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University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Clinical Professional Lead for Nutrition and Dietetics

The closing date is 10 December 2025

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Job summary

The successful candidate will lead the Dept on professional and clinical governance issues and be a source of professional expertise in the field of nutrition and dietetics for the Trust. Contributing to the Strategic Direction of the Trust, the post holder will be actively involved in service planning and development and will engage with the wider Dietetic profession across the local healthcare community. The post holder will need to have wide-ranging demonstrable management and leadership experience in the health care setting and expert demonstrable clinical experience and proven knowledge in their specialist field of practice. They will need to be up to date with the NHS Agenda, national directives and modernisation initiative. The post holder should have extensive demonstrable experience of clinical supervision and line management of staff in acute and community settings and operational management demonstrable experience within an AHP / Dietetic Dept at senior level. Demonstrable experience of service audit, evaluation, and integration of research into practice, proven knowledge of clinical governance and proven evidence of development of protocols are essential.

The successful candidate will join a large dietetic team who currently deliver acute inpatient, outpatient and community adult and paediatric services.

Main duties of the job

  • Responsible and accountable for the effective delivery of all activities provided by the Nutrition and Dietetic Department to UHP NHS Trust.
  • Responsible for the Professional leadership and management of the Nutrition and Dietetic service.
  • Responsible for recruitment and supervision of clinical service leads, and other key personnel.
  • Responsible for overseeing and performance managing of service line clinical leads in managing their clinical teams.
  • They are expected to function as a role model in the delivery of patient care.
  • Manage departmental budgets and performance and negotiate commissioned contracts.
  • They will be required to provide a resource of expert nutritional knowledge for other members of the MDT.
  • Maintain own technical clinical competence and active professional registration, ensuring at least 20% of role is undertaken through clinical activity.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

26 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-CB-C7629997

Job locations

Derriford Hospital, Level 7

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible for the delivery of the Nutrition and Dietetic service for UHP ensuring that the service is consistently patient centred at all levels of delivery, meets the needs of the patient and the wider health community. Ensure that the service is effective, efficient, and delivered in a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Ensures safe, legal and clinically effective service delivery by robust adherence to the professional and ethical standards and requirements of the Trust, Health Care Professions Council and the British Dietetic Association.

To set and monitor high standards of safe clinical care, underpinned by sound evidence-based knowledge and principles ensuring quality systems are in place to monitor practice.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary nutrition support team, liaising with colleagues at all levels, across agencies and Trusts for the benefit of optimum patient care.

To work as an expert clinician providing management of a complex and highly specialist caseload of inpatients and outpatients, providing specialised nutritional assessment including biochemistry and anthropometry and specialist advice.

Support operational management colleagues in managing the demand on the service on a daily basis, working closely with the Operational Team, to maximise capacity.

Support the Clinical Professional Lead with the review & implementation of Department and service team establishments to meet the planned clinical activity/ nationally benchmarked levels and submit proposals where this is not the case

Please review the full job description document uploaded on this advert.

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Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible for the delivery of the Nutrition and Dietetic service for UHP ensuring that the service is consistently patient centred at all levels of delivery, meets the needs of the patient and the wider health community. Ensure that the service is effective, efficient, and delivered in a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Ensures safe, legal and clinically effective service delivery by robust adherence to the professional and ethical standards and requirements of the Trust, Health Care Professions Council and the British Dietetic Association.

To set and monitor high standards of safe clinical care, underpinned by sound evidence-based knowledge and principles ensuring quality systems are in place to monitor practice.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary nutrition support team, liaising with colleagues at all levels, across agencies and Trusts for the benefit of optimum patient care.

To work as an expert clinician providing management of a complex and highly specialist caseload of inpatients and outpatients, providing specialised nutritional assessment including biochemistry and anthropometry and specialist advice.

Support operational management colleagues in managing the demand on the service on a daily basis, working closely with the Operational Team, to maximise capacity.

Support the Clinical Professional Lead with the review & implementation of Department and service team establishments to meet the planned clinical activity/ nationally benchmarked levels and submit proposals where this is not the case

Please review the full job description document uploaded on this advert.

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Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Extensive post-graduate demonstrable experience of leading / managing adult / paediatric Dietetic teams / services
  • Demonstrable management experience at a Senior clinical professional level

Desirable

  • Currently working in the speciality

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Healthcare Professional
  • BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent Degree in appropriate profession qualification
  • MSc or equivalent level as evidenced by competencies, CPD portfolio, attendance at specialist post graduate modules e.g., PENG
  • Mentorship course or equivalent
  • Healthcare Management /Leadership qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

Desirable

  • Post registration qualification in the specialty area or equivalent

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
  • Effective influencing and negotiating skills: in general and with senior health care professionals
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Extensive post-graduate demonstrable experience of leading / managing adult / paediatric Dietetic teams / services
  • Demonstrable management experience at a Senior clinical professional level

Desirable

  • Currently working in the speciality

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Healthcare Professional
  • BSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics or equivalent Degree in appropriate profession qualification
  • MSc or equivalent level as evidenced by competencies, CPD portfolio, attendance at specialist post graduate modules e.g., PENG
  • Mentorship course or equivalent
  • Healthcare Management /Leadership qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

Desirable

  • Post registration qualification in the specialty area or equivalent

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
  • Effective influencing and negotiating skills: in general and with senior health care professionals

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

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital, Level 7

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Derriford Hospital, Level 7

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Directorate Manager

Donna Pike

donna.pike@nhs.net

01752432230

Details

Date posted

26 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£55,690 to £62,682 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-CB-C7629997

Job locations

Derriford Hospital, Level 7

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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