Community Paediatric Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

Job summary
Are you passionate about working with people?

Do you want to make a real difference to the lives of children and their families?

Are you interested in developing your knowledge of paediatric nutrition within a friendly, supportive team?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our dedicated team of paediatric dietitians and nutritionists. This is an exciting opportunity to support children, young people and their families, while developing your skills and experience within paediatric nutrition.

About the Role
As a Paediatric Dietetic Assistant, you will work alongside our experienced dietitians and nutritionists to support the delivery of high-quality community paediatric nutrition services. You will contribute to the care of children with a range of nutritional needs, helping families access advice and support to achieve the best possible health outcomes.

Why not click on the link to the Job Description and find out more about the role.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Should we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 5th October 2026

Main duties of the job
We Are Looking for Someone Who Has:

• A keen interest in children's health, wellbeing and nutrition.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with individuals and groups.
• The ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and in a variety of settings.
• Good IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office applications.
• A positive, flexible and team-focused approach to work.

What We Offer:

• Expert guidance and support as you develop within the Paediatric Dietetic Assistant role.
• A friendly, experienced and supportive Community Nutrition and Dietetics Department delivering a range of adult and paediatric services across Luton and South Bedfordshire.
• Opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through leadership development programmes and project-based learning.
• Ongoing learning and professional development through appraisals, team-based working, departmental CPD sessions, and internal and external training opportunities.
• Hybrid working opportunities, combining home-based and face-to-face working.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, with applications for part-time and flexible working welcomed.

About us
Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Job responsibilities
To support the planning and delivery of the Family Food First programme in, nurseries, preschools and Family Hub teams. To compare setting practice against evidence-based standards for the provision of nutrition, physical activity and oral health. To be able to provide recommendations to education professionals to improve setting practice and meet best-practice standards.

To support the Paediatric Dietetic team in the provision of public health interventions to the wider community, this may include providing training packages to health & education professionals, conducting parent-focused workshops and developing resources to support nutrition education. This will be supported and supervised by the wider dietetic team.

The post holder will need to be able to translate technical nutrition information into an easy-to-understand format for a variety of professionals, parents and children under the age of 5 years.

The post holder will be required to create or manage databases to input and analyse quantitative and qualitative data obtained from settings to evaluate progress on the programme.

To provide administrative assistance to the running of the Family Food First programme and the wider paediatric team. The post holder will be required to use their own initiative to problem solve and prioritise their own workload.

To possess computer keyboard skills and be computer literate with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel and Publisher.

To ensure work is in line with departmental, trust and national Dietetic standards. Will be required to attend departmental meetings and contribute to department service development and promotion of dietetics across the trust.

To contribute to the training of student Dietitians.

To work independently and undertake lone working in the community.

Professional / Clinical responsibilities
To contribute to the planning and delivery of the work of the paediatric team by providing administrative support and liaising with service users, staff members and other community health and social care professionals.

To carry out basic patient reviews, under the supervision of a dietitian and with appropriate training and competencies in place.

To use clinical judgement to evaluate patient progress, implement and adapt treatment plans following locally agreed pathways and set appropriate review timescales. This will be under the supervision of a Dietitian.

The role may involve managing a non-complex patient caseload, under the supervision of a dietitian and with appropriate training and competencies in place.

To follow the treatment pathways and feedback to the supervising Dietitian on the patients progress and highlight need for specialist dietetic assessment when needed.

The role may include planning and delivering nutrition education sessions, face to face or virtually. They will need to be able to carry equipment used for training purposes to and from venues which requires light to moderate physical effort.

The post holder will be required to conduct growth monitoring clinics; they will need to be competent in manipulating height measures and reading weighing scales. They may be required to attend patient homes or community clinic venues where they may encounter unpleasant conditions.

Contribution to policy development may be required, according to the needs of the service.

To lead on the development and maintenance of patient information resources that will be used by families and other health care professionals.

Management and Leadership
To contribute and provide support or training to students or less experienced dietetic support workers.

To support in the recruitment of dietetic health care professionals.

To contribute to the setting of targets and annual team objectives, and to the monitoring of these objectives.

Information management
Maintain accurate, timely, and professional clinical records in accordance with organisational and professional standards.

To plan your own diary and prioritise your caseload, with support from senior colleagues, as required in line with the service offer.

Education & Professional Development
To participate in evidence-based audit and research projects to further develop individual, team and service clinical practice.

To contribute to team and wider service level development meetings and projects through sharing knowledge, skills and expertise in your clinical area.

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review, ensuring delivery of feedback following attendance at external courses.

To ensure your own nutrition knowledge is up-to-date and evidence-based including the current developments for nutrition in community dietetics.

To be professionally and legally accountable, and responsible for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To evaluate and review your own work, seeking the views of others and adopting the principles of evidence-based practice to ensure maintenance and development of clinical and professional standards.

To contribute to the development and provision of education and training on a range of dietetic issues to health and social care professionals.

To ensure work is in line with departmental, trust and national dietetic standards.

Operational Delivery
To be able to communicate key messages to patients, the public and community-based professionals using a variety of communication styles.

The post holder will be required to input accurate and detailed data into electronic patient records and manage the paediatric caseload on the digital system.

Work cooperatively with health and social care staff, carers and the general public to ensure that the services provided by the department run smoothly and efficiently.

To be able to communicate with individuals from a range of backgrounds over the telephone, via video consultation and face to face including where there may be communication difficulties, e.g. when English is not a first language or where there are learning disabilities.

To establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with other staff. Positive relationships are characterised by open communication, trust and respect.

To recognise own limitations within their agreed level of competence and to seek advice and guidance from supervising dietitian in a timely manner.

To contribute as required to the multidisciplinary team via uni-professional and multi-professional education sessions and meetings, clear written communication, and joint assessments (if appropriate).

To deliver effective nutrition education at a level appropriate to the audience.

To attend and actively participate in department and team meetings.

To work independently and undertake lone working in the community.

To represent the team and department at exhibitions, events, and local meetings.

Risk & Governance Management
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with HCPC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Health and Care NHS Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required.

Participate in Clinical & Safeguarding supervision on a regular basis.

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

Service Development
To participate, alongside senior colleague(s) in the planning, development and evaluation of Nutrition & Dietetic department service provision.

Code of Conduct
The post holder is required to adhere to the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

Infection Control
The trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks.

All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infection control policies and procedures and to report any problems about this to their managers.

All staff undertaking patient care activities must attend infection control training and updates as required by the trust.

All clinical staff or any staff working in clinical areas are expected to be bare below the elbow with no hand or wrist jewellery except for one plain band (no stones or engraving).

Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ Level 4 or equivalent level of knowledge and experience

Desirable

• Higher national diploma (HND) or SVQ/NVQ level 5 or foundation degree in nutrition and/or healthcare, or level 5 healthcare apprentice

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience of working in a health or social care setting, including health promotion

Desirable

• Previous experience of working with children and young people
• Previous experience of group training, e.g. leading a group or teaching others a new skill
• Previous experience in quality initiatives and audit maintenance

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Advanced IT Skills, including use of Word, Microsoft Outlook, Excel and (Powerpoint - this would be dependent on role)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate problem solving skills
• Good understanding of community needs and an appreciation of how the dietetic service might work within a diverse community
• Strong organisational and time management skills

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).