Job summary
Are you a dietetic support worker with experience of working with patients as part of a clinical dietetic service. If yes, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly acute Dietetics Team at the Freeman hospital. We are looking for a dietetic assistant practitioner with excellent organisational and communication skills to work alongside dietitians within a busy adult acute service. As a band 4 'dietetic assistant practitioner' you will manage a diverse caseload of patients from a number of specialities. The work is interesting and rewarding, given the diverse nature of the patient group.
The Trust recognises the importance of clinical supervision. Part of this role will be to lead on establishing regular sessions with the band 3's and other DAP colleague within the wider, cross-site department. Other aspects will include stock management, including working with the pharmacy leads within dietetics to review usage; submitting Nutricia Connex and troubleshooting.
The role sits within our friendly acute team and is well supported. It will include regular clinical supervision and 1-1's to support training in the specialist areas. The team also has excellent links with the community services within Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, facilitating CPD opportunities, access to specialist guidance and seamless hospital-home care.
Main duties of the job
- To develop own practice and offer suggestions for improving services / support mini audit projects within DSW team for departmental outcome day
- To ensure the effective and efficient use of resources such as stock rotation within the office, sample services etc.
- To link in with Nutricia and the pharmacy lead Dietitians regarding stock shortages/Connex issues.
- Supporting the roll out of new products and equipment rhroughout the hospital
- Will be responsible for setting up Homeward, checking discrepancies, liaising with patients regarding stock levels and deliveries, liaising with the wider MDT regarding enteral discharges i.e., GPs.
- Review New RIG patients in ENT with the oncology team
- Stable NG reviews to support Dietitians in the acute setting
- Liver transplant nutritional and anthropometry assessments
- Work within with IF team doing anthropometry to monitor nutritional status of patients- this would be following the successful completion of the ISAC course
- Be the point of contact for external company reps to organise training visits
- Oversee the stock levels of enteral and sip feeds within the Freeman Hospital and liaise with pharmacy leads at regular meetings regarding shortages.
- To organise and lead on quarterly meetings with the other DSWs/DAP's within the wider department to ensure regular supervision, a chance for networking/peer support and to promote service development projects.
- Link in career events to represent the department
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospital
o Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
o Newcastle Dental Hospital
o Newcastle Fertility Centre
o Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
o Northern Genetics Service
o Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Interview date: Friday18th July 2025.
- 37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
- The advanced practitioner will work collaboratively alongside specialist dietitian(s), dietetic support workers and all supporting teams, to deliver support to individuals and groups, in hospital or the community.
- The post-holder will work independently to deliver and review dietary advice and weight monitoring to a patient caseload, allocated by the supervising dietitian, in accordance with agreed guidance/ care pathways.
- The post holder will undertake a variety of delegated clinical tasks to support the delivery of quality nutritional care.
- The post holder will assist in the organisation, development and management of resources such as patient information leaflets and nutrition products.
- The post holder will organise and facilitate training around nutrition screening and dietary strategies and collate data in relation to dietary intervention outcomes.
- The post holder will organise and facilitate health promotion activities/national campaigns related to nutrition.
- The post holder will assist in departmental audits and evaluations, collecting and collating data. Presenting results in reports and at meetings as required.
- The post holder will assist with Mentoring/Coaching of band 3 dietetic support workers and student dietitians. Also actively participate in clinical supervision.
- Manage without direct supervision, own caseload of patients as triaged by the supervising dietitians and within agreed protocols. This may involve running clinics and seeing patients in a variety of other settings, acute and community. In accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways, for example this may involve:
- - Collect relevant information from a number of sources e.g. patient records, observation charts and blood results.- Checking the patients weight, length/height, head circumference (with equipment needing to be carried in the community), undertaking simple calculations e.g. percentage weight change, B.M.I.- Taking diet histories.- Understand and utilise methods of optimising nutritional status in selected disease states, seeking guidance from specialist dietitians as necessary.- Implement and review a suitable nutritional care plan.- Seek to identify barriers to improved intake and sign post to appropriate support to tackle underlying barriers.- Update the dietitian and supporting multidisciplinary team regarding patient progress.- Facilitate patient discharges.- Update patient electronic records and write letters to supportingprofessionals in a concise, accurate and timely manner.
- The post holder will enter information onto enteral feed databases such as nutrition company databases and patient registration systems.
- To be aware of own professional limitations and report any concerns to the supervising dietitian.
- The post holder will be an active member of the team, contributing to service development proposals and work
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Interview date: Friday18th July 2025.
- 37 hours 30 minutes/week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
- The advanced practitioner will work collaboratively alongside specialist dietitian(s), dietetic support workers and all supporting teams, to deliver support to individuals and groups, in hospital or the community.
- The post-holder will work independently to deliver and review dietary advice and weight monitoring to a patient caseload, allocated by the supervising dietitian, in accordance with agreed guidance/ care pathways.
- The post holder will undertake a variety of delegated clinical tasks to support the delivery of quality nutritional care.
- The post holder will assist in the organisation, development and management of resources such as patient information leaflets and nutrition products.
- The post holder will organise and facilitate training around nutrition screening and dietary strategies and collate data in relation to dietary intervention outcomes.
- The post holder will organise and facilitate health promotion activities/national campaigns related to nutrition.
- The post holder will assist in departmental audits and evaluations, collecting and collating data. Presenting results in reports and at meetings as required.
- The post holder will assist with Mentoring/Coaching of band 3 dietetic support workers and student dietitians. Also actively participate in clinical supervision.
- Manage without direct supervision, own caseload of patients as triaged by the supervising dietitians and within agreed protocols. This may involve running clinics and seeing patients in a variety of other settings, acute and community. In accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways, for example this may involve:
- - Collect relevant information from a number of sources e.g. patient records, observation charts and blood results.- Checking the patients weight, length/height, head circumference (with equipment needing to be carried in the community), undertaking simple calculations e.g. percentage weight change, B.M.I.- Taking diet histories.- Understand and utilise methods of optimising nutritional status in selected disease states, seeking guidance from specialist dietitians as necessary.- Implement and review a suitable nutritional care plan.- Seek to identify barriers to improved intake and sign post to appropriate support to tackle underlying barriers.- Update the dietitian and supporting multidisciplinary team regarding patient progress.- Facilitate patient discharges.- Update patient electronic records and write letters to supportingprofessionals in a concise, accurate and timely manner.
- The post holder will enter information onto enteral feed databases such as nutrition company databases and patient registration systems.
- To be aware of own professional limitations and report any concerns to the supervising dietitian.
- The post holder will be an active member of the team, contributing to service development proposals and work
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification or level of knowledge and skills.
- Full driving licence
Desirable
- Diploma in teaching skills
- Basic Food Hygiene certificate
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience and competency of working in clinical dietetic practice, giving/reviewing 1:1 nutritional advice and weight monitoring, to children/adults/groups with health care needs.
- Attendance of courses/further professional development in relation to nutritional care of patient groups.
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working.
- Experience of audit and data collection
- Able to work unsupervised where necessary.
- Good presentation skills with experience of educating others.
Desirable
- Experience of using electronic patient records
- Knowledge of behaviour change principles
- Experience in supporting health promotion/awareness campaigns
- Experience of supervising others
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - verbal and written
- Basic numeracy skills
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Computer skills i.e. email spreadsheets.
- Able to demonstrate local knowledge of food and health issues
- Competent food preparation skills and enjoys cooking
Desirable
- Can demonstrate leadership skills and initiative
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification or level of knowledge and skills.
- Full driving licence
Desirable
- Diploma in teaching skills
- Basic Food Hygiene certificate
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience and competency of working in clinical dietetic practice, giving/reviewing 1:1 nutritional advice and weight monitoring, to children/adults/groups with health care needs.
- Attendance of courses/further professional development in relation to nutritional care of patient groups.
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working.
- Experience of audit and data collection
- Able to work unsupervised where necessary.
- Good presentation skills with experience of educating others.
Desirable
- Experience of using electronic patient records
- Knowledge of behaviour change principles
- Experience in supporting health promotion/awareness campaigns
- Experience of supervising others
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - verbal and written
- Basic numeracy skills
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Computer skills i.e. email spreadsheets.
- Able to demonstrate local knowledge of food and health issues
- Competent food preparation skills and enjoys cooking
Desirable
- Can demonstrate leadership skills and initiative
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
