetics

BSc Dietetics

Diploma in Dietetics

MSc Dietetics

Tools

Electronic patient record system

Job description

Job summary

Join our Acute Inpatient Dietetic Team as a Specialist Dietitian and develop your clinical expertise within a supportive, innovative and forward-thinking service where your contribution is valued from day one.

We are passionate about supporting our staff to succeed. You will benefit from a comprehensive preceptorship programme, regular clinical supervision and access to a wide range of continuing professional development opportunities designed to enhance your skills, confidence and career progression.

As part of a proactive and collaborative department, you will have opportunities to contribute to service development, quality improvement and digital innovation initiatives, helping to shape and deliver high-quality patient care across the Trust.

Find out more about our team by following us on Instagram at cddftdietitians and on X (formerly Twitter) at @CDDFTDietitian.

County Durham offers an outstanding quality of life, with easy access to beautiful countryside, stunning coastline and vibrant towns and cities. Excellent road and rail connections provide convenient travel to Newcastle, York and beyond, while both Newcastle International Airport and Teesside International Airport offer easy access to national and international destinations.

Main duties of the job

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your clinical skills and gain experience across a diverse range of acute inpatient specialties while delivering high-quality, patient-centred dietetic care. Based primarily at Darlington Memorial Hospital, you will join a friendly, supportive and experienced team that is committed to helping you develop and succeed. There will also be opportunities to work across other County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust sites, including University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland Hospital, providing valuable exposure to a broad range of clinical areas and patient groups. The role may also offer experience within general outpatient dietetic clinics, further enhancing the variety and development opportunities available.

Our Nutrition and Dietetic Service is a large and dynamic department encompassing specialist teams in acute care, bariatrics, primary care, adult and paediatric diabetes, home enteral feeding and paediatrics. You will work closely with an established network of Band 5, 6 and 7 Dietitians, supported by Dietetic Assistants and a dedicated administration team. This collaborative environment provides excellent peer support, opportunities for shared learning and access to a wealth of clinical expertise, enabling you to develop your skills, build confidence and progress your career.

Job responsibilities

This varied and rewarding role offers the opportunity to manage your own caseload, supporting patients referred by inpatient, community and secondary care professionals. You will provide person-centred dietetic care across a range of settings, including hospital wards, outpatient clinics and telephone clinics, enabling you to build broad clinical experience and make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes.

You will work closely with Dietitians and colleagues across the wider multidisciplinary team, benefiting from shared expertise, collaborative working and a supportive professional network.

As a department committed to developing the future workforce, we provide A, B and C placements for dietetic students. You will have the opportunity to contribute actively to placement planning, coordination, supervision and assessment, further developing your leadership and educational skills.

Our Nutrition and Dietetic Service brings together six specialist teams: secondary care, including nutrition support and critical care; bariatrics; primary care, including care home training; adult and paediatric diabetes; adult Home Enteral Feeding; and paediatrics, including Home Enteral Feeding and paediatric weight management.

You will join an established service comprising 49 Dietitians, 3 Dietetic Assistants and service admin support. With teams based at Darlington Memorial Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham, Bishop Auckland Hospital and Shotley Bridge Hospital, you will become part of a large, diverse service with access to extensive specialist knowledge, peer support and opportunities for continued professional development.

Person Specification

Experience

• Essential: Post registration experience
• Essential: Previous experience of working in a variety of clinical settings
• Essential: Previous working in the fields of nutrition support
• Desirable: Previous experience of working in intensive care

Special Skills and Knowledge

• Essential: Ability to plan, initiate and evaluate new services as part of a team
• Essential: Has an understanding of the changing NHS environment and its impact on service provision and staff.
• Desirable: Experience of using an electronic patient record system

Special Requirements

• Essential: Good time management, ability to work as part of a team, flexible approach to work, able to meet the travel requirements of the post

Qualifications

• Essential: BSc(hons) / BSc / Diploma/ Msc Dietetics Clinical supervisory skills
• Desirable: Leadership training
• Desirable: Working towards or hold a Masters degree

Statutory Registration

• Essential: HCPC Registration in Dietetics, Member of British Dietetic Association
• Desirable: Member of British Dietetic Association Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX, United Kingdom

Employer website: https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/

Contact

Clinical Lead Dietitian: Debbie McFarland, [e-mail], 07771940167

Details

Date posted: 27 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: C9439-2627-RP-N673

Closing date: 10 November 2026

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success. For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply. Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.