Dietitian - Developmental

If you are looking for a rare and exciting opportunity as a Specialist Mental Health Dietitian in a forensic mental health service, this is the position for you.

The Forensic Services based at St Bernard's Hospital on the Ealing site in London are comprised of a number of specialist areas including Women's and Men's services at both low and medium security. The post holder will join an already established Occupational Therapy and AHP service.

You will be responsible for managing the referrals and subsequent caseload of service users requiring dietetics interventions.

We have a wider Allied Health Professions service comprising of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, activity coordinators and Recovery Support workers, Dieticians, SLT and Physiotherapists.

You will be supervised through preceptorship and supported by the Clinical Lead Dietitian to monitor the dietetic needs of the service users and promote dietetic advice and support to this specific population.

Main duties of the job

You will carry a clinical caseload and have responsibilities to provide a range of individual and group activities that develop service user' skills and function in line with recovery principles and practice.

The post also offers an opportunity to develop both clinical and managerial skills. We would ensure that you receive the relevant training and support when you join the team as required.

We have clear clinical models and pathways for service users moving from our acute wards into rehabilitation and through into the community with occupational performance skills being central to the readiness for transition through each stage of a service user recovery.

You will be instrumental in ensuring service user's physical health is optimised and ensure they can benefit from the available treatment options.

As an AHP Service we have a strong commitment to CPD within the trust and provide a range of opportunities for staff with the expectation that learning is shared and clinical excellence is achieved. Our other AHP colleagues work very closely with us and joint work and learning is integral within the trust.

About us

Forensic services are interesting and challenging areas to develop a career in Dietetics. We have a close knit team who are very supportive and have years of experience and expertise in this clinical area.

We have a wide range of services and facilitate cross service learning, teaching and development, within the trust. We provide a range of opportunities for staff with the expectation that learning is shared and clinical excellence is achieved. We have regular AHP forums, study days and learning lessons conferences.

Our working hours are Monday to Friday 8-4pm or 9-5pm. However, we recognise the need to be flexible and support both compressed hours, full time and part time hours, depending on the role and also school hours 10 till 2pm will be considered

As part of the interview process you may be offered other available posts within the trust. We are in close contact with other Heads of profession and an interview with forensics can ensure you are also made aware of other roles within the trust.

We expect and welcome informal enquiries and particularly visits to the service prior to interview. We consider this a key part of the process of understanding forensic services.