Job summary

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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Mental Health Inpatient Band 6 Specialist Dietitian F/T (P/T considered) Therapy Centre, Prospect Park Hospital, Reading, Berkshire

Are you a Dietitian interested in developing skills in mental health and service improvement? This role is a combination of clinical work and service review. The successful candidate will be based at Prospect Park Hospital, Reading, covering a mixed caseload of adults and older adults with nutrition support, weight management, eating disorders and other nutrition related issues.

You will be part of the Therapy Team, with over 20 welcoming and supportive AHPs, such as Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, and support staff that strive to create a warm, friendly and compassionate environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for working closely with their MDT and Therapy Team colleagues supporting patients in a variety of ways to optimise their nutritional status.

You will have a passion for caring, a warm personality and the resilience to play a vital role in helping patients take the next step in their journey.

We encourage service development and have an established quality improvement programme driving the service forward.

Main duties of the job

To contribute towards providing, maintaining and developing the Nutrition & Dietetic Service for older adult and adult patients within the inpatient mental health service. To plan, co-ordinate and deliver nutrition/dietetic training of carers, professionals and support staff. To undertake an assessment of adult and older adult patients' needs including the calculation of nutritional requirements based on the interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, clinical condition and other physical and social parameters. To plan, justify and deliver specialised evidence based dietary advice to patients accessing the inpatient mental health services. To provide evidence based dietetic care plans for patients at risk of developing refeeding syndrome To deliver group sessions for weight management patients, with the support of the dietetic assistant and the occupational therapy assistant. To share care with the other hospital dietitians, and members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding the treatment of older adult and adult patients within the inpatient mental health service. To communicate complicated information effectively using appropriate aids and skills to adults and older adults within inpatient mental health services, and where there may be cultural differences and/or a barrier to understanding. Using a Quality Improvement programme to lead service development.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.

We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you'll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:

Caring for and about you is our top priority Committed to providing good quality, safe services Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.

Benefits of working for us include:

Flexible working options to support work-life balance 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell Generous NHS pension scheme Excellent learning and career development opportunities 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave Free parking across Trust sites

If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The 3 must haves for you to be considered for this role:

HCPC Registered Dietitian Passion for dietetics and a patient centred focus Clinical experience in the following areas: Malnutrition, Diabetes, Weight Management

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Timothy Foley on or email: or MentalHealthD who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

Relevant Professional Qualification Specialist Dietitian Training to post graduate diploma level or equivalent Degree qualified Evidence of on-going professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

Experience of undertaking specialist assessments for people presenting with dementia, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, psychosis and other complex mental health conditions. Experience of working with a variety of clients with complex needs, adapting communication to support the individual and maximise the quality of care provided. Demonstrate ability to organise own work and prioritise to autonomously deliver care and meet changing demands Able to work effectively with the multidisciplinary team, identifying and escalating to colleagues as appropriate. Experience of the Supervision process and/or mentoring and ability to offer effective supervision to staff at different levels.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

Has knowledge/experience of: MHA and other relevant legislation, NHS Plan, Risk assessment process and CPA, Clinical governance, Evidence based practice

Additional Requirements

Desirable

Ability to travel to multiple sites