Job overview
Lead Dietitian - Food First
Department: Nutrition & Dietetic
Up to 37.5 hours per week - Fixed-term/secondment opportunity for 12 months from October
Band 7 £46, - £52, per annum pro rata
Flexible working (including some hours working from home) & Part-time hours will be considered
The vacancy is for a band 7 post; however, we will accept applications from dietitians working at band 6 level, who have reduced leadership experience & would work in a B6 role until competencies are achieved.
Are you an experienced Community Dietitian ready to take the next step in your career? We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated individual to lead our Food First and Prescribing Support Dietetic Service in Milton Keynes.
This is a 12-month leadership role within our innovative & supportive community dietetic team, working across care homes & primary care settings. You’ll lead a small, dedicated team comprising a Dietitian & a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, collaborating closely with colleagues across Bedfordshire & Luton.
We pride ourselves on our collaborative culture, excellent support systems & commitment to professional development. We also host student placements from the University of Surrey & Oxford Brookes University.
For informal enquiries or to arrange a visit, please contact Katy Savage – Lead Dietitian, Food First & Prescribing Support at
Interview date: 28.07.
Main duties of the job
What We Offer:
1. A forward-thinking, friendly team environment
2. Strong admin and assistant support
3. On-site accommodation (subject to availability)
4. Access to CPD and leadership development opportunities
5. Support from a dedicated Therapy Practice Education Team
We welcome applications for both fixed-term contracts and secondments.
Aim of the role:
6. Develop, lead and coordinate a Food First team in Milton Keynes
7. You will have knowledge of emerging clinical developments, provide advice to inform service development in the speciality in support of the Dietetic Service Lead
8. To demonstrate and role model specialist clinical assessment and treatment skills for an agreed caseload of patients
9. To continually review staffing levels/skill mix in accordance with the changing needs of the service and informing the Dietetic Service Lead of any problems that may arise
10. To act as a source of expertise in specialist area for patients, carers, medical staff and other health professionals, prescribing support team, GPs and colleagues
Working for our organisation
"We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute"
"73.8% of this team would strongly recommend their organisation as an excellent place to work" (NHS Staff Survey )
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
11. Free on-site parking
12. Free tea and coffee
13. Great flexible working opportunities
14. Discounted gym membership
15. Lease car scheme
16. Generous annual leave and pension scheme
17. On site nursery (chargeable)
18. Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is ideal for a dietitian with substantial community experience and a passion for service development and leadership. You’ll bring strong communication, time management, and teamworking skills, along with the flexibility to adapt in a fast-paced environment.
You’ll be part of a vibrant department based at Milton Keynes University Hospital, home to over 30 registered dietitians, dietetic support workers, and admin staff. Our service spans acute, community, paediatric, and learning disability care.
Leadership & management:
19. To provide clinical and managerial leadership to the Food First team by working collaboratively with other Lead Dietitians and the Dietetic Service Lead
20. To plan and co-ordinate the day-to-day provision of Food First team
21. To provide leadership and oversight for the care home programme which works with all care homes for older people to meet and maintain the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) regulation 14 (meeting nutritional and hydration needs) and Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH) priorities.
Clinical practice:
22. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, ensuring a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management by supporting more junior staff to do likewise.
23. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of community patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of time. To oversee the caseloads of more junior staff.
24. To undertake comprehensive specialist assessment, treatment and discharge of patients including those with diverse and complex presentations and multiple pathologies. Use specialist clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, investigative and analytical skills.
Professional duties:
25. To maintain own competency to practice through CPD activities, demonstrating awareness of new trends and developments and their incorporation into practice as necessary.
26. To actively participate in the in-service training programmes by attending and delivering presentations, tutorials, individual training sessions, peer review, external courses and professional clinical interest groups.
Governance:
27. To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and their application to work situation.
28. To assess and manage clinical risk within patient caseload in a wide variety of settings, providing guidance to junior staff.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.