Job summary
- Main area
- Learning disability & Autism Forensic Services
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 18.75 hours per week
- Job ref
- 294-FASP-7503845-JB
- Employer
- South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Springfield University Hospital
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £56,276 - £63,176 pro rata per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 07/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Specialist Dietitian (Learning disabilities and Mental Health)
Band 7
South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.
We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".
When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.
As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.
Job overview
We are seeking an enthusiastic Dietitian specialised in Learning Disability and Mental Health dietetics to join our team. You will be forward thinking and driven to deliver high quality, patient centred care based on advanced clinical knowledge in the area of adult learning disabilities and current evidence. You will autonomously undertake specialist assessments and interventions with individuals with complex dietetic needs and dysphagia.
You will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development activities and will be supported to achieve the necessary skills, knowledge and attributes of a B7 Dietician within Specialist Learning Disability & Mental Health Forensic Service. You will receive clinical supervision from a Clinical Lead Dietician and there is excellent staff support, regular appraisal and CPD within SWLSTG Dietetics team.
Candidates should be a Registered Dietitian; with experience of working in a mental health setting. A working knowledge of behaviour change and motivational interviewing would be beneficial.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide highly specialised dietetic input to adult inpatients on our specialist Forensic Learning Disability ward, Oak Unit. This ward is located at Springfield Hospital.
You will be working as the sole Dietitian on Oak Unit with an experienced MDT. The successful candidate will be part of a larger and wider Nutrition & Dietetics team. Our dietetic services cover adult acute admissions, rehabilitation, secure services, older people’s services, learning disability service, CAMHS, inpatient child and adolescent eating disorder ward and adult inpatient and outpatient eating disorder services. We are a friendly and proactive dietetics team.
You will manage a caseload of service users on Oak unit as well as other Forensic wards as time allows. They will conduct dietetic assessments, deliver therapeutic interventions, and work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team. Additionally, the role includes providing nutritional advice, education, and training to nursing staff, doctors, dietetic students, and other healthcare professionals.
Working for our organisation
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To undertake clinical assessments and appropriate dietetic intervention for service users within the learning disability and mental health inpatient services at Springfield Hospital (including but not limited to nutrition support, eating disorders, enteral feeding, dysphagia and chronic health conditions)
• To recommend and advise on the prescription of suitable ACBS products including nutritional supplements and enteral feeding products
• To work with clients with complex physical and psychological needs, using outcome measures as appropriate.
• To be aware of patients at high psychiatric risk and liaise with the team regarding the management of these patients.
• To act as autonomous practitioner, with full responsibility for the Dietetic management of the agreed caseload.
• To decide clinical priorities for own work area, balancing client related activities with other professional clinical demands.
• To work effectively as a team member of the dietetic service, providing a flexible service, covering as appropriate other dietetic services.
• To maintain a high standard of clinical practice.
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, establishing collaborative working relationships, sharing skills and information.
• To be actively involved in clinical team meetings, wards rounds, community meetings and care plan review meetings as required.
• To adhere to any clinical standards and guidelines produced by the British Dietetic Association
• To communicate effectively with service users for whom there may be significant barriers to understanding using a range of verbal and nonverbal communication skills and taking account of a range of intellectual and communication abilities and mental health and emotional states.
• To communicate effectively with all MDT members, actively involved in treatment planning.
• To liaise with Dietitians at acute hospitals and primary care regardingpatients being transferred between services.
Person specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Registered as Dietitian with HCPC
- Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
Desirable criteria
- Member of the British Dietetic Association and the Specialist Mental Health Group
- Completion of the BDA Advanced Dietetics in Learning Disabilities course
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post graduate experience with significant experience working at specialist level
- Experience of carrying a caseload of service users with complex and diverse needs in a learning disability and/or mental health setting
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience related to food provision and catering
- Experience working with mental health service users
Desirable criteria
- Experience of the supervision of junior staff within a formal supervision scheme
- Evidence of participation in audit/ research
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of professional code of conduct both BDA, HPC and their application practice
- A medical understanding of mental illness & its effects on nutritional status
- Specialist knowledge of mental health dietetics
- Well developed communication skills
- Good organisational and problem solving skills
- Ability to solve complex clinical problems some of which will require immediate resolution
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act
- Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and/ or Motivational Interviewing skills
- Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jacinda Gower
- Job title
- Dietetic Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 020 3513 6338
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