Stephanie McCann, Dietitian - Southern Health & Social Care Trust - 6 August 2026

My first experience of H@H was when I had seen a job advertised for a dietitian to join the H@H team at Southern Trust (SHSCT). I was very intrigued as it was a new post and at that time there were no other dietitians working in that area in Northern Ireland. Prior to applying for the job, I had done some research on H@H in SHSCT, spoken to the team manager and an AHP within the team as well as attended a busy multidisciplinary team meeting to find out more. Attending the MDT meeting gave me a good insight into the H@H team and instantly made me realise the valuable knowledge and skills that I as a dietitian could bring to enhance this expanding service.

I was successful at my interview and was the first dietitian to join the H@H team in SHSCT in July 2019. My role started as a part-time post of 0.5WTE. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I was redeployed from my other role within the Trust as Cook-It Team Dietitian to solely work in H@H.

After this time, with growth, development and establishment of the role, dietitians are recognised as a key member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in H@H supporting older adults who are acutely unwell. Dietitians in H@H provide specialist nutritional assessment and advice for patients to manage nutritional needs and support recovery from acute illness, many of which are living with frailty or at risk of frailty and sarcopenia.

It is a privilege to be able to work alongside a full MDT, providing care to acutely unwell older adults in their home, who would traditionally have been assessed by a dietitian on a busy hospital ward.

One of the benefits of working as a dietitian within H@H is being part of this close, supportive MDT. The MDT ethos underpins all that we do. Managing acutely unwell patients in the community rather than in a hospital allows us to prevent hospital admissions, support early hospital discharge and continue care in a familiar environment, which reduces the risks that can come with hospital admissions for older adults.

Alongside the many benefits, working in H@H comes with its challenges. Over time, I have learned that navigating these realities calls for flexibility, the ability to adapt to different scenarios and strong communication.

Being part of the H@H team has shown me that good communication isn't just important, it's essential. It's what helps us work well together and ensures our patients receive safe, high-quality care in their own homes.