We are recruiting initially to a dietetic support worker post so you can understand what the role is about. The intention is that the person successful with this post will complete the Trust 6 month probation process as a dietetic support worker and will then have a place on the dietetic apprentice degree at Sheffield Hallam University staring in March 2026. The degree is a three year course so you would need to be able to commit to working with the service until March 2029 and to be local to Northamptonshire as there will be a requirement to be on the wards. This post cannot be carried out virtually.
The university component is provided by Sheffield Hallam University but is done remotely. You would need to be comfortable with learning virtually. You would have 4 days learning on the job which would be supported by the dietetic team in the Northamptonshire. This would involve working with inpatients at Northampton General Hospital, Kettering General Hospital and in community hospitals, outpatients and community work including home enteral feeding. You would be working with both adults and children. You would be paid at band 3 and then band 4 in your final year. A car driver is preferred but not essential, but you need to be prepared to move between our bases at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital.
The apprenticeship can only be delivered full time (part time hours not considered).
You will work under the direction and support of registered dietitians to undertake assessments and provide patient centred treatment. Some of the work may involve working with our dietetic support workers and both dietetic and other healthcare students, and opportunities for interprofessional learning will be provided
You will continuously develop your skills and abilities as you progress through the apprentice programme so that on completion you have the level of required competence to meet professional standards as a registered dietitian.
The apprenticeship post is a fixed term, developmental role over 3 years, integrating academic and work-based learning towards successful completion of a degree in dietetics which provides recognition by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a registered dietitian.
The dietetic support worker and dietetic apprentice job description are both attached and you will need to meet the essential criteria for the dietetic apprentice to be shortlisted for interview.
We are a diverse service and have an enthusiastic dietetic team of about 60 staff which covers the whole of the county to deliver acute and primary care services. The dietetic service sits within Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and we have service level agreements with other trusts.
NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.
Both Dietetic Support Worker and Apprentice Job Descriptions included as need to meet criteria of dietetic apprentice JD to be shortlisted but will work to DSW JD until March 2026