Job Title: Senior Grade Dietician
Department: Dietetics
Job Type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Blackrock Clinic is the leading and longest established private hospital and clinic in Ireland. Since it opened in the mid-1980s, the clinic has consistently built an unparalleled reputation in new high-tech surgical procedures, medical treatments, and ground-breaking diagnostics.
Blackrock Clinic is now part of Blackrock Health private hospital group along with the Hermitage Clinic, Galway Clinic, and Limerick Clinic, some of the most advanced hospitals in Irish private healthcare. As a JCI accredited hospital, Blackrock Clinic is a progressive and pioneering hospital in which care for the patient is central to everything we do.
Role Purpose:
The Senior Grade Clinical Dietitian will work as part of the multidisciplinary healthcare team to deliver evidence-based nutrition care that improves patients' health and is appropriate to their clinical needs. The post-holder will provide clinical expertise, support complex inpatient and outpatient cases and contribute to service development in a range of specialties.
Responsibilities will include providing dietetic services in line with Blackrock Clinic policies, Joint Commission International (JCI) standards, Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI) guidance, and current evidence-based guidelines. The post-holder will maintain professional competence through ongoing CPD, demonstrate senior clinical leadership, and uphold relevant professional and ethical standards.
Qualifications/Experience:
* BSc or MSc in Dietetics.
* CORU registration (required).
* Significant post-graduate clinical experience, including demonstrated expertise in complex clinical dietetics.
Key Responsibilities:
Patient Care
* Undertakes comprehensive dietary assessments using appropriate methodologies.
* Collects and documents relevant clinical, medical, biochemical, social and dietary data (retrospective, current and prospective intakes).
* Measures and interprets anthropometry using suitable methods for the patient/population, including body composition techniques relevant to oncology and bariatric patients.
* Selects and applies appropriate nutrition screening tools for both general and specialty populations.
* Analyses and critically evaluates complex data to draw justified conclusions and set priorities for nutrition care.
* Develops person-centred nutrition care plans in consultation with patients, families/carers and the multidisciplinary healthcare team, with advanced expertise in oncology and bariatric management.
* Formulates meal plans and feeding regimens aligned with individual goals and hospital policy, including bariatric post-operative nutrition protocols.
* Maintains clear, concise records using the Nutrition Care Process.
* Provides unambiguous instructions for staff involved in delivering nutrition care.
* Demonstrates willingness and ability to lead and further develop services in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including pre- and post-surgical care.
* Communicates effectively, employing a range of behaviour-change skills tailored to oncology and bariatric patient needs.
Nutrition education
* Assesses learning needs and potential barriers to learning, including literacy, health beliefs and cultural factors.
* Delivers individual and group education, adapting content and methods as required for a range of patient cohorts.
* Evaluates achievement of learning objectives by patients and/or families.
* Arranges appropriate follow-up in line with treatment goals; refers to outpatient, community or home-health services as needed.
* Contributes to structured education and training for colleagues within Blackrock Clinic.
* Provides in-service sessions and educational presentations for hospital and catering staff.
Supervisory & service functions
* Meets clinical productivity expectations; manages time and priorities effectively.
* Uses resources in a cost-effective manner.
* Supports infection prevention and control, safety and risk-management programmes.
* Assists with compliance to accreditation and regulatory standards, including JCI.
* Provides senior-level input into service planning and meeting objectives
Quality & performance improvement
* Reviews, evaluates and interprets current nutrition, medical and public-health literature.
* Integrates research findings into practice and draws practical conclusions.
* Periodically audits practice to ensure implementation of best-practice principles in oncology and bariatric care.
* Works with the catering team to ensure meals conform to prescribed diets and comply with standards of palatability and presentation.
Identifies and implements processes to improve patient satisfaction
Professional Development
* Maintains required registration and continuing professional competence (CPD).
* Engages in consistent, reflective practice.
* Develops and implements an individual plan for professional growth (e.g. participation in professional organisations, workshops and staff-development programmes).
* Attends relevant conferences/congresses and multidisciplinary meetings.
At the Blackrock Clinic, we are passionate about our people and believe in their development and growth. As a member of the team you can benefit from:
* Competitive salary
* Onsite parking
* Pension
* Discounted cafe
* Sports and Social club
* Employee Assistance Programme
* Discounted onsite pharmacy
Please Note:
Job descriptions are a reflection of the present service requirements and may be subject to review and amendments to meet the changing needs of the service. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.
Blackrock Clinic is an Equal Opportunities employer, and we are committed to creating an environment that promotes equality and dignity at work.
Blackrock Clinic is committed to providing reasonable accommodation when needed. Please advise if you have particular requirements, so that we can look into arranging reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. You can contact us at
It is essential that you have valid work permission for the Republic of Ireland to take up employment for this position, or in the case of critical skills, you must be eligible for a work permit.