Community Dietetic Assistant

NHS; Lowestoft; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

A community healthcare provider in Lowestoft seeks a Community Dietetic Assistant to support a busy dietetic team. You will conduct patient weight checks, organize supplement trials, and monitor care plans under supervision. This part-time role (28.5 hours/week) includes flexible work arrangements. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience, with a commitment to improving patient outcomes. Join a supportive team that prioritizes nutrition and patient wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Previous experience of working in a health care environment.
• Previous experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public.
• Previous experience of working within a Dietetic Team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high standards of clinical care for patients.
• Assist in practical aspects of supporting patients to meet their nutritional needs.
• Participate in audit and continuous learning to improve patient outcomes.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Self-directed learning

Ability to work autonomously

Critical appraisal

Education

4 GCSEs (C grade or above, including English and Mathematics)

Health or social related qualification/training to diploma or NVQ3

Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)

Job description

Are you a self‑motivated and resourceful individual, eager to work with a busy community dietetic team and further your experience and knowledge of nutrition and dietetics? This may be your exciting opportunity become a Community Dietetic Assistant, joining our small and friendly team working within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH).

You will be supporting a team of Community Dietitians and a Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner. You will complete weight checks, organise and assess supplement trials, monitor the patients and evaluate the effectiveness of the care plans created by the Dietitian. You will be supported with regular clinical supervision and work within agreed guidance/care pathways. This is a chance to make a real difference to the nutrition and wellbeing of the patients and carers, many of whom have life limiting conditions.

This is a part‑time post of 28.5 hours a week and will include working from Kirkley Mill Surgery or hot desking, working from home and visits to patients homes.

Please Note: Under current UK immigration rules, this role does not meet the eligibility requirements for sponsorship under either the Health and Care Worker visa or the Skilled Worker visa routes.

Main duties of the job

The main role is to work with the Dietitians and generally assist in the practical aspects of supporting patients to meet their nutritional needs such as weight checks, arranging supplement trials and monitoring tolerance to supplements, to assess food diaries using a computer programme. The work will be varied and could include administration tasks, as well as face to face or telephone contact with patient under the direct supervision of the Dietitians or Community Dietetic Assistant practitioner. In accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways. To complete basic assessments and monitor the effectiveness of the care plan designed by the dietitian.

There will be opportunities to share your knowledge and skills via teaching sessions to other professionals mainly promoting the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool. You will become involved with service development, projects and events in the community. You would be required to participate in audit and continuous learning to improve patient outcomes.

The Community Dietetic team is a valued member of East Coast Community Healthcare. We are a small team but work closely with the wider MDT and neighbouring Dietetic services. We are flexible, approachable and open to new ideas. ECCH recognises the importance of flexible working and the dietetic team is well resourced and supported to work independently out of the office. We are cost conscious, flexible and are paper light.

About us

ECCH is well established health care provider and has been successfully delivering NHS care within the community since 2011. We provide a range of NHS, community health and social care services predominantly across the easterly region of the Norfolk/Suffolk borders.

We are aligned to NHS terms and conditions, and offer many employee benefits, to find out more about us visit our website - www.ecch.org. We are a social enterprise and staff owned organisation which means staff can opt to be shareholders and have a real say in how ECCH is run and evolves to deliver healthcare for the future.

At the heart of our ambition, we work in partnership with and for the community to become the provider and employer of choice for community healthcare.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible as this job may close earlier than the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.

AI

We recognise that AI tools are increasingly used in professional settings. While we encourage strong applications, we value authenticity and an accurate reflection of skills and experience.

Applicants must declare if AI has been used to complete their application, including responses that are directly copied or significantly shaped by AI tools.

By submitting this application, you confirm that all information provided is a true and accurate representation of your own skills, knowledge, and experience.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under the management of the dietetic team and support other to do likewise.

To promote a food first approach to nutrition support and advice on the appropriate use of oral nutritional supplements in accordance with agreed guidance.

To act as a point of contact and source of expertise for internal and external enquiries within your scope of expertise/limitations.

Under the direct supervision of a registered Dietitian, to contribute to the dietetic care to patients in a range of venues including: community clinics; learning disability homes; nursing/residential homes; community hospital ward and domiciliary visits in accordance with agreed parameters and scope of practice. Contacts may be face to face, via the telephone or video consultation.

To promote the use of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, adapting this if applicable for nursing and residential homes.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise their potential and to ensure understanding of the agreed care plan. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will be used with a variety of patients. Some of which may have difficulties understanding or communicating.

Communicate effectively with all members of the integrated community teams, GPs, Consultants and other professions to ensure a collaborative approach to the management of patients conditions.

To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work with the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

Participate in the clinical cover for community colleagues on annual, sick or study leave when required within your scope of practice.

Professional

To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of evidence based practice and developments and with guidance incorporate them as necessary into your work. To be an active member of the in‑service training programme.

To adhere to the British Dietetic Association code of ethics and professional conduct and all other relevant policies and procedures.

Maintain accurate and up to date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters, in accordance with guidance.

To communicate effectively and work collaborative with the MDT colleagues across the health economy to ensure delivery of an integrated service.

To contribute to the maintenance of specialist equipment within the Dietetic Team, ensuring that the scales are regularly serviced and maintained appropriately.

Identify objectives for personal development and participate in the staff appraisals scheme and personal development programme.

Organisational:

Responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the team lead/registered Dietitian/Community Dietetic Assistant Practitioner.

Plan and organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to patient management and use of time.

Decide priorities for own work area balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that these remain in accordance with those of the service as a whole.

To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

To comply with the organisational and departmental policy and procedures and be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

To lead by action and inspire others activity as a role model, demonstrating the leadership behaviours and values identified by the organisation aims and objectives. Promoting the organisation, the role of the Community Dietetic Assistant, Dietitians and the importance of nutritional care.

Any other duties which might be considered appropriate by the clinical and professional lead.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our ABCD Commitments and Signature Behaviours in the care they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these behaviours, which are detailed in the pages below, an essential part of their job role.

All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.

Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word CARE. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.

Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four SignatureBehaviours are: Compassion- We Listen, We Learn, We Lead | Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money |Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

• Forward thinking
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Self-directed learning
• Ability to work autonomously
• Presentations skills
• Critical appraisal
• Ability to demonstrate clinical skills and knowledge within a Dietetic Assistants scope of practice
• Audit
• Research

Qualifications

• Good level of education: 4 GCSEs (C grade or above, or equivalent) must include English and Mathematics
• Any health or social related qualification / training to diploma or equivalent NVQ3
• Evidence for relevant competencies in clinical practice
• Foundation Degree in Health Studies (or equivalent)

Personal Attributes

• Able to work collaboratively within a team
• Able to work independently
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Able to maintain motivation, drive and enthusiasm.
• Willingness and ability to work across different clinical settings
• Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required.
• Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:
• (Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead | Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together)

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a health care environment
• Previous experience of public sector work or activities involving contact with the general public
• Previous experience of people with illness, injury or physical disability in a formal (work related) or information (home/social related) capacity
• Previous experience of working within a Dietetic Team
• Previous experience of training/supervising others

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.

Part‑time,Job share,Flexible working,Home or remote working