NHS
Overview
Clinical Lead Dietitian
at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust The closing date is 14 January 2026 Job summary
Working Part time: 18.75 hours per week We are seeking an experienced and dynamic
Band 7 Dietitian
to lead our specialist nutrition support service for critically ill and surgical inpatients. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled dietitian with advanced knowledge of
critical care, perioperative nutrition, and parenteral nutrition (PN)
to shape and drive high-quality nutritional care across complex clinical areas. In this senior role, you will provide expert dietetic assessment and management for patients requiring PN and complex enteral feeding within ICU and surgical wards. You will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing specialist advice that informs clinical decision-making, optimises nutritional status, and supports improved patient outcomes. You will provide clinical leadership for the dietetic team, supervising junior staff, supporting student training, and promoting a culture of evidence-based practice. The postholder will also lead on service development, audit, and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centred nutrition pathways. Strong communication, autonomy in clinical reasoning, and confidence in managing highly complex nutrition support cases are essential. If you are passionate about advancing dietetic practice in critical care and surgery, and keen to influence and develop a specialist service, we would be delighted to hear from you. Main duties of the job
Your application should include details of your recent clinical experience including any areas of specialism. We also require details of your qualifications, CPD, and registration. The successful applicant will be expected to travel between the two main hospital sites (The Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port Hospital) and carry out home visits as needed. You will be involved in our diabetes MDT clinics (which run in the evening twice per month), deliver level 3 carb counting education and provide structured education for families. About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations: The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population. The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000. Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details. Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies. New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above. Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application. Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
Degree in nutrition and dietetics or equivalent Evidence of post graduate training to masters equivalent level HCPC registration Relevant student training course or qualification Desirable
Membership of professional body and specialist interest group Knowledge and Experience
Essential
Substantial post graduate experience with experience of working at an advanced level Sound evidence of CPD and reflective practice Sound knowledge of current best practice specific to specialist area Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice Knowledge and application of the principles of clinical governance Sound knowledge and understanding of health, safety and risk management Sound knowledge and understanding of health, safety and risk management Skills
Essential
Evidence of being able to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues on a 1-2-1 basis or within a group setting Evidence of group working and team working Supervisory skills and/or first line management experience Evidence of audit and/or research work Evidence of the implementation of policies and the potential review of policies Evidence of an ability to maintain a service level agreement or equivalent financial initiatives Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance Evidence of participation in health, safety and risk management Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and that of others Ability to organise and respond to complex information, and work under pressure Working knowledge of Microsoft package or equivalent Standard key board skills Able to align to trust the trust culture (our vision, our values, our behaviours) 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
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Address
Countess of Chester Hospital Liverpool Road Chester CH2 1UL Employer's website
https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Clinical Lead Dietitian
at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust The closing date is 14 January 2026 Job summary
Working Part time: 18.75 hours per week We are seeking an experienced and dynamic
Band 7 Dietitian
to lead our specialist nutrition support service for critically ill and surgical inpatients. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled dietitian with advanced knowledge of
critical care, perioperative nutrition, and parenteral nutrition (PN)
to shape and drive high-quality nutritional care across complex clinical areas. In this senior role, you will provide expert dietetic assessment and management for patients requiring PN and complex enteral feeding within ICU and surgical wards. You will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing specialist advice that informs clinical decision-making, optimises nutritional status, and supports improved patient outcomes. You will provide clinical leadership for the dietetic team, supervising junior staff, supporting student training, and promoting a culture of evidence-based practice. The postholder will also lead on service development, audit, and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centred nutrition pathways. Strong communication, autonomy in clinical reasoning, and confidence in managing highly complex nutrition support cases are essential. If you are passionate about advancing dietetic practice in critical care and surgery, and keen to influence and develop a specialist service, we would be delighted to hear from you. Main duties of the job
Your application should include details of your recent clinical experience including any areas of specialism. We also require details of your qualifications, CPD, and registration. The successful applicant will be expected to travel between the two main hospital sites (The Countess of Chester Hospital and Ellesmere Port Hospital) and carry out home visits as needed. You will be involved in our diabetes MDT clinics (which run in the evening twice per month), deliver level 3 carb counting education and provide structured education for families. About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations: The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population. The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000. Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details. Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment. You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies. New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above. Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application. Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
Degree in nutrition and dietetics or equivalent Evidence of post graduate training to masters equivalent level HCPC registration Relevant student training course or qualification Desirable
Membership of professional body and specialist interest group Knowledge and Experience
Essential
Substantial post graduate experience with experience of working at an advanced level Sound evidence of CPD and reflective practice Sound knowledge of current best practice specific to specialist area Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice Knowledge and application of the principles of clinical governance Sound knowledge and understanding of health, safety and risk management Sound knowledge and understanding of health, safety and risk management Skills
Essential
Evidence of being able to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues on a 1-2-1 basis or within a group setting Evidence of group working and team working Supervisory skills and/or first line management experience Evidence of audit and/or research work Evidence of the implementation of policies and the potential review of policies Evidence of an ability to maintain a service level agreement or equivalent financial initiatives Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance Evidence of participation in health, safety and risk management Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance and that of others Ability to organise and respond to complex information, and work under pressure Working knowledge of Microsoft package or equivalent Standard key board skills Able to align to trust the trust culture (our vision, our values, our behaviours) 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
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Address
Countess of Chester Hospital Liverpool Road Chester CH2 1UL Employer's website
https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
#J-18808-Ljbffr