Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Nursing Assistant - Nutrition Support

The closing date is 14 January 2026

Job summary

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

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Nutritional Assistanton 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.

Details

Date posted

31 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7670192JA

Job locations

Hexham General Hospital

Hexham

Hexham

NE46 1QJ


Job description

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

Job description

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Previous knowledge of patient care and needs.

Desirable

  • NVQ Level II
  • NVQ Level III

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Caring experience
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Previous knowledge of patient care and needs.

Desirable

  • NVQ Level II
  • NVQ Level III

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hexham General Hospital

Hexham

Hexham

NE46 1QJ


Employer's website

https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hexham General Hospital

Hexham

Hexham

NE46 1QJ


Employer's website

https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Tammy Pratt

tammy.pratt@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk

01434655450

Details

Date posted

31 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro rata per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7670192JA

Job locations

Hexham General Hospital

Hexham

Hexham

NE46 1QJ


Supporting documents

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