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Job summary

Main area
Gastroenterology
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 28 hours per week (Office hours, Mon-Fri)
Job ref
310-OPAC-7422754
Employer
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Healthy Living Centre
Town
Peterborough
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
17/09/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust logo

Dietetic Healthcare Assistant Practitioner - Gastroenterology

Band 4

Job overview

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.

Main duties of the job

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. **

Working for our organisation

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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to minimum GCSE level or equivalent grade A-C, including English
  • RSA/OCR stage II - NVQ Level 3 in health and Social Care
  • ‘A’ level qualification or other post ideally in healthcare or nutrition
Desirable criteria
  • GCSE or equivalent qualification in Math’s, Biology and Food Technology

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a health/social care
  • Has worked as a Healthcare Assistant or care worker in the past
Desirable criteria
  • Has worked as a dietetic assistant in the past

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provision
  • Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs
  • Good organisation skills (e.g. organising activities, groups, following a plan of care)
  • Good self/time management skills e.g. manage own workload
Desirable criteria
  • Proven record of Multidisciplinary working
  • Experience using SystmOne
  • Understands the role of diet in Irritable Bowel Disease

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential criteria
  • Has a working knowledge of food groups and higher fibre as well as lower fibre foods.
  • Understands the role of fluid in bowel function and able to estimate fluid intakes.
  • Able to list some of the gut symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Comfortable to ask patients about their gut symptoms and bowel habits.
Desirable criteria
  • Aware of or used the Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Symptom Evaluation Tool (Kings College)
  • Able to state the different classification of IBS and diagnosis.
  • Able to accurately take MUAC, Grip strength and body weights of patients.

Physical Requirements

Essential criteria
  • kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments.
  • Manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6 kg
  • Manoeuvre patients using handling aids.
  • Able to travel around the county at short notice without reliance on public transport.

Other

Essential criteria
  • Able to work shifts and unsocial hours when required.
  • Recognise people’s right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect!
  • Willingness to embrace integrated model and new ways of working.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in PeopleDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthMenopause Workplace PledgeArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Kim Jones
Job title
(Lead Gastroenterology Dietitian)
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0330 726 0077
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