'Transforming Roles Paper 09: Allied Health Professions Advanced Practice' was recently published, providing clear guidance for the development of advanced practice dietetic roles in Scotland.
The guidance was written in response to a scoping report that explored what support is available for AHP advanced practice roles in Scotland.
The scoping report identified several challenges, such as the absence of a national definition of AHP advanced practice, wide variation in job titles and limitations in workforce data. The report also noted a lack of a systematic approach to developing advanced practice roles through education frameworks and career pathways and evaluating their impact. Many practitioners and service leads were also unaware of the existing national resources available for advanced practice roles.
To address these challenges, the Scottish Government commissioned NHS Education for Scotland (NES), in partnership with the Scottish Directors of AHPs, to support the development of AHP advanced practice across Scotland's 14 AHP professions.
Robust evidence was collected through engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers, professional bodies, the HCPC, education providers and the wider AHP community.
The Transforming Roles Paper 09 has been published as a result of this commission and provides a clear national direction for the development of AHP advanced practice roles in Scotland. It consolidates guidance on:
- Integrated workforce planning and transformation
- Regulation and clinical governance arrangements
- Education and training pathways, supported by clinical supervision
- Measurement of impact in a range of areas including patient and service outcomes
- Practical actions employers can take to progress AHP advanced practice
The BDA welcomes this new guidance that provides further clarity and support for advanced practice dietetic roles in Scotland and enables dietitians to learn more about opportunities for career development and growth.
Sian Cunningham, BDA Professional Practice Manager, said "The publication of Transforming Roles Paper 09 represents an important step in shaping the future workforce. The British Dietetic Association is committed to collaborating with stakeholders across health and care to ensure that developments in roles and responsibilities strengthen multidisciplinary working and improve outcomes for those that access services and communities."
You can read the paper in full on the Scottish Government website. The next phase of the commission will focus on supporting implementation of the guidance and gathering feedback on the use of the paper.