Job summary
We are looking for an experienced Dietitian to lead dietetic input within a specialist weight management and metabolic health service for people with severe mental illness, called 'TUNE-UP'.

Delivered in partnership between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the service brings together multidisciplinary expertise to address weight gain, obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk in people whose needs may be affected by mental illness and psychiatric medication.

You will need a relevant dietetic qualification, current HCPC registration, NHS experience and significant post-registration clinical dietetic experience, including within mental health services. Your expertise should include weight management, metabolic syndrome, disordered eating and nutrition support, supported by evidence of ongoing professional development.

You will combine strong clinical skills with empathy and a motivational approach to behaviour change, adapting care to each person's needs and circumstances. This is an opportunity to help shape specialist dietetic care, contribute to service development and evaluation, and support improvements in both physical health and mental wellbeing.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job
You will lead dietetic input within the specialist multidisciplinary weight management and metabolic health service, managing a complex, predominantly outpatient caseload of adults with severe mental illness.

Working autonomously, you will undertake comprehensive nutritional assessments and develop individualised care plans that account for mental illness, psychiatric medication, physical health, eating patterns and social circumstances. You will deliver and review interventions for weight management through individual appointments and group sessions, using face-to-face and virtual formats as appropriate.

You will work closely with service users, carers and colleagues in medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and psychology, alongside partner dietetic services at Guy's and St Thomas', to integrate dietary care into the wider treatment pathway.

You will contribute to developing and refining dietetic pathways and resources, provide education and training, and lead or contribute to audit, service evaluation, quality improvement and research. You will also support student placements and provide supervision to junior dietetic colleagues as agreed with the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics.

About us
This post sits within a specialist service delivered in partnership between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, combining expertise in mental health, weight management and metabolic health.

SLaM works closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London and is part of King's Health Partners. The role offers opportunities to contribute to clinical care, service development and research within this wider partnership.

Details
Date posted: 27 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £58,133 to £65,261 a year per annum incl. of HCAs (inner)
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 334-CLI-8332014
Job locations: Maudsley Hospital, London, SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the responsibilities and requirements.

Overall job purpose and responsibilities include:

• Lead the delivery of dietetic input within the specialist multidisciplinary weight management and metabolic health service for people with severe mental illness.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner, assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating evidence-based, person-centred interventions for a complex and predominantly outpatient caseload.
• Deliver dietary care for overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, disordered eating and nutritional needs associated with mental illness and psychiatric medication. This includes dietary support for people prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists.
• Work closely with SLaM colleagues and partner services at Guys and St Thomas to provide coordinated care and integrate dietetic interventions into multidisciplinary pathways.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of care pathways, educational materials and service delivery.
• Provide information, education and training for service users, carers and healthcare colleagues on nutrition, hydration and dietary management of disease.
• Contribute specialist advice on food provision and nutritional supplements, taking account of clinical needs and cultural, religious and personal preferences.
• Identify and lead or contribute to research, audit, service evaluation and quality improvement priorities.

Person Specification
Qualifications (Essential)

• HCPC Registered Dietitian
• BSc Degree/ Postgraduate diploma / MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics
• Training/experience in motivation /behaviour change/counselling skills
• Strong evidence of continuing professional development
• Membership of British Dietetic Association (BDA) or other body conferring professional indemnity insurance

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Clinical supervision training
• Student Training course
• Membership of relevant professional special interest groups i.e BDA Specialist Mental Health Group

Experience (Essential)

• Significant post-registration clinical dietetic experience, including within mental health services.
• Clinical dietetic experience to include: nutrition support, and managing patients at risk of refeeding syndrome; oral nutritional supplements
• Dietetics experience related to food provision and catering
• Experience in clinical dietetic practice specifically in disordered eating, weight management and metabolic syndrome
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Knowledge (Essential)

• Excellent overall knowledge of clinical nutrition and dietetic care.
• Knowledge of clinical dietetics in mental health, including side effects of psychiatric medication
• Excellent knowledge of overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome and its management
• Excellent knowledge of disordered eating, drivers, and dietetic assessment and support
• Knowledge of the cultural diversity of the client population, in particular food choices, cooking and eating practices

Knowledge (Desirable)

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act
• Research Skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Maudsley Hospital, London, SE5 8AZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.slam.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Dr Toby Pillinger, toby.pillinger@kcl.ac.uk

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice is available on request.