Job overview
Do you enjoy working with people and have a passion for nutrition and its importance in health and wellbeing? Are you ready for a new challenge? If so, this is an ideal opportunity for you to join the friendly and supportive dietetic team at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
This post is based in the specialist diabetes services working across site within diabetes centres at Maidstone hospital and Central Tunbridge Wells at The Kent and Sussex Weald Diabetes Centre. You would join our team of 4 diabetes dietitians and wider network of 24 dietitians and 4 assistants in the Trust. We work closely with the diabetes MDT.
We are looking for a self-motivated individual with strong communication and team-working skills who is committed to improving the nutrition experience of our patients. A formal nutrition qualification and/or experience of working in a hospital or caring environment are desirable but not essential. We will provide a comprehensive induction programme and training to enable you to develop the appropriate skills and knowledge.
Please visit the video link below to provide you with an insight as to why you should come and join our fantastic therapy department at MTW!
If this sounds like an exciting step within your career, then we would love to read your application.
Main duties of the job
To work with registered dietitians to manage the nutritional needs of diabetes patients under the care of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
To be responsible for providing routine follow up and monitoring of patients as identified by the dietitian. This will involve reviewing blood glucose readings & food diaries, using diabetes technologies and reviewing dietetic care plans.
To assist with data collection and analysis for the dietetic department statistics, audit and research as required.
To assist with the admin of the service, assisting at courses and patient/staff education sessions, booking appointments, liaising with diabetes team & midwives.
To actively engage with the department supervision, appraisal and competency programmes to achieve personal and professional objectives and goals.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised diabetes services to the local community.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We’ve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children). If a role involves regulated activity and requires a DBS check with a barred list check, you cannot apply if you are on the barred list.
All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. English Language and Maths GCSE (or equivalent)
6. A Level or NVQ Level 3 (or above) or equivalent qualification in relevant area
Desirable criteria
7. Completion of healthcare related qualification / training programme
8. Completion of nutrition related qualification
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
9. Background knowledge of nutrition and its role in health and disease
10. Experience of working in a caring / NHS environment, or equivalent
11. Experience of working as part of a team
12. Experience of self-directed working
Desirable criteria
13. Previous experience working as a therapy or health care assistant within the NHS or acute sector
14. Experience of working in a nutrition related field
15. Awareness of the importance of nutrition screening tools e.g. MUST
16. Understanding of cancer support charities and their role across the UK
17. Awareness of national cancer policies
18. Knowledge of relevant cancer treatments, interventions and terminology
Skills
Essential criteria
19. Good oral and written communication skills with people from a wide variety of backgrounds
20. Good interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
21. Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
22. Good organisational skills
23. Good presentation skills, both written and verbal
24. Good time management
25. Understanding of person-centred care
26. Ability to motivate, facilitate and lead patients in a group environment as a group leader
Desirable criteria
27. Experience of using dietary analysis packages
28. Experience of using specialist equipment for anthropometric assessment
Attributes
Essential criteria
29. Ability to show empathy and understand the difficulties faced by people affected by cancer
30. Able and willing to work across sites