Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Dietitian - Eating Disorders

The closing date is 08 April 2026

Job summary

We are excited to welcome a passionate and skilled Specialist Dietitian to join our warm and supportive Acorn Day Unit team which is part of the Hertfordshire Community Eating Disorder Service. In this rewarding role, you will deliver high-quality, person-centred dietetic care to our service users. Your responsibilities will include undertaking comprehensive assessments, collaboratively developing meal plans with service users and their carers, and setting meaningful weekly nutritional goals.

As a key member of our multi-disciplinary team, you will offer expert guidance and training to staff involved in meal support and nutrition-focused interventions, helping to ensure the safe and effective management of any nutrition-related risks. This role also provides opportunities for leadership, with the Dietitian occasionally stepping into a shift-lead position to support the smooth and coordinated running of the service.

Main duties of the job

Assessment and collaborative formulation of a meal plans for people under Acorn Day Unit Collaborative weekly nutritional goal setting with service users.

Providing group nutritional psycho-education within the Acorn Day Unit.

Guidance to team members on supporting weekly nutritional goals.

Nutritional psycho-education to team members.

Contribution to delivery of the Service Specification.

Contribution to service evaluation.

Liaison with dietitians/health or social care colleagues around service users nutrition.

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.

The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Our Trust values are:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£40,617 to £48,778 a year per annum pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-SS-10167

Job locations

Acorn Day Unit, Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL8 6HG

Parkway

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Dietitian will:

Provide specialist assessment of nutrition of those under the care of under of the and the Acorn Day Unit.

Provide dietetic input over a range of mediums and in different locations.

In collaboration with service users and carers the Dietician will formulate a meal plan and set weekly goals related to improving nutrition with the aim of a 0.5kg weight restoration Use high level skills to identify and overcome barriers to nutritional change using interviewing, counselling, and motivational skills. This will require well developed skills in negotiation, persuasion, tact and diplomacy.

Guide staff supporting delivery of nutritional goals.

Be responsible for the development and delivery of an evidenced based dietetic service under the Acorn Day Unit.

Work collaboratively with CEDS and any other health providers working with service users.

Provide nutritional psycho- education to service users and carers Work closely with the Acorn Day Unit nurse practitioner, and team lead to ensure any risks associated with nutritional changes are managed safely.

Participate in the teams clinical meetings.

Participate in other service user meetings as required/appropriate (CEDS team meeting, ward meetings, CPAs, etc.) Contribute to delivery of the Acorn Day Unit service specification including contributing to data collection and evaluation.

Participate in clinical, managerial, and professional supervision.

Maintaining registration to required professional bodies.

For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Dietitian will:

Provide specialist assessment of nutrition of those under the care of under of the and the Acorn Day Unit.

Provide dietetic input over a range of mediums and in different locations.

In collaboration with service users and carers the Dietician will formulate a meal plan and set weekly goals related to improving nutrition with the aim of a 0.5kg weight restoration Use high level skills to identify and overcome barriers to nutritional change using interviewing, counselling, and motivational skills. This will require well developed skills in negotiation, persuasion, tact and diplomacy.

Guide staff supporting delivery of nutritional goals.

Be responsible for the development and delivery of an evidenced based dietetic service under the Acorn Day Unit.

Work collaboratively with CEDS and any other health providers working with service users.

Provide nutritional psycho- education to service users and carers Work closely with the Acorn Day Unit nurse practitioner, and team lead to ensure any risks associated with nutritional changes are managed safely.

Participate in the teams clinical meetings.

Participate in other service user meetings as required/appropriate (CEDS team meeting, ward meetings, CPAs, etc.) Contribute to delivery of the Acorn Day Unit service specification including contributing to data collection and evaluation.

Participate in clinical, managerial, and professional supervision.

Maintaining registration to required professional bodies.

For a more detailed description, please see attached JD and PS.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in nutrition and dietetics
  • Health Professions Council Registration
  • Evidence of further professional development
  • British Dietetic Association Registration

Desirable

  • Additional Training in the field of eating disorders

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of assessing and delivering tailored evidence based dietetic interventions
  • Experience of motivating people when there are barriers to making change

Desirable

  • Experience of working with people with eating disorders
  • Knowledge of complications/risks to those who have an eating disorder
  • Awareness of NICE recommended interventions for those with an eating disorder
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Post Graduate Diploma in nutrition and dietetics
  • Health Professions Council Registration
  • Evidence of further professional development
  • British Dietetic Association Registration

Desirable

  • Additional Training in the field of eating disorders

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of assessing and delivering tailored evidence based dietetic interventions
  • Experience of motivating people when there are barriers to making change

Desirable

  • Experience of working with people with eating disorders
  • Knowledge of complications/risks to those who have an eating disorder
  • Awareness of NICE recommended interventions for those with an eating disorder

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Acorn Day Unit, Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL8 6HG

Parkway

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Acorn Day Unit, Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL8 6HG

Parkway

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader Acorn Day Unit

Rebecca Morris

Rebecca.morris78@nhs.net

01707363034

Details

Date posted

20 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£40,617 to £48,778 a year per annum pro rata (Inclusive of 5% HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-SS-10167

Job locations

Acorn Day Unit, Rosanne House, Parkway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. AL8 6HG

Parkway

Welwyn Garden City

AL8 6HG


Supporting documents

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