An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dietitian to develop and enhance their knowledge and practice in providing nutrition for acute patients at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
The successful applicant will join the friendly dietetic team at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW) NHS Trust and support the Acute Team Lead at Tunbridge Wells. Working with members of the MDT the team delivers a dietetic service to acute and critical care inpatients.
The Trust and our Department are committed to the provision of outstanding patient care by outstanding people. We are a friendly and supportive department which encourages innovation and is committed to professional development of staff.
This role could be a development opportunity for an experienced band 5 Dietitian to progress to a Band 6 role.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for a varied and challenging caseload including general medicine, and oncology but with a focus on developing skills in critical care. In addition, you will run regular outpatient clinics, contribute to the induction programmes for other health care professionals, deliver a regular cardiac rehabilitation session and participate in clinical audit.
You will have the support of senior dietitians and have the opportunity to develop and enhance your dietetic skills in a variety of specialties including critical care and ITU, respiratory and gastroenterology. We have an established student training programme for A, B and C placements in which you will be involved and there will be opportunities to contribute to audits and service development.
Please visit the video link below to provide you with an insight as to why you should come and join our fantastic therapy department at MTW!
Video Link
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits.
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date has been agreed.
Following your corporate induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email mtw-tr.professionalstandards@nhs.net if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* BSc.(Hons) or Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics or equivalent qualification
* Current state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Desirable
* Member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) or other body conferring professional insurance
* Relevant post graduate training in clinical dietetics
* Member of a BDA Specialist Group and/or BAPEN
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
* Experience of working as a band 5 dietitian and seeing a variety of adult inpatients and outpatients
* Experience of managing patients requiring enteral nutrition
* Experience of managing enteral feed discharges
* Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
* Experience working with groups of patients
* Experience of teaching and training dietetic colleagues and other members of the MDT
* Experience of contributing to service development initiatives and participating in clinical audit
* Up-to-date clinical knowledge of the nutritional management of a wide variety of clinical conditions based on current best practice
* Good knowledge of national policies and procedures relating to nutrition and dietetics
* Good knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
Desirable
* Experience of training undergraduate dietetic students
* Experience of managing patients with complex nutritional support requirements including enteral and parenteral nutrition
* Experience of working with IBD patients, patients with disordered eating and IBS patients requiring the low FODMAP diet
* Relevant post graduate training in clinical dietetics
* Knowledge of the principles of clinical audit
Skills
Essential
* Excellent oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and excellent interpersonal skills, including observation, listening and empathy skills
* Good analytical and reflection skills, and commitment to engage in CPD and the appraisal process
* Able to prioritise and manage own workload to achieve deadlines
* Ability to work independently and be self-motivated
* Good time management and organisational skills
* Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
* Evidence of a high standard of record keeping
* Competent and accurate IT skills with ability to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, data collection tools, and willingness to develop these skills
* Competent to use specialist equipment for anthropometric assessment
Desirable
* Counselling skills or post graduate training in behaviour change techniques
* Experience of using dietary analysis packages
* Supervisory and/or mentorship skills
Employer details
Employer name
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Address
Tunbridge Wells Hospital
Tonbridge Road Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells
TN2 4QJ
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
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