Community Dietitian

Job summary

We are looking for self-motivated, committed Dietitian to provide a quality dietetic service to the Ipswich and East Suffolk population. You will manage a caseload of nutritionally vulnerable patients in the community settings across Ipswich and East Suffolk including home visits, outpatient clinics in both the acute and community settings and community hospitals. You will lead on MUST and food first initiatives. You will work closely with the assistant practitioners to deliver this service.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about delivering a quality, evidence-based service, who relishes working in a busy setting and are a strong team player. We are seeking someone with excellent team working skills with both Dietetics colleagues and the wider MDT, as well as an ability to work independently and flexibly.

You will benefit from being part of an integrated inpatient (Ipswich Hospital), outpatient and community service that incorporates a range of clinical specialisms including renal, paediatrics and oncology. The Dietetic Team consists of 26 Dietitians with 8 Dietetic Support Staff providing a service to both acute and community settings with secretarial and administrative staff.

You will have access to regular supervision and have opportunities to undertake continuing professional development through work shadowing, tutorials and courses as identified by your training needs and objectives.

We will consider both Band 5 & Band 6 applications.

Main duties of the job

We are a well- recognised department for student training in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and you will have an active role in supporting this programme. The trust is also committed with AHP research and has recently gained resource to support this within the trust.

• To provide nutritional support, education and advice to patients in Ipswich and East Suffolk community and the acute setting as required. To support the implementation of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and food first project.
• To act as a source of expertise to patients and carers, medical practitioners and AHP within the hospital, MDT's, outpatient settings, small hospitals, care homes and patient own homes.
• To provide education and training for professional colleagues as requested across East Suffolk Health and Social Care agencies.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details

Date posted

27 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR1457-25

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Portfolio of evidence of CPD
• Wide range of clinical placements ideally including the community setting and home enteral tube feeds

Desirable

• Prior work/voluntary experience working with people
• Prior work/voluntary work with the elderly
• Experience of working in Community Dietetics
• Experience of MUST training

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics or equivalent
• HCPC registration
• Member of British Dietetic Association
• Full UK Driving license and ability to drive between various locations

Desirable

• Member of Special Interest Group
• Leadership qualifications e.g. LEO and Supervisory Skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Broad up to date knowledge and practical application of clinical dietetics
• Awareness of current issues
• Ability to analyse complex professional, clinical and ethical issues and apply in practice
• Knowledge and understanding of BDA professional standards
• Good knowledge of the MUST tool and food first principles.

Desirable

• Understanding of current initiatives regarding ONS prescribing Clinical supervisory skills
• Completed audit and research project.

Personal Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to problem solve and prioritise effectively
• Demonstrate good supervisory skills

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge

Essential

Desirable

Personal Skills

Essential

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).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

UK Registration

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)