Dietitian - Band 5

CompanyBedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

LocationBedford, England, United Kingdom

Posted At3/14/2026

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Dietitian - Band 5

NHS AfC: Band 5

Main area Dietitian Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent: Full time Hours

Full time
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 418-DTO3877-KA

Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £31,049 - £37,796 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 27/03/2026 23:59 Interview date 10/04/2026

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Nutrition and Dietetic Department at Luton and Dunstable Hospital as a full-time Dietitian within the acute team.

The successful candidate will be welcomed into a supportive environment, working alongside an experienced team of dietitians and a dedicated dietetic assistant. We provide regular supervision and a robust appraisal system to ensure professional growth and development.

Continuous professional development is actively encouraged, with opportunities to shadow other specialities within the department and attend relevant study sessions. In addition, the department plays a key role in training students from the University of Hertfordshire, offering a dynamic and collaborative learning atmosphere.

This is a fantastic chance to develop your career in a forward-thinking team committed to excellence in patient c

are and professional development.

Main duties of the job

You will join our acute team and will be responsible for a number of designated wards across the hospital, a weekly outpatient clinic and educational sessions for healthcare professionals.

You will be required to have HCPC registration, communication skills and demonstrate reflective practice. Experience delivering teaching and training would be an advantage.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Communication and Relationships

To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff. Positive relationships are characterised by open communication, trust and respect
To liaise with nursing, medical, catering and other health professionals concerning the treatment of your patients whether on the wards or out in the community

To communicate effectively with patients and carers to ensure understanding of condition and treatment plans

To attend department meetings and team meetings

To use a range of different communication skills; including motivational interviewing, counselling skills, negotiating skills and cognitive behavioural therapy to help patients achieve their nutritional goals, considering any barriers to change patients may have

To advise and liaise with catering staff concerning the dietary needs of patients and work closely with dietetic and catering colleagues on issues such as menu planning, provision of therapeutic diets and initiatives to improve nutrition of patients

To contribute as required to the multidisciplinary team via ward rounds; case conferences; discharge planning meetings and team meetings as appropriate

To plan and organise group education sessions for patients

To advise medical team on the appropriate prescription of nutritional supplements and enteral feeds for in and outpatients, based on individual clinical assessment. Arrange follow-up and monitoring as required

Analytical and Judgemental

To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.
To develop individual treatment plans for patients setting appropriate nutritional goals
To negotiate and agree dietary changes with patients using appropriate counselling, motivational and behaviour change techniques and skill. This may also involve patients’ carers or other family members where appropriate and will require a sensitive and empathetic manner to overcome resistance to change.
To evaluate and review your own work and that of the service, seeking the views of others and adopting the principles of evidence based practice to ensure maintenance of clinical and professional standards

Planning and Organisation

To work as a member of the clinical team of Dietitians supporting ‘team working’ within the hospital. This involves sharing responsibility and accountability for the dietetic cover for the medical and/or surgical wards
To be able to organize and manage caseload

Patient and Client Care

To provide Nutrition and Dietetic Services to adult inpatients and outpatients

To undertake comprehensive assessments of adult patients, including biochemistry, anthropometrics, pharmacological, clinical condition, diet history and social circumstances and to use clinical reasoning skills to interpret data, using patient care pathways to plan patient care

To provide dietetic advice to patients and / or carers, taking account of medical, social, emotional, psychological and cultural needs of the patients and to be able to use this complex and sensitive information in formulating individualised dietetic advice

To provide appropriate treatment, monitoring and review of patient’s dietary needs, involving other agencies when indicated; treatments include therapeutic dietary modification, modified consistency, nutritional supplementation and enteral feeding

To provide advice on appropriate use of nutritional products including product type, rate and volume to meet patient’s individual nutritional requirements

To demonstrate empathy and reassure patients and their carers, when appropriate, to continue to reach targets throughout their nutritional treatment

To ensure appropriate supply of nutritional products to wards in accordance with Trust policies

To be familiar with the use of enteral feeding equipment used within the trust and community setting

Policy and Service

To contribute to the service’s quality and audit programme, including the monitoring of clinical and process standards for your own work and that of the wider Nutrition and Dietetic Service
To contribute to the development of high quality diet sheets, information leaflets and other educational resources to support the delivery of Nutrition and Dietetic Services
To maintain an up to date knowledge and evidence base to support your practice.
To contribute to the implementation of protocols and guidelines relevant to your work
To evaluate and review your own work and that of the service, seeking the views of others and adopting the principles of evidence based practice to ensure maintenance of clinical and professional standards
To contribute to the journal club and CPD meetings
To cover for colleagues in their absence
To be a member of the resources group or quality improvement group
To contribute to the setting of targets and annual team objectives, and to the monitoring of these objectives

Financial and Physical Resources

Does not hold budgetary responsibility but is aware of the need to plan non-pay expenditure for the team of Dietitians

Human Resources

To contribute to the provision of tutorials and monitoring and supervision of student Dietitians and/or dietetic assistants (responsibility not given until completion of at least 6 months post-qualification experience)

Information Resources

To maintain accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with HCPC, BDA, acute trust, PCT and departmental standards
To collect patient data to meet the department’s information requirements.

Research and Development

To plan and provide appropriate training for other health professionals
To provide group education session to specific patient groups e.g. pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation
To evaluate, review and update all training provided on a regular basis.
To be responsible for maintaining your own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities.

To attend training courses relevant to your rotation (i.e. PENG/ paeds course/ primary care conferences)

Freedom to Act

Describes and applies clinical reasoning for the treatment of patients under their care
Works within broad treatment guidelines, but is able to act autonomously when making decisions about patients care. Is supervised by a senior dietitian with whom they can discuss treatment plans, problems and queries
Refers the care of complex patient cases, which are outside their competencies, to a more Senior Dietitian

Professional Registration

The post holder should work in accordance with their professional body’s Code of Conduct. Evidence of continuous registration is a requirement of employment with this Trust.

Personal Development

The post holder will be expected to undertake ongoing personal and professional development commensurate with the responsibilities of the post. It is specifically expected that the post holder will avail him/herself of any opportunities of mentorship and development offered.

Role Development

The duties and responsibilities contained within this job description are indicative but not exhaustive. The post holder may be required to undertake other work consistent with their grade. As the PCT develops the requirements of the post may change. The post holder will be fully involved and consulted as such changes occur.

Notes

The post holder will have access to confidential data on staff and services within the Trust. Failure to maintain confidentiality may lead to disciplinary action, which could ultimately lead to dismissal.
You will be required to assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and contribute towards the clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriate.
You will be expected to produce work to a high standard and to promote quality at all times.
You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy. You must familiarise yourself with matters relating to Health and Safety management as they affect you personally and / or the Trust.
You will be expected to participate in the staff appraisal scheme for staff you manage.

You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy.

The above Job Description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the post change.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics
HCPC dietetic registration
Evidence of experience within the NHS relevant to Dietetics, either paid, voluntary or through clinical training

Desirable criteria

Currently working as a band 5 or dietetic assistant within the acute/community setting
Membership of the British Dietetic Association

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

Sound clinical knowledge of general dietetics including relevant national policies & guidelines
Ability to analyse and interpret complex medical and nutritional information
Evidence of multidisciplinary team working

Desirable criteria

Experience of carrying out audits within a clinical setting

Experience of supervising students

Skills

Essential criteria

Written skills- evidence of a good standard of written and verbal English appropriate to the role
Ability to communicate effectively with patients in one-to-one situations
Presentation skills- ability to present to groups of patients/ healthcare professionals
Able to work under own initiative and manage a caseload
Evidence of ability to prioritise and manage time effectively and efficiently
Proficient IT Skills, including use of Word, Microsoft Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint

Desirable criteria

Evidence of ability to critically evaluate current research & apply to own practice
Use of behaviour change and motivation skills

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Job Description (PDF, 248.6KB)
Person Specification (PDF, 56.5KB)
Functional Requirements (PDF, 152.4KB)
L&D Hospital site map (PDF, 96.8KB)
Disclosure & Barring Information and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders (PDF, 78.5KB)
Staff Diversity Network (PDF, 140.3KB)
Information for Disabled Applicants (PDF, 98.7KB)
Staff Benefits (PNG, 1.6MB)

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Nihar Shah Job title Therapy Service Manager Email address nihar.shah4@bedsft.nhs.uk Telephone number 07813363734

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust

Lewsey Road

Luton

Bedfordshire

LU4 0DZ

Telephone 01582 497325

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