Job summary
- Main area
- Gastroenterology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 418-NUR7236-MR
- Employer
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bedford Hospital NHS Trust South Wing
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £39,959 - £56,515 Per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/10/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Nutrition Nurse Specialist
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has opened for a Band 7 Nutrition Nurse Specialist at Bedford Hospital. The Nutrition Nurse Specialist (Adult) is an advanced autonomous practitioner providing expert clinical leadership in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for adult patients requiring enteral and parenteral nutrition across Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Band 6 Development Post considered for candidates meeting agreed progression criteria
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as the Trust's specialist resource for adult nutritional support, delivering expert clinical care, leading service development, providing education and training, and supporting governance, audit and quality improvement initiatives. Working as a key member of the multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Team, the post holder will work collaboratively with consultants, dietitians, pharmacists, speech and language therapists, community teams and regional specialist centres to ensure safe, evidence-based nutritional care throughout the patient pathway.
The role supports patients across a wide range of specialties including gastroenterology, stroke, head and neck cancer, critical care, surgery and complex medical services. The post holder will provide specialist advice regarding malnutrition, enteral feeding, parenteral nutrition and intestinal failure, ensuring patients receive timely, safe and effective nutritional support.
The post holder will manage a specialist caseload, undertake nurse-led clinics and multidisciplinary ward rounds, accept and make referrals autonomously, and contribute to the development of innovative services. This includes developing an enhanced role in the care of patients with eating disorders and, following appropriate training and competency assessment, contributing to the development of a nurse-led coeliac disease service.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Nutrition Nurse Specialist (Adult) is an advanced autonomous practitioner providing expert clinical leadership in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for adult patients requiring enteral and parenteral nutrition across Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The post holder will act as the Trust's specialist resource for adult nutritional support, delivering expert clinical care, leading service development, providing education and training, and supporting governance, audit and quality improvement initiatives.
The role supports patients across a wide range of specialties including gastroenterology, stroke, head and neck cancer, critical care, surgery and complex medical services. The post holder will provide specialist advice regarding malnutrition, enteral feeding, parenteral nutrition and intestinal failure, ensuring patients receive timely, safe and effective nutritional support.
The post holder will manage a specialist caseload, undertake nurse-led clinics and multidisciplinary ward rounds, accept and make referrals autonomously, and contribute to the development of innovative services. This includes developing an enhanced role in the care of patients with eating disorders and, following appropriate training and competency assessment, contributing to the development of a nurse-led coeliac disease service.
The Nutrition Nurse Specialist will work closely with the regional Intestinal Failure Centre in Cambridge, supporting referrals, repatriation of patients and ongoing shared management for patients requiring complex intestinal failure and parenteral nutrition services.
The post holder will play a key role in supporting the Trust's stroke, head and neck cancer, intensive care and surgical pathways by providing specialist nutritional assessment, intervention and discharge planning for patients requiring artificial nutritional support.
The post holder will lead on the assessment and timely replacement of enteral feeding tubes in accordance with national guidance and Trust policies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical Practice
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Act as the Trust's expert practitioner for adult enteral and parenteral nutrition.
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Independently assess, plan, implement and evaluate specialist nutritional care for adults requiring artificial nutritional support.
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Lead nurse-led nutrition clinics and participate in multidisciplinary nutrition ward rounds.
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Provide expert advice regarding enteral feeding, parenteral nutrition, intestinal failure and malnutrition.
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Assess suitability for long-term enteral feeding including gastrostomy and jejunostomy placement.
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Assess patients requiring parenteral nutrition and contribute to safe management of central venous access devices.
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Support prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections in collaboration with Infection Prevention and Control and Critical Care teams.
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Insert and replace feeding tubes within agreed competencies and manage complex enteral access complications.
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Assist with PEG and nasogastric tube placement where appropriate.
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Assess and review patients requiring replacement feeding tubes, ensuring timely intervention in accordance with Trust policy and national guidance.
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Deliver specialist nutritional support to patients within gastroenterology, stroke, head and neck cancer, critical care, surgical and medical specialties.
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Develop expertise in supporting patients with eating disorders.
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Following appropriate training, contribute to the delivery of a nurse-led coeliac disease service.
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Support discharge planning for patients requiring home enteral or parenteral nutrition.
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Provide follow-up for patients receiving home enteral feeding and liaise with homecare providers and community teams.
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Accept referrals and make onward referrals autonomously.
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Act as a qualified non-medical nurse prescriber within the scope of professional competence, Trust policy and prescribing authority, prescribing appropriate medicines, nutritional products and other treatments as clinically indicated.
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Request, review and interpret appropriate diagnostic investigations, including blood tests and other relevant investigations, within the scope of the role and professional competence, taking appropriate clinical action and escalating abnormal or concerning results when required.
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Use clinical assessment, investigation results and specialist knowledge to inform diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring and evaluation of patients receiving nutritional support.
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Maintain appropriate prescribing and diagnostic competencies and undertake relevant continuing professional development to ensure safe, evidence-based practice.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Provide professional leadership for nutrition nursing throughout the Trust.
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Lead the development, implementation and review of nutrition-related policies, guidelines and clinical pathways.
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Coordinate multidisciplinary care for patients requiring enteral and parenteral nutrition.
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Work collaboratively with the regional Intestinal Failure Centre in Cambridge to ensure seamless patient care.
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Lead quality improvement initiatives, service evaluation and clinical audit.
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Produce annual activity and quality reports.
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Contribute to business planning and future development of Nutrition Support Services.
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Evaluate specialist nutrition products and equipment and support procurement decisions.
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Investigate incidents, complaints and Serious Incidents relating to nutritional support and implement learning.
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Promote patient safety through robust governance and risk management.
LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
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Provide effective line management and professional leadership to designated nursing and support staff within the Nutrition Support Service.
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Undertake responsibility for the recruitment, induction, performance management, appraisal and development of staff within the service, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
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Provide regular supervision, support and feedback to line-managed staff, promoting professional development, competence and high standards of clinical practice.
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Monitor staffing levels, skill mix, workload and service capacity, escalating workforce and operational concerns appropriately.
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Manage attendance, sickness absence, capability and other employee relations matters in accordance with Trust policies, seeking advice from the appropriate HR/Employee Relations team where required.
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Ensure staff maintain appropriate professional registration, mandatory training, clinical competencies and continuing professional development.
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Support staff through performance and development processes, identifying training needs and facilitating access to appropriate education and professional development opportunities.
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Ensure effective induction and competency assessment for staff undertaking specialist nutrition-related duties.
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Promote a positive, inclusive and supportive working environment, addressing concerns relating to conduct, performance, wellbeing, equality and professional standards appropriately.
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Participate in disciplinary, grievance, capability and other formal processes as required for a Band 7 manager, following appropriate Trust policy and training.
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Ensure effective communication within the Nutrition Support Service and promote collaborative working across nursing, medical and wider multidisciplinary teams.
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Contribute to workforce planning and the development of the Nutrition Support Service, including succession planning and development of specialist nursing roles.
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
- Deliver education programmes for registered and unregistered staff.
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Train patients, relatives and carers in the safe management of enteral and parenteral nutrition.
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Act as mentor, assessor and clinical supervisor for nurses and students.
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Lead the Trust Nutrition Link Nurse Programme.
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Develop competency frameworks for enteral and parenteral nutrition.
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Deliver education for junior doctors, dietitians, pharmacists and other multidisciplinary professionals.
AUDIT AND RESEARCH:
- Lead and participate in clinical audit and research.
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Benchmark services against national guidance including BAPEN, NICE and NMC standards.
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Maintain databases and clinical outcome measures.
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Present audit findings locally and nationally where appropriate.
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Support publication and dissemination of research and quality improvement work.
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Maintain compliance with Information Governance, Infection Prevention and Control, Safeguarding and Professional Standards.
COMMUNICATION:
The post holder will communicate highly complex and sensitive information to patients and families regarding artificial nutrition, prognosis, treatment options and long-term care planning. They will establish effective working relationships across primary, secondary and tertiary care, ensuring seamless communication throughout the patient journey.
The post holder will work closely with consultants, dietitians, pharmacists, speech and language therapists, specialist nurses, community nursing teams, GPs, hospice services and the regional Intestinal Failure Centre to coordinate complex nutritional care.
Additional Responsibilities
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Support Trust-wide nutrition strategy and quality improvement.
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Promote evidence-based practice.
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Act as a visible clinical leader within the organisation.
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Maintain own professional registration, competencies and continuing professional development.
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Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Nurse Level 1
- ENB 998, MSPP or equivalent
- Relevant experience in caring for this group of patients.
- Advanced Communication
- Non-Medical Prescribing qualification
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to nutrition
- Evidence of recent specialist training in enteral and/or parental nutrition
- Evidence of leadership development or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Nutrition support qualification
- Advanced clinical assessment qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant post registration experience in adult nursing
- Experience of caring for patients receiving enteral and parenteral nutrition
- Experience of caring for patients with feeding and swallowing problems
- Experience assessing nutritional requirements and developing, implementing and reviewing individualised nutrition care plans
- Experience of managing patients with feeding and swallowing difficulties
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team, including dietitians, speech and language therapists, medical teams and pharmacists.
- Experience of recognising and managing complications associated with enteral and parenteral nutrition.
- Experience of clinical risk assessment and risk management.
- Experience of providing education and training to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
- Experience of contributing to clinical governance, quality improvement and patient safety.
- Experience pf managing independently and prioritising a specialist caseload
- Experience of supporting discharge planning and continuity of nutritional care between hospital, community and home settings.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within a specialist nutrition support team.
- Experience of home enteral nutrition and/or home parenteral nutrition.
- Experience of managing complex gastrostomy, jejunostomy or other enteral feeding devices.
- Experience of vascular access management in patients receiving parenteral nutrition.
- Experience of standard setting, clinical audit and service evaluation.
- Experience of developing and implementing clinical guidelines, policies or patient information
- Experience of leading or contributing to service improvement projects.
- Experience of undertaking or contributing to research.
- Experience of presenting clinical/service information at local or regional meetings.
- Experience of supporting junior staff and other professionals in developing nutrition-related competencies.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles of nutritional assessment and nutritional support in adults.
- Knowledge of disease-related malnutrition, including identification, prevention and management.
- Specialist knowledge of enteral and parenteral nutrition.
- Knowledge of commonly used enteral and parenteral nutrition products and equipment.
- Knowledge of indications, contraindications and complications associated with enteral and parenteral nutrition
- Knowledge of safe nasogastric tube placement and confirmation processes.
- Knowledge of gastrostomy and jejunostomy care
- Understanding of refeeding syndrome and its prevention and management.
- Understanding of fluid, electrolyte and biochemical monitoring in patients receiving nutritional support
- Understanding of the nutritional needs of patients with gastrointestinal, neurological, oncology, head and neck, maxillofacial and surgical conditions
- Knowledge of infection prevention and control principles relevant to nutrition support.
- Understanding of clinical governance, patient safety, incident reporting and risk management.
- Awareness of relevant national guidance, professional standards and evidence-based practice.
- Understanding of capacity, consent and safeguarding considerations in relation to nutritional support.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of home nutrition support and community-based nutrition services.
- Knowledge of nutrition support pathways across acute, community and primary care settings.
- Knowledge of current national nutrition support standards and quality frameworks.
- Knowledge of service improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of clinical audit and research methodology.
- Awareness of the financial and resource implications of specialist nutrition support.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Competent in the assessment and management of patients requiring nutritional support.
- Competent in passing fine-bore nasogastric tubes in accordance with local policy.
- Competent in the assessment and ongoing management of enteral feeding tubes
- Competent in gastrostomy tube care and management.
- Competent in monitoring patients receiving parenteral nutrition.
- Able to recognise and respond appropriately to complications of enteral and parenteral nutrition
- Able to interpret relevant biochemical and clinical information and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Able to undertake nutritional risk assessment and formulate appropriate nursing interventions.
- Able to develop, implement and evaluate individualised nutritional care plans.
- Able to provide practical education and competency-based training to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
- Able to work safely within professional scope of practice and recognise when specialist or medical input is required.
Desirable criteria
- Project management skills
- Computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet, and Powerpoint)
- Competence in gastrostomy tube insertion/ change
- Competence in managing jejunal feeding tubes.
- Experience with central venous access devices used for parenteral nutrition.
- Competence in delivering competency-based training for enteral feeding procedures.
- Experience of managing complex nutrition support in the community/home environment.
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
- Ability to communicate complex clinical and nutritional information clearly to patients, carers and professionals
- Ability to adapt communication to patients with communication, cognitive, sensory or language difficulties
- Ability to manage sensitive and potentially distressing conversations around nutrition, feeding and treatment decisions.
- Ability to negotiate and influence practice across professional boundaries.
- Ability to manage conflict and challenging situations professionally.
- Ability to provide clear clinical documentation and accurate written advice.
- Ability to deliver presentations and educational sessions to multidisciplinary audiences.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of developing patient information resources
- Experience of delivering formal presentations or teaching sessions to large groups.
- Experience of facilitating multidisciplinary meetings or case discussions.
Leadership and Management
Essential criteria
- Shows evidence of effective clinical leadership
- Autonomy, Prioritisation.
- Ability to work as a member of a team.
- Delegation and Supervision skills
- Experience in Research, Audit and Quality Improvement
Desirable criteria
- Experience of leading a Multidisciplinary Project
- Evidence of Change Management
- Experience of presenting audit/research findings. Experience of using quality improvement methodologies such as PDSA.
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
- Compassionate and Patient Centred Approach.
- Flexible and Self-Motivated
- Commitment to professional development
- Self Motivated and able to work independantly.
- Positive Approach, to change and service development.
Desirable criteria
- Creative and Innovative
- Experience in Coaching and Mentoring
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Helen Power
- Job title
- Clinical and Operations Manager - Endoscopy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01234355122
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