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Scope of Practice

There are two aspects to scope of practice; the scope of the dietetic profession and individual scope of practice. It is important to have knowledge and understanding of both to ensure that you are practicing safely, lawfully and effectively.

Dietetic Scope of Practice

At the heart of dietetic practice is the belief that nutrition, diet and hydration is fundamental to optimal health and well-being. At its core, dietetic practice focuses on the use of nutrition science and evidence to; assess nutritional needs, diagnose nutritional problems, and undertake a range of activities and interventions to enable, enhance or influence the diet and nutrition of individuals, groups, populations and services. Any activities or interventions undertaken will be linked to existing or emerging occupational or practice frameworks, which are acknowledged by the profession, and supported by a robust body of evidence and/or peer consensus. 

Individual Scope of Practice

Your individual scope of practice is defined by the limit of your knowledge, skills and experiences. This refers to the activities that you are educated, trained and competent to carry out. It is individual, and will be different for each person, influenced by your career, experience and development. It will likely change and evolve over time as your knowledge, skills and experience develop.

The concept of practicing within your scope is integrated within the HCPC standards which all dietitians in the UK agree to meet when registering:

Standards of conduct, performance and ethics

3.1 You must only practise in the areas where you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of a service user safely and effectively. (Updated for Sept 2024)

3.2 You must undertake additional training to update your knowledge, skills and experience if you wish to widen your scope of practice. (New for Sept 2024)

3.3 You must refer a service user to an appropriate practitioner if the care, treatment or other services they need are beyond your scope of practice. This person must hold the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of the service user safely and effectively. (Updated for Sept 2024)

3.4 You must keep your knowledge and skills up to date and relevant to your scope of practice through continuing professional development. (Previously standard 3.3)

3.5 You must keep up to date with and follow the law, HCPC guidance and other requirements relevant to your practice. (Previously standard 3.4)

Standards of proficiency

1. You must be able to practise safely and effectively within your scope of practice.

Understanding your scope of practice

The primary concern for any individual, in any role, will be the safety of the client or service user. Key to this is the requirement for all individuals working within healthcare to only act within their personal scope of practice.

Identifying your scope is not easy as the boundaries will be different for each individual and will evolve over time. When an individual defines their own scope, it is a broad picture of their practice and may describe some or all of the following:

Occupational role

For example: clinician, researcher, education, support worker

Sector 

For example: Private practice, industry, higher education

Environment 

For example: Acute, community, primary care

Client Group 

For example: Children, older adults, people with learning disabilities

Speciality    

For example: Diabetes, public health, obesity

Treatment approaches  

For example: Behavioural therapy, group education

Types of cases requiring onward referral

For example: Other dietitians, speech therapist, podiatrist

 

A more specific scope of practice is described in relation to individual service users or circumstances.  When working with a service user, it is important to undertake a personal risk assessment as part of the overall assessment – asking key questions before proceeding:

  • Is the service user safe?
  • Am I safe?
  • Can I justify the decision I have made during the assessment (for example has the research, evidence, standards, guidance been considered)?
  • Can I identify the most appropriate approach for the service user or client group?
  • Do I have the correct skills, knowledge and experience to be competent in my chosen approach?

Whatever role is undertaken, there must ongoing awareness of individual scope of practice, and you must remain within your scope throughout.

Supporting Resources