Dietetic assistants work with dieticians and the dietetic team, to support individuals with dietary and nutrition problems.

Dietetic assistants work in:

• Hospitals
• GP surgeries
• Clinics
• Service user homes

They work with a huge variety of service users such as:

• People with digestive problems, e.g. inflammatory bowel disorders
• People who want to lose weight, e.g. those with obesity
• People who have a condition which affects their ability to eat, such as cancer
• People who need to put on weight after an illness
• People who need to make specific dietary choices because of a health condition, e.g. diabetes, HIV
• People who have an eating disorder
• People who have an allergy

The responsibilities of a dietetic assistant are varied and include:

• Supporting assessment, e.g. weighing service users
• Explaining dietary plans to service users
• Monitoring and recording dietary intake of service users
• Teaching service users how to use feeding tubes and pumps
• Supporting service users with food and menu choices

Skills required:

• A genuine interest in food, nutrition and science
• A desire to help others live healthier lifestyles
• Outgoing and positive outlook
• Excellent communication and people skills
• The ability to explain and teach complex information

To learn more about the education and training required, see NHS Careers: Dietetic Assistant