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Job summary

Main area
Dietetics
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
  • Compressed hours
37.5 hours per week (2 x full-time roles available)
Job ref
203-CS1125
Employer
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Dietetics
Town
Nuneaton
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum (starting at Band 3 until competencies completed)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Band 4

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare. 

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks

Many of the roles we advertise have a requirement for a DBS check to be carried out. If you are successful for a role and it requires a DBS check the Trust will carry out the initial check and subscription to the DBS Update Service, however successful candidates will be expected to cover the associated costs . Details of this will be sent to successful candidates in their offer letter.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available. 

Car Parking

The Trust currently have limited availability of car parking spaces, as such are operating a waiting list for new starters joining the organisation. 

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Visa Sponsorship

The Trust will only consider sponsoring staff for certain roles, however this will be considered on a case by case basis in line with current legislation. As an employer we are unable to offer sponsorship to all roles in particular we cannot offer sponsorship for roles below Band 5.


Job overview

Unfortunately visa sponsorship is not available for this role so you must have right to work in the UK.

We are looking for 2 enthusiastic Dietetic Assistant Practitioners to join our friendly team to support delivery of nutritional care to patients in Warwickshire.  Our team provides input to adult and paediatric patients with a variety of clinical conditions, in a range of  settings such as care homes, outpatient clinics, schools, inpatient settings and patients own homes.  Dietetic Assistant Practitioners support our paediatric, home enteral feeding, community and acute teams. 

You should have experience of working with people, ideally in a healthcare setting.

As well as delivering advice to patients, you also be required to deliver training to staff to help meet the nutrition and hydration needs of patients.

You will be required to complete the Care Certificate and will be supported and trained to meet competencies to enable you to provide care plans for defined patient caseloads .

Please note, this role will be reimbursed at band 3 level until the necessary competencies and qualifications are obtained. 

We want to hear from you if you:

  • Have experience of presenting information to groups of people
  • Have good communication skills
  • Are able to manage your own time and work independently
  • Have good administration and IT skills

Department videos

SWFT Dietetics Team

SWFT Dietetics Team: Dietetic Assistant Practitioner and Trainee Dietitian

Main duties of the job

The role of the Assistant Practitioner is to deliver a high quality, caring and compassionate patient care. The post holder will be undertake assessment, implementation and evaluation of patient care needs for a defined group of patients under the indirect supervision of a registered professional in their specialist area. The post holders are required to work as part of a team committed to delivering and improving a high standard of nursing care within South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Working for our organisation

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion we encourage all applicants to complete a short survey. This can be accessed via the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ahWY3eAGM2

We appreciate you completing the survey.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional Values

 To ensure Trust standards and values are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all who come into contact with the services provided by South Warwickshire Foundation Trust

  • Ensure records and documentation are maintained, kept confidential, and meets appropriate Trust standards, and in line with the Data Protection Act
  • Demonstrates a positive and enthusiastic approach to their work in order to maintain high morale and motivation within the department. Promoting a professional and positive working environment
  • To report any accidents or incidents via the DATIX incident reporting system and/or to an appropriate registered professional, ensuring an open and transparent culture. 
  • To adhere to the Trust’s dress code policy, maintaining a smart appearance at all times.
  • To adhere to the Trust’s IT policies regarding e-mail and internet usage.
  • To ensure children and adults and protected from abuse and avoidable harm and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

 

Clinical Practice

  • Take responsibility for care and welfare of an defined caseload of patients/client’s within your area of work
  • Continuously assess, implement and evaluate treatment, using appropriate programmes / methods of care agreed by a registered professional.
  • To report to the registered professional any patient who gives cause for concern
  • Never undertake anything beyond your own level of competency.
  • To ensure delivery of high quality care in accordance with Trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
  • To accurately document all care delivered to patients, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
  • Participate in activities to improve the quality, productivity and effectiveness of care in response to local and national policies and initiatives
  • To adhere to Infection Prevention and Control policies relevant to the area of work, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.
  • To support relatives as required demonstrating compassion and empathy.
  • Provide supervision and support to junior support and care staff as required.  

 

Communications and Interpersonal Relationships

  •  Welcome patients, relatives and visitors to the clinical area, providing assistance, support and information where required, identifying individual needs and utilising a range of agreed communication mediums.
  • Always introduce yourself in line with the Trust privacy and dignity promises and the principles of good customer service. 
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure that patient care is well planned, coordinated and communicated.
  • Contribute to the reporting, handover and documentation of patient care maintaining confidentiality at all times.
  • Use the Trust information support systems and other computer systems as required by the clinical area.

 

Team Working

  •  To act in a professional manner, and as a role model, at all times, leading by example to junior members of the team
  • Support and cooperate with the multidisciplinary team to ensure that all statutory and Trust regulations are complied with.
  • Participate in research and audit as required by the multidisciplinary team to ensure standards of patient care are monitored and improved. 

 

Education, Training and Personal Development

  •  To ensure attendance at mandatory training sessions i.e. infection control, resuscitation and moving and handling training.
  •  To complete the Trust’s Clinical Support Worker Induction programme
  • To successfully complete the Care Certificate within 12 weeks of commencing employment
  • To ensure maintenance and development of individual competence knowledge and skill
  • As a competent practitioner, teach and provide supervision to appropriate junior staff.
  • To participate in and undertake appropriate training and development activities including IT and clinical skills
  • Maintain up to date knowledge of changes in policies and procedures relevant to the post.

 

General Items:

 

 

To provide short-term cover for colleagues during periods of leave.

 

To ensure that all Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all whom come into contact with services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

 

Every employee has a duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work, and to co-operate with the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust to ensure that statutory and Trust regulations are complied with.

 

To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.

 

To participate in appropriate training and development activities

 

To participate in team, professional and personal development activities and promote commitment to continuous development and improvement.

 

Ensure that all staff consciously review mistakes, complaints and incidents/near misses as well as successes to improve performance and the level of customer care.

 

All employees will have an organisational and individual responsibility towards safeguarding vulnerable adults, young people and children. Where employees are working with children, young people and families they have a responsibility to cooperate in national safeguarding policy around early intervention activities appropriate to improving health outcomes.

 

As a major provider of health care, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust operate a Smoke Free Policy by providing a totally smoke free environment to help aid patients’ recovery, promote health and wellbeing and minimize the risks of complications attributed to smoking tobacco and second hand smoke.

 

 

 

For Band 5 and below

 

Recognise the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and be aware of health and wellbeing initiatives.

 

To abide by Infection Prevention and Control policies relevant to their area of work, and undertake the necessary level of training. This will be appraised through the KSF review process or other relevant professional review process.

 

To contribute to promoting and implementing the Trust's Carbon Management policy, in line with team and organisational objectives.

This job description is subject to review at any time in consultation with the post holder.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A – C English and Maths or equivalent
  • Minimum Foundation Degree or Higher National Diploma in nutrition or food science
  • Care Certificate or willingness to work towards attaining it

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with the general public in a people centred environment or a healthcare setting (hospital, care home or community)
  • Experience working as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience working in a role that delivers nutrition & hydration or working in a dietetic department
  • Previous experience of group training, e.g. delivering training to groups or teaching others a new skill
  • Experience completing nutrition screening such as ‘MUST’ (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) and implementing nutrition action plans

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Able to communicate information in an understandable form to patients and their carers using motivational and negotiation skills
  • Aware of own limitations
  • Able to recognise when escalation to a registered professional is required
  • Able to delegate work appropriately
  • Able to use a computer and have basic knowledge of word processing, e-mail, dietary analysis, presentation preparation and electronic patient records.
  • Able to present information, written and orally in an accurate clear and logical manner
  • Ability to organise and prioritise workload
  • Able to work autonomously
  • Understanding of malnutrition and dehydration and how these might be managed
Desirable criteria
  • Able to complete nutrition assessments including taking anthropometric measurements
  • Able to plan, implement and evaluate treatment

Personal

Essential criteria
  • Able to work as part of a team
  • Compassionate and caring nature
  • Able to demonstrate empathy and motivate health and social care workers
  • Confidence to deliver training to groups of staff
  • Reliable

Other

Essential criteria
  • Passes pre-employment checks
  • Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service
  • Able to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
  • Able to occasionally be exposed to unpleasant working conditions
  • Able, with appropriate support, to work in an emotionally demanding environment
  • Ability to cope with unpredictable events and varying work pressures
  • Must have independent means of transport

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care quality commission - OutstandingStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthArmed 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
Kathy Lenehan
Job title
Dietetic Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01926600818
Additional information

 

 

 

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