Job summary
- Main area
- Dietetic & Nutrition
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 358-7097638-CSI
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Dietetic Support Worker (Paediatrics)
NHS AfC: Band 3
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Job overview
Are you looking for a new challenge? An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, innovative and highly regarded Children’s Hospital dietetic team based at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
You will be an essential core member of our paediatric dietetic team working closely with and assisting paediatric Dietitians covering a range of specialities. You will be working alongside the paediatric Dietetic team supporting inpatients and outpatients who have Gastroenterology, Renal, Metabolic, Diabetes, Food Allergy, Respiratory and Neurological conditions. You will be supported by the paediatric dietetic team, receive training and supervisory support and gain valuable experience working in Paediatrics.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a friendly and motivated individual who has an interest in working with children and their carers in a healthcare setting. An interest in dietetics, experience of working in a care setting and a good eye for detail are required.
You will need excellent written and verbal communication skills and good IT skills.
The post holder will work within Trust and service guidelines and procedures, under the supervision of Dietitians to:
- Review and advise on the nutritional status and intake of inpatients and outpatients.
- Gather clinical information eg weight, feed toleration, from parents and clinical records.
- Support the team in delivery of nutrition and diet education sessions to health care team members and families.
- Support dietetic and nursing students education through shadowing.
- Input food diaries into nutritional analysis software.
- Resolve issues with home feed deliveries by liaising with GP practices and delivery companies.
- Order specialist therapeutic diets for inpatients via Catering Services.
- Develop patient information resources .
- Liaise with other parties about pre admission and discharge planning of inpatients.
- Provide some administrative support to the paediatric dietetic team e.g. take meeting minutes.
The post holder will be a key support to the Dietitians enabling them to deliver a high quality evidence based nutrition and dietetic service.
The role is flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the health and social care systems.
Working for our organisation
The Nutrition and Dietetic Service in UHL NHS Trust has a team of over 70 staff including Dietitians, Nutrition Nurses and support workers providing local, specialist and tertiary referral services.
Our Trust is one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in the UK with a large Paediatric and Neonatal Dietetic and Nutrition Service, including more than 17 Dietitians, covering many specialities. We deliver paediatric practice based learning placements to pre-registration dietitians.
We are a progressive Service which actively contributes to the Trusts Quality & Safety agenda and has an established service development and quality improvement programme which you will be encouraged to contribute to.
We also have dietitians presenting their research all over the world and are committed to supporting and developing your growth. Leicester is a vibrant city, with lots of social opportunities, we are a sociable and supportive department with staff wellbeing our key priority.
We are one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, incorporating the General, Glenfield and Royal Infirmary hospitals. We have our very own Children’s Hospital and run one of the country’s leading heart centres.
Leicester is a vibrant multi-cultural city, with excellent rail and bus links; it boasts a myriad of social activities that will ensure that you have the perfect work life balance.
Check us out on X @UHL_DIETITIANS and keep in touch.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will be a key support to the Dietitians enabling them to deliver a high quality evidence based dietetic and nutrition service.
The post holder will gather clinical information eg weight, growth and feed toleration either verbally or from clinical records and feedback to the paediatric Dietitian. Assess patient’s nutritional status using a range of anthropometric measurements and accurately plot measurements onto child’s growth chart under the direction of a paediatric Dietitian.
The post holder will input food diaries into nutritional analysis software for the paediatric Dietitian to then assess patients nutritional intake.
The post holder will also act as a liaison for the Paediatric & Neonatal Dietitians. Ensuring that appropriate advice is given to relevant services/teams/departments in order that an individual’s nutrition and dietary needs are met e.g. milk kitchen, pharmacy and catering services.
Assist with clinical administrative tasks eg liaison with GPs regarding prescription requests and commercial feed companies.
See Job Description and Person Specification for further details
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Level 2 Functional Skills in English & Mathematics
- Education and training to level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF)
Desirable criteria
- Completion of the National Care Certificate
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a caring environment
- Knowledge of IT and Administrative Systems
- Has gained experience of different ways of workload management and delivering services and can provide examples
- Experience of working with the public in a face to face role
- Has a concept about the need for continued professional development and can give examples of how this can be achieved
Desirable criteria
- Experience of giving standard food, nutrition and diet advice
- Experience of working in an acute healthcare setting in a caring role
- Evidence of working under own initiative
Communication
Essential criteria
- Written application is clear, concise and understandable
- Examples of own involvement of working as part of a team
- Is aware of the different communication needs and can provide examples
- Understands and demonstrates what it means to provide person-centred care
Other Skills
Essential criteria
- Can demonstrate abilities in organisational skills, time management, setting priorities and is flexible in approach
- Attention to detail
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrates clinical knowledge in relation to the post
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ellen Wilford
- Job title
- Speciality Dietetic Lead for Paediatrics
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0116 2585400
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