Dietetic Healthcare Assistant Practitioner - Gastroenterology

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Cambridgeshire seeks a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner to provide care for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The role involves working independently under supervision, assessing dietary needs, and collaborating with a multi-professional team. Candidates should have healthcare experience, good communication skills, and a valid UK driving license. Flexibility in hours is offered for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Experience in health care is essential.
• Ability to travel without using public transport; valid UK driving licence needed.
• Willingness to perform anthropometric measurements and use IT packages.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day care/treatment to patients under supervision.
• Make basic judgments on patients’ responses to treatment.
• Communicate factual information tactfully with patients/carers.

Skills

Good communication skills

Organisational skills

Ability to work independently

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to progress your skills as a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner? Do you want to be part of a supportive team that makes a difference? Then this post, working to support people and carers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), could be for you. This unique and rewarding role plays an integral part within the gastroenterology dietetic team, working closely with the specialist dietitians, giving first line dietary advice for IBS. Full training will be given but experience in health care essential.

As a key member of the Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation NHS Trust, you will be joining an exceptional and well-regarded team. We require a motivated, compassionate, and dynamic person, with good communication and organisational skills. The role works with a multi-professional team in a community setting providing care, support and dietetic treatment within protocols and guidelines to patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It delivers high standards of health care to patients within their own homes, care homes, the travelling community and in clinics (telephone, video or face to face as required) and requires you to manage your own case load seeking support from the registered dietitians as needed.

You will be assessing and negotiating dietary changes based on a patients’ symptoms and dietary intake, following up their progress. This is primarily a clinical role but will include administrative tasks for the dietitians along with supporting with audit work as required. It also involves weighing patients and taking other anthropometrical measurements along with using IT packages.

Please note - This post can be based at any of our 4 sites but an ability to travel around the county without using public transport is essential including having a driving licence valid for the UK. There may be some flexibility around the number of hours per week for the right candidate though a minimum of 28 hours/week would be required.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

To achieve our goal, we look to recruit high-calibre candidates who share our vision and values. As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

Please be advised we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications. Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process. For further information on CPFT, please visit our website at www.cpft.nhs.uk.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• To be responsible for day-to-day care/treatment to patients with specific conditions (IBS) under the supervision of a registered practitioner, following a prescribed treatment pathway/care plan.
• Make basic judgments on patients’ response to prescribed treatment/care plans, and report findings to a registered professional.
• Overcome barriers to understanding, e.g. patients’ with hearing or cognitive impairment.
• Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.
• Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g. taking Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC).
• Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a registered practitioner.
• Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent, and gain consent as appropriate following organisational policies.
• To work within the wider disciplinary team and recognise own role within it.
• To promote patient independence and self-management through negotiation of dietary change following completing an assessment using existing pathways/templates.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Experience in health care is essential.
• Full training will be provided; able to work in a community setting and in clinics (telephone, video or face to face).
• Good communication and organisational skills; ability to work with a multi-professional team.
• Ability to travel around the county without using public transport; driving licence valid for the UK is essential.
• Minimum of 28 hours per week, with some flexibility for the right candidate.
• Willingness to weigh patients and take anthropometrical measurements and use IT packages as part of routine duties.

Contract and Location

This position can be based at any of CPFT’s 4 sites; travel across the county may be required.

Expiry

This advert closes on Wednesday 17 Sep 2025.