Specialist Mental Health Dietitian

Oxford

Other

£39,959 - £48,117 Per annum, pro-rata

Expires: 18/05/2026

Band 6

Permanent

About the Role

Job overview

Are you looking to further your experience working in mental health? This opportunity could be for you!

We currently have a newly developed post for a specialist dietitian working in adult and older adult mental health. This is a substantive role within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, offering a wealth of clinical experience and development opportunities.

We are a friendly, energetic and dynamic team who are proactive and visionary, focusing on excellent patient centered care. More information can be found on our website.

We are proud of our development opportunities for staff. Professional development opportunities are available; quality, effectiveness and service user experience given high priority. The posts offer excellent prospects for cross-specialty, multidisciplinary working with a significant role to play in patient, carer and staff education, including audits, implementing and running of training programmes to improve patient care.

Main duties of the job

You will be a HCPC registered dietitian with hospital and community experience and will be able to demonstrate the ability to effectively fulfil the travel requirements of the post.

This post will allow you the opportunity to develop your skills in adult and older adult mental health, based on the inpatient wards for working age and older adults and supporting transitions for patients back into community. Our mental health inpatient dietetic team cover a caseload of patients with a variety of mental health conditions including dementia, depression, schizophrenia who benefit from a wide range of dietetic interventions including diabetes, swallowing problems, weight management, undernutrition and disordered eating, You would be involved in helping to develop pathways e.g. weight management. You will be responsible for two band 5 rotational dietitians working across the wards with you.

There is a commitment to personal development and CPD and an expectation that all staff are involved in corporate departmental project work, audit/research, quality improvement and teaching of other healthcare professionals. All staff are actively involved in student training, and we offer dietetic apprenticeships which all staff will also be involved in supporting. There is a strong AHP community within the Trust with significant opportunities to support integrated working and showcasing the achievements of AHPs within the Trust.

Working for our organisation

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the “candidate guide to making an application” and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be a HCPC registered dietitian with hospital and community experience.

We offer flexible working patterns, where possible, within our services to provide flexibility and efficiency.

For more information and a detailed overview of the role, please refer to the job description provided or get in touch for more details.

Person specification

Essential criteria

A sound understanding of the key physical health issues related to health inequalities.
Effective communication skills.
Good decision making and negotiating skills.
Assessment and care planning skills including analysis of complex dietetic difficulties in a mental health setting.
A good knowledge of clinical governance issues.

Desirable criteria

A good understanding of the wider impact of physical health within the SMI patient population.

Qualifications

Essential criteria

BSc (Hons) Nutrition / Dietetics degree or post graduate diploma or equivalent
Registration with HCPC
Evidence of a range of CPD activities relevant to this post
Member of BDA

Desirable criteria

Member of relevant BDA Interest Group e.g. Mental Health Dietitians
Completion of relevant post registration clinical courses

Further Training or Job Related Aptitude and Skills

Essential criteria

Teaching and training skills
IT skills e.g. word processing, preparation of audit reports and Powerpoint presentations, internet use
Ability to monitor and maintain the safety and welfare of self and others.

Desirable criteria

Awareness of the use of behavioural change & motivational interviewing skills to enable the patient to self- manage.
Advanced clinical reasoning skills