Nursing Assistant - Nutrition Support

NHS; Hexham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Hexham is seeking a Nutritional Assistant for Ward 2 at Hexham General Hospital. The role involves supporting patients with their dietary needs, encouraging healthy eating, and working closely with the ward team to enhance patient wellbeing. Ideal candidates will have caring experience and a passion for nutrition. The position offers full training and a Monday to Friday schedule, with opportunities to engage in innovative patient care practices.

Qualifications

• Previous knowledge of patient care and needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to patients during mealtimes, including feeding patients who require additional support.
• Support patients in ordering meals and making suitable dietary choices.
• Manage and deliver the hydration trolley, ensuring patients have regular access to drinks.
• Take part in themed nutrition events and daily initiatives to promote engagement and wellbeing.
• Communicate effectively with patients and staff, raising any concerns regarding nutrition, appetite, or hydration.
• Encourage patients to eat and drink to support their recovery and overall health.
• Carry out daily glucose level checks as required.
• Maintain accurate food diaries and documentation for patients who need monitoring.
• Order and manage nutritional stock to ensure adequate supplies on the ward.
• Demonstrate a positive, supportive attitude and work well as part of the multidisciplinary team.

Job description

Go back Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nursing Assistant - Nutrition Support

The closing date is 14 January 2026

Job Role: Nutritional Assistant - Ward 2, Hexham General Hospital

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Nutritional Assistant on Ward 2 at Hexham General Hospital. This position is Monday to Friday.

In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that patients' nutritional needs are met, including:

• Supporting patients who require assistance with eating and drinking
• Monitoring and encouraging adequate nutrition and hydration
• Identifying ways to adapt meals to meet individual patient needs
• Working closely with ward staff to promote patient wellbeing through effective nutritional care

• Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy prior to the closing date once the required number of suitable applications have been received.

Main duties of the job

This role is enjoyable, varied, and open to new ideas that help keep patient nutrition at the forefront of care. The ideal candidate will be motivated and confident in communicating with patients about the importance of a healthy, balanced diet to support recovery.

We are looking for a strong team player who can fit in well with the existing ward team and contribute to new innovations that make each day different and engaging. The role involves feeding and supporting patients who require assistance, ensuring their nutritional and hydration needs are consistently met.

Full training will be provided to support your development in the role.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read 'applicant guidance notes' before submitting your application.

Job responsibilities

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities>

• Provide assistance to patients during mealtimes, including feeding patients who require additional support
• Support patients in ordering meals and making suitable dietary choices
• Manage and deliver the hydration trolley, ensuring patients have regular access to drinks
• Take part in themed nutrition events and daily initiatives to promote engagement and wellbeing
• Communicate effectively with patients and staff, raising any concerns regarding nutrition, appetite, or hydration
• Encourage patients to eat and drink to support their recovery and overall health
• Carry out daily glucose level checks as required
• Maintain accurate food diaries and documentation for patients who need monitoring
• Order and manage nutritional stock to ensure adequate supplies on the ward
• Demonstrate a positive, supportive attitude and work well as part of the multidisciplinary team

Qualifications

• Previous knowledge of patient care and needs.

Experience and Knowledge

• Caring experience

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.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust