Professional Head of Nutrition, SLT & Dietetics

Job summary

The Professional Head of Nutrition, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetics provides strategic, professional and operational leadership for the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics Directorate. The post is a key member of the corporate nutrition group and will work in partnership with the CBU Head of Operations and Head of Nursing. They will support the Care Group triumvirate with the delivery of all areas/objectives that fall within the operational and professional portfolio of work for the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics services as agreed with the Care Group Operations Director.

Main duties of the job

Proactively and positively contribute to the successful overall performance of all Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics services and the Care Group; therefore, in turn contributing to the successful overall performance of the Trust.

Proactively, meaningfully and consistently demonstrate the Trust Values in your everyday practice, decision making and interactions with patients and colleagues. (See the section in this document on the Trust's values and promises).

Deliver excellent levels of customer service to all patients/visitors and staff at the Trust.

Develop an organisational culture that fosters collaborative working among all staff groups, to ensure a focused commitment to delivering high quality services and outcomes within own portfolio of work / Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics and more broadly across the Care Group and Trust.

Act as an advocate for Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics services, the Care Group and the Trust, and its contribution to the Health Service arena, through creating effective partnerships and relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Comply with corporate governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Care Group and the Trust.

Support the Trust culture of collaborative, flexible cross-team working and commitment to delivering quality services and outcomes.

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Details

Date posted: 30 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 205-8167825
Job locations: UHNM, Newcastle Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST46QG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence
• To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trusts appraisal process.
• Ensure the development of effective workforce strategies and develop comprehensive workforce / people plans sufficient to meet the directorates, Care Groups and Trusts strategic objectives.
• Act as part of the AHP Leadership Forum identifying and delivering against the AHP Delivery Plan to support the Trust objectives.
• Ensure good people management practice and effective team working is operating across the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics services and support the improvement of and cross-service working where appropriate.
• Champion good practice and creative thinking to support recruitment and retention of staff.
• To advise, in conjunction with appropriate others, on the recruitment and induction of the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics workforce.
• Ensure all people related key performance indicators are achieved.
• Ensure feedback secured via the national staff survey, and any local staff surveys, are acted upon to deliver a continuous improvement in the staff experience.
• Take a lead in developing a culture across the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics services / portfolio of work that proactively promotes and values equality, diversity and inclusion across all practice.
• Promote a just and learning culture based on openness, learning, coaching and continuous improvement and support continuing personal development.
• Promotes an environment that improves health, well-being, safety and security for staff.
• To support, lead, and mentor the Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics Senior Management Team and support managers affiliated to Nutrition, SLT and Dietetics.

Person Specification

Education & Training
Essential

• Master Level Education appropriate to role
• Evidence of continuing education
• Evidence of formal Leadership qualification
• Evidence of Project Management qualification

Desirable

• Evidence of Mentoring qualification

Experience
Essential

• Evidence of working across boundaries to develop networks with key stakeholders
• Evidence of managing a diverse team
• Excellent written & communication skills

Desirable

• Experience of delivering training programmes & presentations

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Delivers work of consistent and predictable high quality
• Consistently professional, collaborative and compassionate in their approach

Desirable

• Minimum of 3 years experience in a senior role

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: University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
Address: UHNM, Newcastle Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST46QG, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Nursing: Claire Hughes
Email: claire.hughes2@uhnm.nhs.uk
Phone: 01782674873