University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Specialist Cardiovascular Dietitian

The closing date is 24 November 2026

Job summary
We are seeking an enthusiastic dietitian to join our cardiovascular dietetic team. The post-holder will have responsibility for the provision of a specialist dietetic service to cardiovascular patients. This will include cardiac critical care, cardiac surgical, cardiac medical, and stroke/neurological patients. You will work as part of a patient focused multi-professional team and act as a source of knowledge and expertise in cardiovascular nutrition.

You will be expected to support other areas of the Dietetic service during absence of colleagues and supervise the work of dietetic assistants, students and junior dieticians as appropriate. You will be supported by a friendly team and have the opportunity to develop your skills.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is a large teaching hospital trust serving Plymouth and nearby areas of Devon and Cornwall.

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

Main duties of the job
To work as a member of the specialist cardiovascular multidisciplinary team based at Derriford Hospital.

• Responsibility for the provision of a specialist, evidence-based dietetic service to cardiovascular patients. This will include cardiac critical care, cardiac surgical, and cardiovascular medical patients as well as stroke patients.
• Provide education and act as a source of knowledge and expertise in cardiovascular nutrition.
• Develop ward based nutritional protocols and plans, participate in audit and research related to cardiovascular dietetics in order to improve clinical outcomes and develop the role and service.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 10 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 216-AM-DA8095858-A
Job locations: Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To provide expert evidence-based advice to patients, carers and health care professionals regarding the provision of nutritional care for cardiovascular patients, to include cardiac surgical, cardiac medical and stroke/neurological patients. This will involve nutritional diagnosis (including interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometrics, clinic condition and diet history) and the development and monitoring of treatment goals and plans.
• To act as a clinical resource, providing specialist knowledge to members of the dietetic department (and other staff as required) on cardiovascular conditions and the nutrition support required for these patients.
• Participate as a core-member in cardiovascular multidisciplinary team meetings. Attend ward rounds as necessary.
• To provide clinical support and cover for other staff as requested by the Stroke and Cardiac Team Leader and the Nutrition and Dietetic Service Manager.
• Be proactive and collaborative in clinical decision making underpinned by an enhanced level of theoretical and practical knowledge.
• Demonstrate a level of knowledge in relation to pattern of disease or disorder, marker of condition progression and range of treatment available at each stage of disorder or condition.
• To be experienced in the use of anthropometric equipment for assessment of nutritional status, such as weighing equipment, hand grip dynamometer, callipers and interpretation of results.
• To maintain accurate and timely dietetic patient records (paper and electronic) in line with national and local record keeping standards.
• To supervise and co-ordinate the safe and timely discharge of patients on artificial nutritional support, liaising with hospital and community services.
• Monitor the delivery of services and participate in audit as advised by the Line Manager or Head of Department.
• To work cooperatively with other professionals to ensure delivery of coordinated multidisciplinary service to patients requiring nutrition support. Maintain good communication with all agencies involved with patient care e.g. GPs, other dietitians in the peninsula, consultants, nurses, pharmacy, allied health professionals, catering etc.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise disease management. To translate complex information into an appropriate format for patients and carers.
• To work with patients with difficult diagnoses being sensitive to their physical and emotional needs at all times.
• To participate in the development of resources for patients and staff, ensuring that they are evidence based, up-to-date and in line with Trust policies on document control, and meet the needs of patients with a wide range of cultural and educational needs.
• Organise, deliver, develop, and evaluate cardiovascular nutrition training for staff groups including nurses, doctors, other members of the multidisciplinary team, and dietitians.
• To plan student training programmes for their cardiovascular weeks, including tutorials and peer assisted learning sessions. To provide supervision, assessment, and act as a keyworker to student dietitians throughout placements as required.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• HCPC registration as a Dietitian
• BSc in Dietetics or equivalent
• Completion of a Clinical Supervisory skills course

Desirable

• Completion of BDA introduction to critical care Course
• Completion of BDA PENG clinical update Course

Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Proven evidence of demonstrable experience of working with cardiovascular patients
• Proven evidence of demonstrable experience of enteral feeding and enteral feeding tubes
• Proven evidence of demonstrable experience of teaching groups of patients and staff

Desirable

• Computer skills in database use and statistical packages
• Demonstrable experience of developing evidence-based resources, guidelines or protocols

Aptitude and abilities
Essential

• Effective communication skills with all levels of healthcare staff as well as patients and carers
• Able to work autonomously and organise a varied workload
• Proven evidence of demonstrable experience of practical skills of nutritional support

Desirable

• Critical appraisal skills
• Ability to lift feeding equipment / deliver feeding supplies to patients on wards

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: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Stroke and cardiac dietetic team lead Rachel Goulding r.goulding1@nhs.net 01752430220

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Supporting documents
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