Nutritional Assistant

Role overview

As a Nutritional Assistant on the ward, you will help carry out each patient’s agreed nutrition care plan. The focus of the role is to make sure nutritional requirements are assessed, tracked, and properly met. You will work closely with patients, their carers, and the wider multidisciplinary team, supporting the delivery of healthy food provision and individualised nutrition care.

Key duties

• Support the registered nurse in developing a person-centred nutrition care plan after the patient’s nutritional risk has been assessed, working alongside the ward dietitian.
• Make sure special dietary requests are placed correctly and coordinate menu choices with the ward hostess.
• Help patients eat and drink, making sure their needs are met with support from the ward team.
• Set up, monitor, and document food, fluid, and supplement intake, then report updates to the registered nurse and dietetic team.
• Guide patients in choosing foods that suit their dietary requirements, while taking cultural preferences into account, and work with patients, carers, the dietitian, and catering staff to identify preferred food and drink options.
• Maintain clear, accurate, and timely ward records for tasks that do not need a dietitian’s or qualified nurse’s specialist input.
• Take part in audits with support and direction from the team.
• Encourage patients to take prescribed snacks, nourishing drinks, and supplements, and record this as instructed by the dietitian.
• Weigh and measure patients when requested and as part of nutritional risk monitoring.
• Check that food and supplements are stored correctly in ward and patient areas.
• Support healthy eating messages through the nutrition education framework and help create information resources for the ward.
• Assist patients with any food-related concerns and promote discussion with the dietetic team.

Team environment

The stroke ward is described as a warm and supportive setting for patients recovering from stroke. It is a busy unit, but strong teamwork is valued as a way to achieve the best outcomes for patients.

Contact for informal enquiries

For more information or an informal visit, contact Randolf Roldan, Ward Manager, at randolf.roldan@cht.nhs.uk or 01422223703. Rebecca Elmswer-Sykes, Ward Manager, can also be contacted at Rebecca.sykes@cht.nhs.uk.