Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust is seeking a motivated Dietetic Assistant Practitioner to join the Dietetic team at Darent Valley Hospital. The role involves supporting Dietitians, managing patient nutrition, and promoting health and well-being, all within a collaborative environment focused on professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with people who are ill, at least 3 years preferred experience.
• Previous clerical and/or food service experience.
• Able to undertake moderate physical effort.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical support to the Dietitians in assessing patients' dietary needs.
• Organising own delegated clinical workload and administrative tasks.
• Manage and prioritise caseload of adult patients at risk of malnutrition.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Good organisational skills

Basic Understanding of a balanced diet

Education

NVQ Level 3 qualification (or equivalent)

English Language and Maths GCSE (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Summary

We need an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our friendly team, as a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, to work within the Dietetic team, based at Darent Valley Hospital.

You will work closely with Dietitians and Ward Nursing staff to help in the management of patients identified as nutritionally compromised. This will include checking patients' weights, completing menu plans, and collecting and estimating calories and protein from reported food and drink intake from patients.

You will be part of the wider Nutrition & Dietetics Department, which currently has 27 Dietitians, 5 Dietetic Support Workers, 2 Dietetic Assistant Practitioners and good secretarial support

We provide a comprehensive and seamless nutrition and dietetic service across acute and community settings in Dartford , Gravesham & Swanley (with an outpatient dietetic service at Queen Mary's Hospital)

We are committed to staff training and continuous professional development, providing in-house and external courses and training opportunities

Main duties of the job

To provide clinical support to the Dietitians in; assessing patients dietary needs, planning provision of special diets, undertaking ward based audits, collecting and collating patient experience data.

Responsible for organising own delegated clinical workload and administrative tasks and activities and to be flexible to the needs of the service as indicated by the Acute Dietetic Team Lead.

Provide appropriate first line nutritional advice as agreed with Acute Dietetic Team Lead to patients, carers, nursing staff, medical staff and other healthcare professionals to ensure the patient's nutritional requirements are met.

• Work within an agreed framework for dealing with routine and urgent clinical problems/interactions, face to face or on the telephone, seeking guidance from Dietitians to agree action outside the framework.
• Manage and prioritise a selected caseload of adult patients who are at risk of malnutrition, while working to service standards under the guidance and supervision of the Acute Dietetic Team Lead
  
  

About Us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Details

Date posted

13 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,857 to £30,570 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

252-7227015

Job locations

Darent Valley Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Job Description

Job responsibilities

For full details about this position, please refer to the Job description and person specification provided

Job Description

Job responsibilities

For full details about this position, please refer to the Job description and person specification provided

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people who are ill, at least 3 years preferred experience
• Previous clerical and /or food service experience
• Experience of working in face to face role with the general public
  
  

Desirable

• Previous NHS experience
• Experience of delivering group education /information sessions
  
  

Education and training

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) or evidence of working towards it
• English Language and Maths GCSE (or equivalent) and good general education to GCSE level
  
  

Desirable

• Leadership or management training
• Membership of British Dietetic Association
• IT qualification such as ECDL or equivalent
  
  

Physical Effort

Essential

• Able to undertake moderate physical effort, standing, sitting, walking within daily activities
• Able to carry out anthropometric measurements accurately and use relevant equipment
  
  

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Basic Understanding of a balanced diet and a keen interest in nutrition
• Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal
• Good organisational skills
• Able to cope working in a stressful environment and with very unwell/ emotional patients
• IT Literate
• Able to work on own initiative
  
  

Person Specification

Essential

• Basic Understanding of a balanced diet and a keen interest in nutrition
• Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal
• Good organisational skills
• Able to cope working in a stressful environment and with very unwell/ emotional patients
• IT Literate
• Able to work on own initiative
  
  

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address

Darent Valley Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Employer's website

https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address

Darent Valley Hospital

Darenth Wood Road

Dartford

DA2 8DA

Employer's website

https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)