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Job summary

Main area
Adult Learning Disabilities
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
12 months (12m maternity cover - fixed term/secondment)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On site presence required to support the services)
Job ref
346-TSL-016-26-A
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Flatts Lane Centre
Town
Middlesbrough
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
13/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Lead Dietitian - Adult Learning Disabilities

NHS AfC: Band 7

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Lead Dietitian to join our Adult Learning Disability Team within the Tees Valley locality, covering a 12-month maternity leave.

This is a rewarding leadership role where you will make a meaningful difference to the nutritional care of people with a learning disability accessing community mental health services.

Working within a highly supportive multidisciplinary environment, you will lead the delivery of high-quality, person-centred dietetic assessment and interventions, tailored to individuals with complex needs. You will also work collaboratively with a fellow Lead Dietitian based in Durham to ensure coordinated, seamless service delivery across the locality.

About You

We are looking for a Registered Dietitian (HCPC) with substantial experience managing complex clinical caseloads including enteral feeding experience particularly within mental health, learning disabilities and/or autism services 

You will bring:

  • Strong knowledge of national drivers and NICE guidance around:
    • Enteral feeding
    • Oral nutrition support
    • Treatment of Obesity
  • Experience in service development, audit, research, and pathway development
  • Confidence in delivering training to multidisciplinary teams and supporting student placements
  • Excellent communication, leadership, and collaborative working skills within MDT setting

Main duties of the job

You will:

  • Deliver comprehensive dietetic assessments and interventions for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs
  • Provide specialist clinical leadership to Band 5 and Band 6 dietitians
  • Deliver clinical supervision for Band 6 staff
  • Work collaboratively with the wider MDT to ensure person-centred, evidence-based care
  • Lead and contribute to service development, audit, research, and pathway improvement initiatives
  • Deliver education and training to MDT colleagues and support student placements
  • Maintain high standards of clinical governance, documentation, and professional practice

About the Team

Our Dietetic Service is proud to be the largest and most established specialist Mental Health and Learning Disability dietetic team in the UK, with strong links to the British Dietetic Association.

We provide specialist input across:

  • Adult Eating Disorders
  • Adult Mental Health
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services including Eating Disorders
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Secure Inpatient Services

You will be supported by an experienced network of Lead Dietitians, Clinical Specialists, and our Professional Head of Dietetics, in a service that is committed to innovation, quality improvement, and equity of access.

Values and Behaviours

We are looking for someone who demonstrates:

  • A person-centred and compassionate approach
  • A commitment to equity, inclusion, and reducing health inequalities
  • A proactive, improvement-focused mindset

Working for our organisation

Our service offers a unique and supportive environment where innovation, collaboration, and clinical excellence are central to our work.

We provide:

  • A strong culture of peer support and shared learning
  • Opportunities to contribute to service development and national workstreams
  • A well-established supervision and governance framework
  • Access to a wide professional network across specialist services

How We Support You

We are committed to your development and wellbeing. We offer:

  • Regular specialty team meetings for peer learning and collaboration
  • A robust clinical and management supervision structure
  • Access to training and development to build confidence in complex clinical practice
  • Active support for continued professional development (CPD)

Benefits and Support

  • Structured clinical and management supervision
  • Access to CPD, training, and peer support
  • Opportunities to collaborate across a large, specialist dietetic workforce

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

This job advert may close early if a high volume of applications have been received. If interested, please apply for this post as soon as possible.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

Person specification

Qualifications/Experience

Essential criteria
  • Pre-registration qualification in dietetics (relevant professional field) as recognised by HCPC)
  • Registration with HCPC
  • Evidence of post-registration Masters level learning
  • Or in the absence of masters level learning • equivalent experience in relevant area. E.g. relevant level 7 courses, researcher role, quality improvement activity, leading service development, project management, strategic leadership, NICE involvement, service evaluation
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) level 7 (SLT =8) for International recruits
  • Substantial clinical experience of complex dietetic delivery in relevant specialist area in collaboration with service users, families and relevant others
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in Multidisciplinary Team (SW essential criteria)
  • Complex clinical risk assessment and application in practice
  • Substantial knowledge of evidence- based practice in dietetics

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Significant experience of supporting people with mental health issues, learning disability or autism
  • Significant understanding of the needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities or autism

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthArmed Forces CovenantBetter Health at Work Gold Award

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kayleigh Grainger
Job title
Lead Dietitian - Adult Learning Disabilities
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07827553031
Additional information

Angela Norris – Professional Head of Dietetics [email protected]

Susan Eastick – Service Manager [email protected]

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