Its all about getting your foot in the door…
My thirst for food began as an amateur swimmer, however as a child and teen, it never crossed my mind that I would be able to pursue a career in a relative field. After completing my degree in Nutrition and Health, I found a specific interest in disease related nutrition and wanted to become a Dietitian.
During my time at university, I began to volunteer at WHH, within various departments of Warrington Hospital. With an interest in dietetics, I hoped to volunteer in the dietetics department, desperate for any prior experience I could get my hands on. After being unsuccessful in getting onto a dietetics course, I committed to my ‘fall back’ option at the time and completed a masters in obesity and weight management: whilst continuing to volunteer at the hospital. In September 2019, a job came up to join dietetics as a Band 3 Therapy assistant. I jumped at the opportunity and was successful after interview.
Almost two years on, I am now a Band 4 Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, based on the community Dietitians team. I am responsible for assessing and treating the nutritional needs of the residents in the ~60 care homes across both Warrington and Halton. I am also responsible for developing and providing training to patients and staff to embed fundamental nutritional care planning. I find it rewarding to share my knowledge and experience with others and to help patients to thrive, whilst rewarding the hard work of other professionals, especially in care homes.
I hope soon to start a degree apprenticeship in dietetics. This would allow be to become a qualified Dietitian whilst working at WHH, with the hope to in the future progress within the team.