Highly Specialist Mental Health Dietitian

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Highly Specialist Mental Health Dietitian

The closing date is 10 November 2026

Apply for this job

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 description

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.

Job description

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

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

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act
• Research Skills

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

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

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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.

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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 (Opens in a new tab).

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Maudsley Hospital

London

SE5 8AZ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

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/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Dr

Toby Pillinger

[email protected]

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

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