Professional practice makes up one of the four pillars of dietetic practice, detailed within the BDA Dietetic Career Framework. This pillar focuses on the ability to practise safely and effectively within the individual’s scope of practice, maintaining fitness to practice, providing services that are respectful of individuals preferences and the importance of communicating effectively. This page brings together a wealth of professional guidance to ensure members have an understanding and awareness of key elements within this area, and resources that can support them in practice.
The NHS Long Term plan encourages outcome collection as this enables us to identify processes that are effective as well as those that may need adapting; to improve service-user care and ensure a cost-effective service is provided with resources allocated accordingly.
To use the title of ‘dietitian’ (UK spelling) or ‘dietician’, and to practice dietetics in the UK, it is a legal requirement to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Find out more about regulation of dietetics within the UK including what regulation entails and how you can register.
The BDA recommends that the whole dietetic workforce partakes in regular, effective supervision to ensure safe practice, and to support practitioner wellbeing. The updated guidance provides definitions, the process of supervision, and provides some practical tools to support supervision in practice.
Eligible members within the Full, Associate, and SENR member categories, can benefit from the BDA insurance. It is a members individual responsibility to ensure they have appropriate insurance in place for their practice and they understand the terms and conditions of the policy. You can find out more about the BDA cover in this section.
The Model and Process describes, through six steps, the consistent process the dietetic workforce follow in any intervention; with individuals, groups or populations, in clinical settings, public health or health promotion. It supports high quality practice with the service user at the centre of any intervention.
It is essential that you have consent from service users or other appropriate authority before you provide any care, treatment or other services. The following information provides more information on the topic of consent, and signposts to relevant resources to support you in practice.
As a member of the dietetic workforce it is important you understand your personal responsibilities in practice; how you are accountable for the interventions you provide and how to provide good care. There are a number of different codes of conduct by which you are governed.
Safe Staffing and Safe Workload
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.
Whilst a registered dietitian has the overall responsibility for the dietetic care provided to a service user, in many cases they cannot undertake every task, intervention or activity, and they are required to delegate aspects of dietetic care to colleagues. Take a look at our principles of accountability and delegation which aim to support safe and effective practice.
The BDA Roles and Responsibilities Guidance has been developed as an extension to the 'professional practice' pillar within the BDA Dietetic Career Framework for the 'supportive' and 'assistive' levels of practice. It aims to provide guidance on the appropriate practice roles and responsibilities for members of the dietetic support workforce.