Assistant Practitioner - Dietetics

NHS; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an Assistant Practitioner in Dietetics to support nutrition care for older patients. In this role, you will assess and review patients, promote food first principles, and work with community staff, ensuring high-quality nutrition support and education. The position offers training opportunities and a collaborative work environment with a focus on patient-centered care.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave on commencement

Access to NHS discounts

Staff Health and Wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake competency training and further study.
• Numeracy and literacy skills.
• Experience in a healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist the dietitian in planning and evaluating dietetic interventions.
• Monitor and evaluate care plans for patients.
• Communicate complex information effectively to patients.

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals

Ability to work as part of a team

Ability to travel between locations

Enthusiastic about food and nutrition

Education

oNVQ level 3 or equivalent

Foundation degree in Nutrition

Royal Society of Health Associate Member or equivalent

Membership of British Dietetic Association

Job description

Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Practitioner – Dietetics

The closing date is 05 December 2025

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

About us

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

Job responsibilities

If you require any further information, please contact Sara Hills, Community Team Leader on 01473 704000 or email [e-mail] or Catherine Dyson Professional Lead for Dietetics on 01473 704000 or email [e-mail]

Person Specification

Qualifications

• oNVQ level 3 or equivalent
• oWillingness to undertake competency training and further study .
• oNumeracy and literacy skills
• oFoundation degree in Nutrition
• oRoyal Society of Health Associate Member or equivalent
• oMembership of British Dietetic Association

Experience

• oEvidence of previous employment or voluntary work with members of the public
• oPrevious experience of working in a healthcare environment
• oExperience of working with older people
• oExperience of menu planning/adaptation

Knowledge

• oBasic principles of nutrition support
• oUnderstanding of the effects of illness and disability on people and their families
• oHow culture, social and economic conditions can influence appetite and food intake
• oAwareness of developments within NHS
• oDietary advice relating to the older person
• oUnderstanding of clinical governance issues e.g. health and safety, risk . Basic IT skills e.g. keyboard skills
• oExperience of audit
• oBasic presentation skills

Skills

• oAbility to travel between locations
• oAbility 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
• oAbility to seek and use supervision appropriately
• oAbility to recognise own limits of competence
• oAbility to work with others of various grades
• oEnthusiastic, organised and self-motivated
• oEnthusiastic about food and nutrition
• oAbility to work as part of a team

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.

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£27,485 to £30,162 a yearper annum pro rata