Job summary
- Main area
- Dietetics
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (maternity cover)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Compressed hours
- Job ref
- 203-CS1036
- Employer
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Warwick Hospital
- Town
- Warwick
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 per annum (Band 3 development post considered)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/11/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 10/12/2025
Employer heading
Dietetic Assistant Practitioner - Home Enteral Feeding
Band 4
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
Many of the roles we advertise have a requirement for a DBS check to be carried out. If you are successful for a role and it requires a DBS check the Trust will carry out the initial check and subscription to the DBS Update Service, however successful candidates will be expected to cover the associated costs . Details of this will be sent to successful candidates in their offer letter.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2
We appreciate you completing the survey.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Job overview
PLEASE NOTE: Visa sponsorship is not available for this role so you must have right to work in the UK.
We are looking for a self-motivated Dietetic Assistant Practitioner who has experience of working in a health, social care or education setting to support our Specialist Dietitians to deliver a high quality service to tube fed adults and children in their own homes and care homes in Warwickshire.
Previous experience working in a role that supports nutrition & hydration or working in a dietetic department is beneficial. Previous experience of working with patients with stomas or feeding tubes and working with children and families would be advantageous.
This position is helping to look after patients who are fed artificially, via a feeding tube, and will not typically include advice on traditional nutrition, or healthy eating.
Please note this role will be reimbursed at band 3 level until the necessary competencies and qualifications are obtained.
We continue to look for ways to develop our workforce and have experience supporting our Dietetic Assistant Practitioners interested in becoming registered Dietitians through their Dietetic apprenticeships.
This post will involve countywide travel in Warwickshire, so you must have independent means of transport.
Department video
Amy – Dietetic Assistant Practitioner and Trainee Dietitian
SWFT Dietetics Team: Dietetic Assistant Practitioner and Trainee Dietitian
Main duties of the job
To assist the Specialist Dietitians to facilitate the discharge of patients on enteral feeds in a planned and effective manner.
To assist the Specialist Dietitians to ensure adults and children receiving enteral feeding at home receive and use the correct equipment, ancillaries and enteral feeds.
To assist the Specialist Dietitians to monitor patients requiring nutritional intervention via enteral feeding tubes.
To monitor and review patients on established feeding regimens, using a range of techniques including anthropometric measurements and recommend changes within assessed competency level
To monitor and review adults with a diagnosed Neurological condition that have established dietetic plans in place, using a range of techniques including anthropometric measurements and recommend changes within assessed competency level
To assess and advise on short-term issues with established patients on enteral feeding following an agreed flowchart escalating when required.
To provide training and support to patients and carers on routine feeding tube care to prevent complications.
To assess problems to prevent tube complications, undertake procedures, advise on treatment of stoma and tube problems within assessed competency level, providing and ordering spare parts as required.
To undertake clerical duties relating to the cost effective provision of the enteral feeding service including using electronic patient systems.
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
Undertake a range of anthropometric measurements of patients already seen by the Specialist Dietitians to assist in monitoring nutritional status.
Monitor and review patients on established feeding regimens using a range of contact methods making changes within assessed competency level
To undertake reviews of care home residents and patients in their own homes, with neurological conditions, already seen by Specialist Dietitians to assist in monitoring nutritional status, including (as appropriate) anthropometric measurements, clinical condition, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) score, reported diet history and social circumstances and use clinical reasoning skills to interpret data collected and plan individualised service user care, using agreed care pathways as a basis.
To provide appropriate nutrition treatment plans based on ‘Food First’ principles & monitor / review dietary needs, involving nursing staff, catering staff and other health care professionals when indicated.
To provide training and support to patients and carers on routine feeding tube care to prevent complications.
To undertake procedures to prevent tube complications, advise on treatment of stoma and tube problems within assessed competency level
To assess problems reported with feeding tubes and provide replacements parts and accessories to ensure feeding at home can be maintained
To assess any short-term issues at review or in an ad-hoc manner and provide advice on a plan within assessed competency level.
Liaise with the multidisciplinary team regarding feeding regimens, stoma and tube management, stock checks and equipment requirements.
Deliver feeding equipment to wards and ensure the correct ancillaries and enteral feeds are provided to patients to ensure the discharge of patients on enteral feeds is effectively planned and co-ordinated.
Liaise with the Home Enteral Feeding Company Nurse to organise pre discharge enteral feed pump training.
Liaise with out of area teams to ensure a smooth discharge for individuals who are not remaining in the Trust’s boundaries.
Carry out stock checks in patients homes ensuring the correct equipment; ancillaries and feed are being used.
Inform the Specialist Dietitians if any inappropriate items have been delivered and are being used and take appropriate action as instructed by the specialist dietitian
Communicate complex information including changes required to the patient / carer and relevant healthcare professionals as per competencies or as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians.
Arrange for any equipment or ancillaries that are not required to be uplifted by the Home Enteral Feeding Company and amend equipment / ancillary regimens.
Clerical
Book home visit appointments as agreed with the Specialist Dietitians.
Register patients on the electronic Home Enteral Feeding System as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians to facilitate the commencement of deliveries.
Make changes to patient’s equipment or feeding regimens using the electronic Home Enteral Feeding System as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians.
Complete correspondence as instructed by the Specialist Dietitians to relevant healthcare professionals / Home Enteral Feeding Company
Check invoices received relating to enteral feed, equipment and ancillaries delivered to patients’ homes against electronic patient databases, querying any discrepancies with Home Specialist Dietitians, patients and carers either by telephone or by carrying out a home visit.
Inform the Home Enteral Feeding Company and Dietetic Manager re any invoice discrepancies, keeping record of any errors and ensuring credit notes are received.
Maintain the departmental Home Enteral Feeding Database and the BANS (British Artificial Nutrition Survey) Register.
Enter patient activity on the Trusts electronic patient information system and maintain patient records as per Trust Policy.
Stock Control
Ensure department stock levels of enteral feeding equipment and ancillaries are maintained by liaising with the Home Enteral Feeding Company.
Ensure department stocks of nutritional products are maintained including checking use by dates and to liaise with Companies providing Nutritional Products to order Nutritional Products.
Training and Education
Assist the Specialist Dietitians to prepare organise & deliver training relating to Enteral Feeding.
Assist in the induction of new staff and dietetic students within the dietetic department as appropriate.
Provide training on enteral feeding equipment and processes on an ongoing basis with staff, dietetic students, nursing home staff, carers and patients.
To training patients and carers on routine tube care and prevention of tube and stoma complications
Clinical Governance
Plan and organises own workload and evaluate own practice with supervision from the Specialist Dietitians as required.
Actively participate in keeping up to date, attend relevant learning activities, mandatory and statutory training and participate in the Personal Development Review process working to achieve agreed set objectives.
Ensure relevant training is attended to maintain competency regarding medical devices required within the job role.
Complete dietetic electronic patient records in accordance with clinical records policy.
Assist in clinical audit projects particularly those relating to Home Enteral Feeding.
Follow department and trust clinical guidelines, policies and procedures.
Raise local and national incidents regarding medical device failures and liaise with the Trust’s Patient Safety and Risk Manager to ensure reports are provided in a timely manner. Collate information for monitoring trends and disseminate this information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A – C English and Maths or equivalent
- Minimum Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent Higher Apprenticeship or willingness to work towards attaining it
- Care Certificate or willingness to work towards attaining it
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience delivering care and working in a health or social care or education setting
- Experience working as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
- Experience using online databases
- Experience working with adults and / or children with long term illnesses and disabilities, some of whom may be terminally ill
- Previous experience of enteral feeding
- Experience in supporting others at work
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Able to complete nutrition assessments including taking anthropometric measurements
- Able to monitor and evaluate established treatments and make changes as per agreed competency level
- Able to undertake tube and stoma care as per agreed competency level
- Able to advise and support regarding replacement or repair of feeding tubes as per agreed competency level
- Able to communicate information in an understandable form to patients and their carers using motivational and negotiation skills
- Able to collect and record information accurately
- Good customer care skills face to face, by telephone and email
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload
- Able to delegate appropriately
- Able to work autonomously
Desirable criteria
- Able to use a computer and have basic knowledge of word processing, e-mail, dietary analysis packages and electronic patient records.
- Experience using online databases
- Clinical supervision skills
Personal Qualiites
Essential criteria
- Able to work as part of a team
- Aware of own limitations
- Able to recognise when escalation to a registered professional is required
- Committed to client centred, non- discriminatory practice
- Committed to personal and professional development
Other
Essential criteria
- Passes pre-employment checks
- Able to undertake activities requiring light / moderate physical exertion e.g. moving and handling enteral feeding equipment, ancillaries and training materials using appropriate manual handling techniques and equipment
- Able to frequently concentrate to cross check invoices against electronic databases and when carrying out stock checks
- Able to be occasionally exposed to distressing or emotional situations whilst visiting patients with long term illnesses and disabilities, some of whom may be terminally ill.
- Able to be occasionally exposed to unpleasant working conditions
- Must have independent means of transport
- Must be willing to work flexibly within the requirements of the service
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
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
- Lyndsay Chandler
- Job title
- Home Enteral Feeding Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01926 600818
- Additional information
Alternative contact:
Kathy Lenehan, Dietetic Service Manager Tel: 01926 600818 option 3.
Email: [email protected]
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