Job overview

University Hospital Southampton is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us

Job Title: Specialist Dietitian (Gastroenterology)

Contract Type: Permanent

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a gastroenterology dietitian. 

The adult gastroenterology dietetic team consists of eight dietitians (band 6 and 7) and one dietetic assistant. The team is part of the wider adult acute dietetic team based at Southampton General Hospital. You will be working in a supportive and friendly team covering a range of gastro specialities including IBD, IBS, coeliac, gut dysmotility and DGBI in inpatient and outpatient settings. There are regular internal CPD sessions, gastro MDT education meetings and the opportunity to engage in service evaluation and improvement. As a regional centre for gastroenterology, research is ongoing to ensure we are up to date and providing the best service. 

The department of dietetics and speech and language therapy employs approximately 130 staff, with clinical experts working in a range of specialties, providing acute and community services in adults and paediatrics. 

This is a permanent full-time post however flexible working opportunities will be considered. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

 We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

 Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

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You will work in a variety of clinical settings including gastroenterology wards and out-patient clinics. You will be responsible for the provision of a specialist dietetic service, managing a specialist caseload and providing expert dietetic advice and support including management of oral nutrition support, enteral feeding and home enteral feed discharges, gluten free diets, Exclusive Enteral Nutrition, low FODMAPs. There will be an opportunity to support and develop our DGBI service alongside our specialist Band 7 dietitian. There may be an element of managing acute eating disorder admissions alongside your gastroenterology caseload. 

As a key member of the gastroenterology team you will run clinics and groups and review complex inpatients with support from senior colleagues, specialist nurses and gastroenterologists with the opportunity to attend daily MDT “board rounds” to offer timely dietetic input. You will be involved with the supervision and support of junior dietitians and dietetic assistants as well as student training.

We are looking for someone who has a keen interest in nutrition support, with evidence of relevant, strong clinical skills.  Flexibility and the ability to prioritise and manage a busy, complex caseload is essential.  You must have excellent communication skills as well as an empathic nature.  You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work within an MDT as a specialist dietitian, and have the confidence to present and discuss your professional opinion with colleagues. With a varied and interesting caseload, this post requires a dynamic, assertive person with an excellent breadth of knowledge and good rapport building skills.