Supporting information

I am interested in working as a Band 5 Dietitian at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust. Having read through the person specification and job description it is clear that an ideal candidate
for this role is a dietitian who is registered with the HCPC and who possesses sound experience,
reasoning and skills in community nutrition support. I am equipped with the requisite theoretical
knowledge and practical skill sets desirable to thrive excellently on this job role as my academic
background, clinical and community health experiences have afforded me the opportunity to grow and
develop them.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) making me eligible for
this role. I have successfully turned in an application to be registered with the Health and Care
Professions Council (HCPC) in the United Kingdom. The registration procedure has been expedited
through the recently launched online application portal and this process now takes an average of 2-3
months. I applied and successfully made scrutiny fee payment on August 13th 2022. My application is
currently in the active scrutiny phase and all verification emails sent out to the concerned institutions
(school, employer, licensing body) have been duly replied. All things being equal my final registration
code will be issued in October 2022.

Previous and current work experiences have afforded me the platform to hone my abilities as it
concerns supporting patients (children, adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, adults, the
elderly) on their journey to wellness by providing the best nutrition care possible. As a Dietetic Intern in
the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu I was involved in:

• Running clinics and delivering group nutrition education sessions.

• Liaising with team members on the best management plan recommended for patients presenting with
complex cases.

• Collaborating with other allied health professionals to deliver wholesome care to patients.

• Providing supervisory guidance to student dietitians in training.

• Efficient management of caseloads.

My current employment as a Dietitian with Nourishright Consulting services further builds on my

• Community nutrition support informed by a nutrition/community assessment-data-driven approach

• Virtual dietary consultations with clients.

• Frequent and consistent online checks and support to ensure adherence to dietary and lifestyle
regimen.

Over time, my leadership prowess, time management ability, communication skills and team spirit have
metamorphosed. From volunteering to lead over 200 students as the President of the Association of
Nutrition Science Students during my undergraduate studies, to collaborating with a team of other allied
health workers to deliver wholesome patient care, these service platforms have refined my approach to
leadership, time management, communication, advocacy and team work. I can plan and execute
projects which is evident in my role as the principal investigator for my Bill and Mellinda Gates
Sponsored MSc research, where I led a team of 4 research assistants through the rigors of training and
data collection. I can align to the high standards of services provided by the United Lincolnshire
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and deliver topnotch solutions while meeting service needs.

When I am not leading a team, I am doing my bit to ensure that as a team member, I deliver on my
responsibilities to ensure the overall team goal is achieved even when this means taking on tasks
outside my traditional roles and stipulated working hours. I am motivated and driven with a fine sense
of humour which comes in handy to deal with pressure and stress. I am proficient in the use of Microsoft
Word and PowerPoint for report writing and advanced presentation. I can effectively communicate my
thoughts to the concerned audience in an engaging manner. This prowess is key to fulfilling the role of
teaching and training students, and health and social care professionals as required.
I am confident in my understanding of behaviour change communication in nutrition and public health.
My MSc training provided the platform I needed to learn this. The relevance of behaviour change
communication in nutrition and public health in ensuring the adoption of appropriate nutrition and
health practices was further revealed through the findings of my MSc research work. This
implementation science research sought to provide information on the determinants of early initiation
of breastfeeding among mothers of healthy neonates in Imo state, Nigeria, in a bid to bridge the
implementation gap. One of the findings revealed that mothers who were properly educated on the
concept and benefits of the World Health Organization-recommended practice of early initiation of
breastfeeding within one hour of birth were more likely to practice it than those who lacked knowledge
of the subject matter. This has recently given more practical relevance to my understanding of
behaviour change communication. I am also aware of the dietary guidelines and recommendations
issued by various regulatory bodies including the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and
the British Dietetics Association (BDA).

My professional conduct and value system align with the values of the NHS. I believe in prioritizing
patient care and a patient-focused approach. I place an uncompromising premium on keeping to sound
ethical principles when dealing with patients. Notwithstanding the backgrounds, perspectives and
beliefs of people, I respect their opinions on issues and circumstances. I am a strong advocate for
brilliant outcomes through the adoption of the highest possible standard of quality service delivery. This
can be seen playing out in my academic and extracurricular track record of juggling the responsibilities
of a student leader while graduating with a second class upper (Honours) and as the best graduating
student of my set. I can thrive independently and, in a team, engaging with individuals from a different
background, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religious belief etc. I am a strong advocate for zero
discrimination, equal opportunities and inclusion for all people and ensuring good work practices and
relationships. It is my belief that my skills, experience and attributes will be a great asset to the team at
the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

I have an unbiased knack for continuous personal and professional development. This has informed my
recent interest to learn data analytics in a bid to transfer that pertinent skill set to my responsibilities as
a Dietitian. Currently, I am taking a Google-authorized, self-paced, virtual training on data analytics
where I hope to learn how to crunch data, draw insights and make informed decisions. This will further
boost my service delivery as a Dietitian since evidence-based decision making, from relevant patient
data, lies at the heart of the practice. I have a teachable attitude and ask questions to learn from others
as I am aware I am not an island of knowledge. I look forward to leveraging on the supervisory support
needed to integrate into the new workforce at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
and to explore the various learning and development opportunities available for me to excel greatly on
this job role.
I understand and know how to apply empathy and compassion as a way to gain the trust of patients in
other to improve rapport and compliance to their respective nutrition intervention plan. I believe that
my values synchronize with that of the NHS and as a result this make me a suitable fit to join the
workforce at the United Linco