Job summary
30 hours per week
Band 6 Frailty Dietitian Join Our Virtual Ward Team
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated Band 6 Dietitian to join our innovative Frailty Virtual Ward service. This new model of care aims to deliver high-quality, multidisciplinary support to patients living with frailty, in the comfort of their own homes.
As part of a dedicated team including Acute GPs, ACPs, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, you will contribute to the nutritional care of patients admitted to the virtual ward working collaboratively rather than holding an individual caseload.
You will provide specialist dietetic assessments, advice, and interventions, supporting the team to optimise patient outcomes through evidence-based nutritional care. Your input will help prevent hospital admissions and support timely, safe discharges.
This role also involves educating and guiding patients, carers, and healthcare professionals, contributing to training and development across the wider team.
Were looking for someone with strong clinical skills, excellent communication, and a passion for supporting older adults. Experience in community or frailty care is welcome but not essential.
Be part of a service that is transforming how we care for people with frailty and help shape the future of integrated care.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist dietetic assessment, advice, and interventions for patients admitted to the Frailty Virtual Ward.
Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team (Acute Gps, ACPs, pharmacists, etc.) to deliver integrated, high-quality care.
Contribute to the nutritional management of a ward-based cohort of frailty patients, rather than managing an individual caseload.
Offer expert advice, education, and signposting to patients, carers, and health and social care professionals.
Support the virtual ward team through training and dissemination of nutrition-related knowledge.
Contribute to service development and innovation within the virtual ward model.
Maintain professional development in line with HCPC requirements.
This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social
enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across
Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of
Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports
centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and
collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while
empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in
shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right
time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead
healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training
pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care
Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship
programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all
sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental
health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the
application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist, high-quality nutrition and dietetic service within Frailty Virtual Wards.
To provide specialist dietetic assessment, diagnosis, treatment and education to individual patients with on the Frailty Virtual Ward.
To provide advice, signposting, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, patients, carers, relatives or other non-professional contacts
To be an integral member of the MDT providing education, training and dissemination of information to all healthcare professionals.
To be an autonomous practitioner, holding a clinical caseload and working without direct supervision
To continue own professional development in line with HCPC regulations.
To work as the lead / sole dietitian for Livewells Frailty Virtual Wards, with support from the wider MDT and clinical Leads from the Frailty Virtual Ward
The post sits within the Adult Frailty, and Specialist Services Directorate.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsibility for People Management
- Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources
- Responsibility for administration
- Responsibility for people who use our services
- Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments
- Other responsibilities
- Communications and relationships
- Physical Demands of the job
- Shared skills
Please see Job Description and Personal Spec for more detailed description of the post.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a specialist, high-quality nutrition and dietetic service within Frailty Virtual Wards.
To provide specialist dietetic assessment, diagnosis, treatment and education to individual patients with on the Frailty Virtual Ward.
To provide advice, signposting, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, patients, carers, relatives or other non-professional contacts
To be an integral member of the MDT providing education, training and dissemination of information to all healthcare professionals.
To be an autonomous practitioner, holding a clinical caseload and working without direct supervision
To continue own professional development in line with HCPC regulations.
To work as the lead / sole dietitian for Livewells Frailty Virtual Wards, with support from the wider MDT and clinical Leads from the Frailty Virtual Ward
The post sits within the Adult Frailty, and Specialist Services Directorate.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Responsibility for People Management
- Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources
- Responsibility for administration
- Responsibility for people who use our services
- Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments
- Other responsibilities
- Communications and relationships
- Physical Demands of the job
- Shared skills
Please see Job Description and Personal Spec for more detailed description of the post.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge of Best Dietetic Practice in the treatment or management of nutritional needs. Evidence of an accurate up to date portfolio in order to demonstrate Continued Professional Development (CPD) lifelong learning and skills of reflective practice. Demonstrate ability to deliver best practice for a range of more complex clinical conditions. Computer literacy skills, including quick and accurate use of keyboard, presentation of data, word processing, electronic delivery of presentations report writing and internet use to inform practice. Knowledge and understanding of supporting patients with rehabilitation of neurological impairments.
Desirable
- Membership of Specialist Interest Group. Member of British Dietetic Association. Previous experience in working within neuro rehabilitation
Skills
Essential
- An ability to use a variety of interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrate a high level of empathy, self- awareness and emotional resilience having to cope with emotionally demanding situations. Ability to demonstrate a high level of time management and organisational skills. Able to work within codes of practice of HCPC, Occupational Standards British Dietetic Association (BDA) and policies and procedure Effective team worker. Proactive, with an ability to set up new initiatives. Self motivated. Empathetic and approachable. To display accurate time keeping. Flexible regarding duties and ability to cope with change. Ability to access/travel to patient homes across the locality.
Experience
Essential
- Competence with patients with complex needs, communication issues and/or challenging behaviour. Varied and comprehensive post-graduate clinical experience across a range of clinical areas. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team. Experience of delivering in-service training. Experience of interpreting and acting on complex clinical information including anthropometry, biochemistry, pharmacology and medical history to make decisions about client care. Evidence of participation in audit activities in dietetic practice. Experience and competence in negotiating and recording aims of treatment and agreeing a plan of action with client/relatives/patients/medical staff.
Desirable
- Competence and experience in advanced communication skills including negotiation, motivational interviewing and evoking behavioural change in complex cases. Knowledge and Experience of enteral feeding and re-feeding syndrome as well as alternative methods of nutritional support.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or related qualification and demonstrable relevant experience. HCPC Registration. Evidence of on-going professional development.
Desirable
- Evidence of further formal study leading to postgraduate qualifications e.g. Diploma in Advanced Dietetic Practice, Masters degree. Working towards or hold a certificate in counselling skills or have extensive counselling experience. PENG clinical update. A teaching qualification or experience of teaching groups. Clinical Supervisory Skills Course.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge of Best Dietetic Practice in the treatment or management of nutritional needs. Evidence of an accurate up to date portfolio in order to demonstrate Continued Professional Development (CPD) lifelong learning and skills of reflective practice. Demonstrate ability to deliver best practice for a range of more complex clinical conditions. Computer literacy skills, including quick and accurate use of keyboard, presentation of data, word processing, electronic delivery of presentations report writing and internet use to inform practice. Knowledge and understanding of supporting patients with rehabilitation of neurological impairments.
Desirable
- Membership of Specialist Interest Group. Member of British Dietetic Association. Previous experience in working within neuro rehabilitation
Skills
Essential
- An ability to use a variety of interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrate a high level of empathy, self- awareness and emotional resilience having to cope with emotionally demanding situations. Ability to demonstrate a high level of time management and organisational skills. Able to work within codes of practice of HCPC, Occupational Standards British Dietetic Association (BDA) and policies and procedure Effective team worker. Proactive, with an ability to set up new initiatives. Self motivated. Empathetic and approachable. To display accurate time keeping. Flexible regarding duties and ability to cope with change. Ability to access/travel to patient homes across the locality.
Experience
Essential
- Competence with patients with complex needs, communication issues and/or challenging behaviour. Varied and comprehensive post-graduate clinical experience across a range of clinical areas. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team. Experience of delivering in-service training. Experience of interpreting and acting on complex clinical information including anthropometry, biochemistry, pharmacology and medical history to make decisions about client care. Evidence of participation in audit activities in dietetic practice. Experience and competence in negotiating and recording aims of treatment and agreeing a plan of action with client/relatives/patients/medical staff.
Desirable
- Competence and experience in advanced communication skills including negotiation, motivational interviewing and evoking behavioural change in complex cases. Knowledge and Experience of enteral feeding and re-feeding syndrome as well as alternative methods of nutritional support.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or related qualification and demonstrable relevant experience. HCPC Registration. Evidence of on-going professional development.
Desirable
- Evidence of further formal study leading to postgraduate qualifications e.g. Diploma in Advanced Dietetic Practice, Masters degree. Working towards or hold a certificate in counselling skills or have extensive counselling experience. PENG clinical update. A teaching qualification or experience of teaching groups. Clinical Supervisory Skills Course.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
