Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Service/Principal Dietitian

The closing date is 12 June 2025

Job summary

Evelina London Community Services are seeking a Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Service and Clinical Lead Dietitian to join our diverse team of allied health professionals. We are looking to recruit an exceptional clinical leader, with vision and passion for service quality, safety and development.

0.8wte Band 8a Head of Service/ Clinical Lead for Children's Community Nutrition and Dietetics

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic individual, who is keen to shape the nutrition and dietetics offer to our local community in Lambeth and Southwark, leading a strong clinical team alongside a supportive multidisciplinary leadership group.

Main duties of the job

The role involves leading a small team of dedicated dietitians, dietetics assistants, a Vitamin D co-ordinator and a team administrator to drive forward the ongoing development of clinical practice, research and standards of care within the service, in addition to contributing to service evolution, in collaboration with colleagues. The post has an active clinical component, to support the service and ensure strong oversight of the needs of the local population. Experience in working with children with SEND is critical to the role.

You will be responsible for the clinical, professional, strategic and operational leadership and management of the Children's Community Nutrition and Dietetics Team in Evelina London Children's Community Services (covering the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark), including line management and supervision of the team, co-ordinating delivery, monitoring, evaluation and development of the service, ensuring that the service is equitable, efficient and effective and that local and national standards of practice are maintained.

About us

Evelina London is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and we are responsible for providing services for women and children. With almost 4,000 dedicated staff. We also benefit from being part of a large and successful NHS foundation trust, whose values we share. We have an ambitious strategic development programme, with backing from Guy's and St Thomas'. Find out more www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk

The community directorate, sits within Evelina London, providing services to the Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. Alongside an enthusiastic team, you will be working with a wide multidisciplinary team, including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, audiologists and paediatricians, with strong links to acute colleagues in Evelina hospital.

The organisation is focused on supporting and developing staff at all levels and there is a broad CPD offer in addition to wellbeing support.

Details

Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£58,698 to £65,095 a year per annum incl. HCA (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

196-LIS9592

Job locations

Sunshine House

27 Peckham Road

London

SE5 8UH


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work alongside other AHP Heads of Service, in the community and acute settings, to plan, coordinate, deliver and evaluate the therapy service provided to patients referred to the service. A high regard for clinical operations and governance, assuring high standards of patient centred care is required. A strong focus on evidenced based, quality improvement methodology is key to service improvement.

You will take responsibility for the operational clinical leadership and overall professional and organisational development of the childrens community Nutrition and Dietetics service, supported by three Band 7 dietitians, who have designated areas of responsibility within the service. The Nutrition and Dietetics team is well resourced and highly motivated to continue to grow the offer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will work alongside other AHP Heads of Service, in the community and acute settings, to plan, coordinate, deliver and evaluate the therapy service provided to patients referred to the service. A high regard for clinical operations and governance, assuring high standards of patient centred care is required. A strong focus on evidenced based, quality improvement methodology is key to service improvement.

You will take responsibility for the operational clinical leadership and overall professional and organisational development of the childrens community Nutrition and Dietetics service, supported by three Band 7 dietitians, who have designated areas of responsibility within the service. The Nutrition and Dietetics team is well resourced and highly motivated to continue to grow the offer.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of SEND legislation and process
  • Ability to resolve complex situations with patients, carers and staff members through problem-solving, empathy and counselling and the ability to facilitate these in others
  • Advanced organisational skills to effectively manage service activities in order to meet agreed priorities, which may be ongoing
  • Knowledge of relevant clinical guidelines and legislation and ability to lead in implementing changes to practice

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive specialist paediatric experience with special needs dietetics and universal nutrition
  • Experience of line management and leadership skills obtained through experience
  • Experience of analysing data relating to workloads and activity within specialist area and compiling reports to communicate outcomes
  • Experience of development and delivery of training to broad range of participant groups

Desirable

  • Experience of working with HR to support/manage staff

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent in dietetics
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Leadership/management qualification
Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of SEND legislation and process
  • Ability to resolve complex situations with patients, carers and staff members through problem-solving, empathy and counselling and the ability to facilitate these in others
  • Advanced organisational skills to effectively manage service activities in order to meet agreed priorities, which may be ongoing
  • Knowledge of relevant clinical guidelines and legislation and ability to lead in implementing changes to practice

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive specialist paediatric experience with special needs dietetics and universal nutrition
  • Experience of line management and leadership skills obtained through experience
  • Experience of analysing data relating to workloads and activity within specialist area and compiling reports to communicate outcomes
  • Experience of development and delivery of training to broad range of participant groups

Desirable

  • Experience of working with HR to support/manage staff

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent in dietetics
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Leadership/management qualification

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunshine House

27 Peckham Road

London

SE5 8UH


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunshine House

27 Peckham Road

London

SE5 8UH


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Therapies

Lindsay McLelland

lindsay.mclelland@gstt.nhs.uk

07783887463

Details

Date posted

30 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£58,698 to £65,095 a year per annum incl. HCA (pro rata)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

196-LIS9592

Job locations

Sunshine House

27 Peckham Road

London

SE5 8UH


Supporting documents

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