Job summary
- Main area
- Dietetics
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- 14 months (Fixed Term until 18.1.27)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Per annum)
- Job ref
- 432-HR920-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Ipswich Hospital
- Town
- Ipswich
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 05/12/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Practitioner - Dietetics
NHS AfC: Band 4
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Assistant Practitioner to join the Nutrition and Dietetic team.
This is a fixed term role until 18th January 2027 to cover maternity leave.
Based in the community you will work in care homes and occasionally small hospitals assessing and reviewing patients who are at risk of malnutrition.
You will be responsible for supporting the use of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and promoting food first principles across East Suffolk.
You will focus on improving nutrition, and the quality of life of older people. You will be expected to work with patients on a one to one basis with the ability to communicate nutrition care plans effectively.
You will be involved in running training and education sessions for community staff.
You will be expected to work without direct supervision but under the direction of qualified staff to carry out specific duties in the community. You will receive support and training to meet set competencies.
The Dietetic Team consists of 26 Dietitians and 7 Dietetic Support Staff. We are also supported by secretarial and administrative staff. You will have access to regular supervision and have opportunities to undertake continuing professional development as identified by your training objectives, including work shadowing and tutorials.
We are a well-recognised department for student training in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire and you will be expected to support this programme.
Main duties of the job
To work without direct supervision but under the direction of qualified staff to carry out specific duties in the community and hospital setting.
To assist the dietitian in the planning, implementation and evaluation of dietetic interventions.
To take responsibility for handover, prioritising own workload and referring to Dietitian where appropriate.
To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients and their carers.
To perform specific interventions as identified by competency achievement including
To monitor and evaluate individualised care plans for patients on nutrition support on a regular basis as determined by department protocols
To promote the use of nutritional screening using MUST and encourage the completion of food record charts and weight charts as required.
To advise on food first and food fortification techniques
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
If you require any further information, please contact Sara Hills, Community Team Leader on 01473 704000 or email [email protected] or Catherine Dyson Professional Lead for Dietetics on 01473 704000 or email [email protected]
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • NVQ level 3 or equivalent
- • Willingness to undertake competency training and further study ·
- • Numeracy and literacy skills
Desirable criteria
- • Foundation degree in Nutrition
- • Food Hygiene certificate
- • Royal Society of Health Associate Member or equivalent
- • Membership of British Dietetic Association
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Evidence of previous employment or voluntary work with members of the public
- • Previous experience of working in a healthcare environment
- • Experience of working with older people
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of menu planning/adaptation
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Basic principles of nutrition support
- • Understanding of the effects of illness and disability on people and their families
- • How culture, social and economic conditions can influence appetite and food intake
- • Awareness of developments within NHS
- • Dietary advice relating to the older person
- • Understanding of clinical governance issues e.g. health and safety, risk · Basic IT skills e.g. keyboard skills
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of audit
- • Basic presentation skills
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Ability to travel between locations
- • Ability to communicate effectively instructions and advice to other health professionals, patients and carers either on an individual basis, face to face, or by telephone or to groups
- • Ability to seek and use supervision appropriately
- • Ability to recognise own limits of competence
- • Ability to work with others of various grades
- • Self-awareness
- • Enthusiastic, organised and self-motivated
- • Enthusiastic about food and nutrition
- • Ability to work as part of a team
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Catherine Dyson
- Job title
- Professional Lead for Dietetics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01473 704000
List jobs with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors