Specialist Dietitian

Job Description

Band 6 Specialist Dietitian

37.5 Hours per week

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – Eating Disorders Team, Durham and Darlington

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and proactive Specialist Dietitian to join our Community Eating Disorders Team based within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services covering Durham and Darlington. This exciting post provides an opportunity to work as part of a broader and supportive team of Dietitians working within a specialist mental health and learning disabilities NHS Foundation Trust.

The vision of our Specialist Eating Disorders Team is to provide non-judgmental timely support for young people and their families who may require specialist support to recover from an eating disorder, so they can build confidence enabling them to live their lives. The post holder will provide a high quality, evidence based up to date nutrition and Dietetic service to young people with eating disorders, in line with NG69 and Access and Waiting Time Standards.

The post holder will work as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team which includes dietitians, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, specialist eating disorder nursing staff, family and CBT therapists. The service also embraces a culture of service user participation and works closely with the local communities to enhance the clinical offer. There may be some expectation to provide Dietetic support to the broader CAMHS teams and it is vital that the successful candidate is able to maintain key relationships with our partners in Acute Trusts and other important stakeholders.

The post holder will be expected to support young people across the whole of the multi-racial and multi-cultural community of Durham and Darlington with demonstrable values and commitment to diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in line with Trust Values and Behaviours. The successful Band 6 applicant will lead by positive example in promoting these as well as being passionate about promoting the wellbeing of the young people and families we support, colleagues and themselves. The Trust holds the wellbeing of its staff in high regard and has a number of initiatives in place for supporting their health and wellbeing, including employee psychology support, mindfulness training, gym facilities and the Trust retreat.

The broader Dietetic Team in the Trust is the largest and most established Dietetic team in mental health and learning disabilities in the UK and has excellent links with the Mental Health Specialist Group of the BDA. We are a dynamic team of 31 Dietitians, 2 Associate Practitioners, 4 Dietetic Assistants and a Trainee Nutritionist working in a number of clinical areas throughout Teesside, Darlington, County Durham, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. We have several experienced Clinical Lead Dietitians in the clinical areas of adult eating disorders, adult mental health, children and young people, forensics and older people, and are supported by our Professional Head of Dietetics.

Candidates should be a registered Dietitian with significant experience in Dietetics, preferably with some experience of working in a mental health setting, with excellent communication and IT skills. The post will usually require travelling to various sites and currently there are alternative working arrangements due to covid-19 restrictions. The post holder will be adaptable to working with virtual communication and conference calling, as well as being flexible to support potential future 7 day working patterns. A working knowledge of behaviour change and motivational interviewing would be desirable. Regular clinical supervision with the Clinical Lead Dietitian will be provided and there will be a strong emphasis on Continued Professional Development and post-graduate training to support development within this exciting role. Line management would be within the CAMHS ED Team; operational and professional links are in place.

If you think this post is for you then please contact Kirsty Thompson, Lead Dietitian in Child and Young Peoples Services, Durham & Darlington & Tees via email on: kirsty.thompson12@nhs.net  or via telephone on: 01325 529539 for any questions you may have / or further information you require prior to applying.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Closing date:  TBA