Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic dietitian to join our renal dietetic team at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This is a Band 6 post ideal for an established renal dietitian, but for the right applicant with extensive clinical experience and a keen interest in renal dietetics, a Band 5/6 development post will be considered, with full training and progression to Band 6 dependent on completion of competences after 6-12 months.

You will have a varied caseload across Derriford Hospital, Plymouth Dialysis Unit and satellite units and community clinics throughout the South Hams, North West Devon and East Cornwall areas, so substantial travel by car will be required.You will be involved in all aspects of renal dietetics, including CKD, dialysis, AKI and transplantation.

You will work as a valued member of an established and supportive renal MDT and our large friendly dietetics department. Plymouth is a vibrant waterfront city, close to Dartmoor National Park and the beautiful coastline of South Devon and East Cornwall.

Interviews will be held in person.

***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 provide expert evidence-based renal dietetic advice to patients, carers and health care professionals. 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 provide complex nutritional counselling using motivational skills to overcome barriers to change particularly where there is non-adherence
• To provide renal nutrition education to groups of patients and staff
• To work closely with renal MDT members
• To be involved in all aspects of department activities and contribute to service evaluation and development projects
• To undertake student dietitian training
• To undertake significant travel by car to offsite locations such as Holsworthy, Launceston, Liskeard, Kingsbridge and Totnes (sites subject to change)

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
24 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£32,073 to £48,117 a year
NHS AfC: Band 5 or NHS AfC: Band 6 depending on experience PA
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
216-LT-DA8169340
Job locations
Derriford Hospital Plymouth
Derriford Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
To work with the renal MDT and the dietetic team to provide dietetic care to kidney patients under the care of the UHP Renal Directorate. These may include pre-dialysis, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and transplant patients, many of whom have multiple co-morbidities

To work autonomously to provide highly complex nutritional counselling to patients, carers and healthcare professionals. This will involve nutritional assessment (based on interpretation of biochemistry, anthropometry, dialysis adequacy, clinical condition and dietary history) and development of nutritional care plans which are both realistic, practical and evidence based (based on assessment of medical, social, economic, cultural and psychological factors)

To communicate with empathy and understanding where dietary change may be difficult to accept. To adapt communication methods and implement motivational interviewing skills where appropriate to overcome barriers to change

To monitor and review the outcomes of nutritional care plans and adjust to facilitate achievement of the desired goals in the light of changing medical treatment and personal circumstances

To act autonomously to assess risk and take appropriate action to ensure patient safety, for example, in patients with hyperkalaemia

To make recommendations to the medical team regarding adjustment of medications relating to management of CKD mineral bone disorder

To manage out-patient renal dietetic clinics and report on clinic activity statistics

To provide clinical support and cover for other staff as requested by the Renal Team Leader

To represent the renal dietetic service in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure that dietetic expertise contributes to multi-professional decisions on care

To advise on appropriate use of prescribable nutritional products within the renal service and to general practitioners.

For further information please see attached job description

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• BSc or equivalent in Dietetics
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of recent CPD

Desirable

• Relevant post graduate education eg KDSG Renal Course, PENG course
• Completion of a behaviour change/communication skills course
• Completion of Clinical Supervisory Skills course

Experience
Essential

• Demonstrable experience of working with renal patients
• Demonstrable evidence of significant relevant post-reg clinical dietetics experience in healthcare settings
• Demonstrable experience of working with patients with long term conditions
• Demonstrable experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• Demonstratable experience of managing junior staff
• Demonstratable experience of clinical audit and service improvement

Other
Essential

• Car driver and able to travel between hospital sites
• Enthusiasm for renal dietetics

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.

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.

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 Plymouth
Derriford Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Renal Dietitian Team Leader
Heather Sadler
heather.sadler1@nhs.net
01752439961