On Our Mind

Posted on 7 Jun 2024

For Dietitians Week, we’re sharing a story from Claire Flint, an Assistant Dietetic Practitioner and student dietitian. Claire has always had an interest in nutrition and dietetics and studied an undergraduate degree in Food Nutrition and Health.

After being made redundant a few years ago, Claire was keen to get back into nutrition and dietetics. She shares her story about her role within the Trust’s Nutrition and Dietetic Service and how she has taken an alternative route to studying a postgraduate master’s degree through an apprenticeship route with the Trust.

“I have always had an interest in nutrition and dietetics, studying an undergraduate degree in Food Nutrition and Health, and I have worked in the nutrition field for many years until unfortunately I was made redundant a few years ago. Finally, after getting my confidence back I was keen to get back into nutrition and dietetics to share my passion with patients and I was offered the job as Dietetic Assistant Practitioner at Nottinghamshire Healthcare, which further increased my confidence and passion for nutrition and dietetics.​

“As a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, I support the dietetic team by carrying out patient reviews, ordering oral nutritional supplements and delivering training. I also support the wider team by delivering DESMOND Type 2 Diabetes courses, support the physiotherapy teams Pulmonary Rehab with eating with lung condition sessions, support the head-to-toe training with malnutrition, updating literature and carrying out audits.

“I have been very lucky to work within such a supportive team, who work as a team and treat one another as equals supporting and guiding one another to provide the best care possible for their patients. ​

“I finally got my confidence and desire back which prompted me to look at undertaking a postgraduate master’s degree in Dietetics.​

“I have taken an alternative route by studying my postgraduate master’s degree through the apprenticeship route which is a new concept for dietetics. The course is a two-year master’s program, combined with a level 7 leadership and management qualification, of which I am in the second year. I am enjoying increasing my knowledge and skills, and the opportunities I have been given to explore other specialist areas of dietetics outside of my current team.​

“I am looking forward to graduating and registering with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to become a registered dietitian! ​

“I was also nominated for the Allied Health Professional (AHP) Student of the Year Award in the Trust’s AHP Appreciation Awards and won the award in 2023.”

Sara McKenzie, Consultant Therapist Nutrition and Hydration Dietitian nominated Claire and said “As part of Claire’s dietetic apprenticeship, she has recently undertaken a Leadership placement at Wathwood Medium Secure Unit. Patients in secure settings are at higher risk of obesity than the rest of the population, therefore the multidisciplinary (MDT) team at Wathwood has developed a healthy lifestyles group to support patients to reach and maintain a healthier weight.

“As part of her placement, she has reviewed the dietary content and messages within the programme. In doing this, she has created a dietary interventions component which is evidence based and considered the patient population and their diverse needs, learning styles and abilities, interaction, barriers to change and the environment that they are in.

“She has built up a relationship with the team at Wathwood and demonstrated the impact that dietetic input can have on supporting the MDT and the patients at Wathwood.”

“Claire has taken on this project with enthusiasm, professionalism and demonstrated excellent leadership skills and I feel that Claire's contribution has made an outstanding and lasting difference to patients and the staff delivering the programme”.

If you’ve been inspired by Claire’s story and are interested in an apprenticeship with Nottinghamshire Healthcare, you can find out more on our apprenticeships page on our recruitment website.

View our latest vacancies, along with our fabulous staff benefits and development opportunities on our recruitment website. Join #TeamNottsHC and help make a difference!