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Dietetic assistant

Dietetic assistants are vital in helping people with their diet and nutrition. They help people by advising them on how their food choices can lead to more fulfilling and healthier lives. 

Working life

Dietetic assistants work with dietitians on food and nutrition while assessing, diagnosing and treating dietary and nutritional problems. The dietetic team also inform, teach and advise the public and healthcare professionals about the importance of diet and nutrition in staying fit and healthy.

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In hospitals dietetic assistants may:

  • help patients choose from the hospital menu
  • order supplies for the department
  • monitor a patient’s food
  • input data on patients’ records
  • show patients how to use feeding tubes and pumps
  • weigh patients
  • explain a patient’s diet and nutrition plan

Dietetic assistants working with individuals and in the local communities will help healthy and sick people with their dietary needs. They could work with people who:

  • have digestive problems
  • want to lose weight
  • have a condition which affects their ability to eat, such as cancer
  • need to put on weight after an illness
  • are HIV
  • have an eating disorder
  • have an allergy

Dietetic assistants work in hospitals, clinics and in the community. They may visit patients in their homes or in residential or care homes if patients cannot travel. Dietetic assistants may visit schools, nurseries and other community settings to talk to individuals and groups about diet and nutrition. As well as working closely with dietitians, dietetic assistants work with other healthcare professionals including nurses. They have a lot of contact with patients.

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Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for dietetic assistants. Employers expect good numeracy and literacy and some experience or qualifications in health or social care. Employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. Science may also be useful. Employers may ask for an NVQ, BTEC or equivalent qualification in health and social care or healthcare.

Employers often ask for relevant work experience. Even where this is not specified, it would be an advantage if you have worked in health or social care, either in paid employment or voluntary work. If you're applying for a role in the NHS  you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. 

Skills and personal characteristics needed

To be a dietetic assistant, you'll need

  • an interest in science and food
  • an interest in people and their lifestyles
  • a positive and motivating attitude
  • an understanding approach
  • patience

You'll also need

  • an understanding of science
  • be able to explain complex things simply
  • organisation skills
  • communication skills

Training and development

You will receive appropriate training in order to do the job. This includes an introduction to the department, how to use the equipment and the procedures to follow. You may be offered the chance to study for qualifications such as:

  • the NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
  • the NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

You may also be able to gain qualifications by doing an apprenticeship.

Some dietetic assistants join the British Dietetic Association [3] (BDA) as associate members. The BDA runs courses, conferences and seminars where dietetic assistants can update their skills and network with others doing similar work.

With experience and some additional training, you could train as an assistant practitioner [4] or as a dietitian [5].

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. As a dietetic assistant, you’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC [6]) pay system, typically starting on band 2.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.

  • Find a vacancy

    • Dietetic Assistant

      Bury, BL9 7TD

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Dietetic Assistant job (opens in a new window) [7]
    • Community Dietetic Administrator

      Cardiff, CF11 9SH

      Salary:
      £24433.00 to £26060.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Community Dietetic Administrator job (opens in a new window) [8]
    • Paediatric Dietetic Assistant

      Winchester, SO225DG

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Dietetic Assistant job (opens in a new window) [9]
    • Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

      317 01 Freeman Hospital, NE7 7DN

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Dietetic Assistant Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • Paediatric Dietetic Assistant

      Tamworth, B78 3NG

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Paediatric Dietetic Assistant job (opens in a new window) [11]
    • Dietetic Assistant - Public Health

      St Asaph, LL17 0JD

      Salary:
      £24433.00 to £26060.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Dietetic Assistant - Public Health job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Kidney Specialist Dietetic Team Lead

      Blackburn, BB2 3HH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Kidney Specialist Dietetic Team Lead job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Public Health Dietetic Support Worker

      Agreed on appointment, CF48 1BZ

      Salary:
      £24433.00 to £26060.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Dietetic Support Worker job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Dietetic Assistant - Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disease

      London, SE1 7EH

      Salary:
      £31944.00 to £34937.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Dietetic Assistant - Paediatric Inherited Metabolic Disease job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • National Dietetic Clinical Lead for Diabetes and Prevention

      Cardiff, CF11 9SH

      Salary:
      £63150.00 to £73379.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for National Dietetic Clinical Lead for Diabetes and Prevention job (opens in a new window) [16]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Dietitian [17]
  • Healthcare assistant [18]
  • Podiatry assistant [19]
  • Knowledge and library services [20]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/dietetic-assistant

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/privacy-and-cookies/#CookieDeclarationChangeConsentChange [2] https://www.youtube.com/NHSCareers [3] http://www.bda.uk.com [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/clinical-support-staff/assistant-practitioner [5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/dietitian [6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#AfC [7] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9236-25-1162 [8] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9001-25-0531 [9] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9251-25-0482 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9317-25-0905 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0819 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9050-25-1840 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9435-25-0245 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9110-25-0953 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9196-25-1149 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9001-25-0496 [17] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/dietitian [18] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/healthcare-assistant [19] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/podiatry-assistant [20] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services