Specialist Neurology Dietitian

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust; England; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Surrey Downs Health and Care is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Community Dietitian to join the Neuro-Rehabilitation Service. The role focuses on community dietetic care for neurological conditions, including stroke, delivered in homes, care homes, and clinics.

You will also cover enteral feeding, community hospitals, and staff training as part of a multidisciplinary team. Applicants must have HCPC registration and a UK driving license with access to a car.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics is essential.
• Post-registration dietetic experience required.
• Driving licence and access to a car are needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist dietetic care to community patients with long-term conditions.
• Deliver oral and enteral nutrition advice in the community.
• Provide dietetic services to local community hospitals.
• Upskill health and social care staff on diet and nutritional care plans.
• Account for clinical caseload and maintain consultation notes within policy.
• Support cost-effective use of oral nutritional supplements.
• Negotiate dietary goals with patients and carers using motivational interviewing.

Skills

Specialist dietetics

Community dietetics

Enteral feeding

Motivational interviewing

CBT tools

Clinical governance

Time management

Team working

Communication

Education

Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

Tools

EMIS

Job description

A Band 6 Specialist Community Dietitian joins the Neuro-Rehabilitation Service at Surrey Downs Health and Care, a partnership of acute, community and primary care services. The work centres on community dietetic care for people with neurological conditions, including stroke, delivered in homes, care homes and clinics. The role also covers enteral feeding, community hospitals and upskilling other staff, as part of a multidisciplinary team. Applicants need HCPC registration and a UK driving licence with access to a car.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist dietetic care to community patients with long-term conditions such as obesity, diabetes, IBS and IBD
• Deliver oral and enteral nutrition advice and service in the community
• Provide specialist dietetic services to local community hospitals
• Reduce malnutrition risk by upskilling health and social care staff on diet and nutritional care plans
• Work with the Prescribing Support Dietitian on cost-effective use of oral nutritional supplements
• Carry out comprehensive nutritional assessments and maintain a clinical caseload
• Negotiate dietary goals with patients and carers using motivational interviewing and CBT tools
• Complete consultation notes within 24 hours and complete risk assessments under Trust policy
• Support NICE guidance and local care pathways, and contribute to policies and guidelines for this client group
• Meet professional standards and clinical governance requirements across the dietetic department
• Take part in the annual audit programme and report on service provision
• Manage own caseload, time and meetings to daily deadlines, and cover other areas as needed

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics

Registration & licences

• HCPC state registration

Experience

• Post-registration dietetic experience
• Experience with patients who have neurological conditions, including stroke
• Dietary management of stroke and neurological conditions in line with best practice
• Expertise in managing enteral feeding, including its ethical issues in community settings
• Understanding of safeguarding concerns and escalation processes

Skills & knowledge

• Clinical competence to give specialist stroke and neurological advice, treatment and counselling to adults and carers
• Managing time, deadlines and competing demands
• Working independently with regular supervision, and as part of a team
• Strong communication, clinical reasoning and teamworking

Checks & eligibility

• Valid UK driving licence and access to a car for work

Other

• Ability to travel throughout Surrey Downs to visit patients in homes and care facilities
• Motivation to contribute to service improvement and audit

Nice to have

• Relevant MSc or post-registration qualification, such as Low FODMAP or PENG Clinical Update
• Membership of the British Dietetic Association
• Membership of a BDA special interest group, such as the PENG Group
• Excellent written and verbal presentation skills
• Ability to carry out audit and research
• Understanding of clinical governance, professional issues and ethics
• CBT, motivational interviewing or behaviour change training
• Experience of working with EMIS

What’s offered

• Access to professional development opportunities
• Flexible working