About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Dietitian to extend their skills and provide continuity of care by working in our specialist surgical and medical weight management services for people living with obesity. This maternity leave cover will be primarily focused on supporting our complex bariatric surgery patients.
This is a great time to join our service as you will be working with the team to implement innovative obesity treatments, giving you the chance to develop your wider professional skills.
We have been awarded International Centre of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery status and are an ASO (The Association for the Study of Obesity) accredited collaborating centre for obesity management. As a lead centre in the South West of England, we are regularly involved in research.
You will need to be passionate about working with patients with severe and complex obesity and interested in offering behaviour modification skills/offering psycho-social support.
We are looking for someone to join our team for 30 hours per week on a 12 month fixed term for maternity cover. We warmly welcome an informal discussion prior to applying - please contact us on: 01823 343394.
Main duties of the job
As a Dietitian you will work with the patients on the surgical pathway from referral to the Weight Management service through to surgery and support them with their post-operative care, providing seamless support. You will also support our more complex post bariatric surgery patients in areas such as nutrition support and post bariatric hypoglycaemia.
You will work within the dedicated and supportive MDT of:
*Consultant Surgeons
*Consultant Endocrinologists
*Clinical Psychologists
*Specialist Dietitians
*Clinical Nurse Specialists
*Research Team
*Bariatric Coordinator
*Clerical Staff
To contribute to the provision of the Dietetic service for the Bariatric Surgery and Weight Management services.
This will involve providing specialist dietetic patient care in MDT clinics, dietetic led clinics and group education and intervention sessions through face to face contact with some use of digital platforms and telephone contact, at Musgrove Park Hospital. There is potential for some off site and home working.
You will be supported by the Band 7 lead dietitian for Weight Management and the other Band 6 Dietitians in the Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery Services as well as the highly experienced wider MDT.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
The main responsibilities are to:
As a key member of the specialist Dietetic team, undertake specialist dietetic and psychosocial assessment and provide continuity of care, holistic advice, guidance and support to patients in the Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery Services.
Working with the MDT and the Dietetic team, contribute to continuous improvement in the way patients are managed, across the pathways in the Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery Services.
Provide specialist dietetic advice and guidance to non-specialist Dietetic colleagues and other clinicians.Provide supervision and support to other staff relating to the Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery Services, including the Student and Dietetic Apprenticeship Programme.
For full details, please see the job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered as a Dietitian with the Health and Care Professions CouncilBSc in Nutrition & Dietetics or equivalentTeaching qualification or experience of teaching groups
Experience Essential
Varied post registration experience in clinical dietetics (which would ideally equate to approximately 18 months to 2 years)Experience of working with patients with obesity or other long term conditions (typically 3 to 6 months)Audit experience
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.
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)