Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems whilst providing the latest, professionally evidenced and critically appraised advice for patients we care for in our hospitals and out in the wider community.
Their input is integral to the provision of high quality patient care and nutritional interventions, guidance and education are increasingly recognised as an important element of a multi-disciplinary approach towards ensuring optimal health outcomes and general good health and wellbeing.
The emergence of new technologies and a growing evidence base for nutrition and dietetics alongside ever evolving demographics and patient expectations means that the world of dietetics is always changing.
Keeping up to date with the latest developments to continually build skills and knowledge is key to future proofing an exciting and fulfilling career.
important part of your supporting professional activities within your job plan and therefore this should be factored into your working week to ensure you can continue to develop as a clinician.
As our Trust offers the second largest breadth of specialist services in the UK, we offer excellent career prospects and are committed to ensuring our dietitians have access to all the education and development support that they might need as we see this profession becoming increasingly diverse with superb opportunities to work more autonomously with advanced and extended roles in new areas of practice.
CPD support at Newcastle Hospitals
Career aspirations can be discussed at annual appraisals in close liaison with line managers, or at any other time of the year, to help understand and plan how we can help you to take steps forward and achieve your goals.
For example, you may wish to specialise in a particular area of practice or explore teaching or research. Further training can support you to prepare for a future role – you may wish to become an advanced clinical practitioner or progress into management.
Annual appraisals help to shape personal development plans to set out learning opportunities which can be provided either in-house or externally.
Choosing the right CPD for you
There is a huge and diverse range of learning and development opportunities for you to choose from. We offer a wide variety of courses which are run in-house by our Education Workforce Development team and you can seek advice from our team here at the Newcastle Clinical Skills Academy about what might work for you.
If it’s something relating to leadership that you’re looking for then head to the Leadership section of our website to find out more.
NMAHPs LeadershipIf you have a particular interest in research then our section on how to #MakeSpace4Research will tell you everything you need to know.
#MakeSpace4ResearchRemember
You have the power to make your own decisions about which CPD activities are most beneficial to you, your practice and your career.
Health and Care Professions Council
As Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Dieticians are members of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and are required to meet the HCPC’s 5 CPD standards.
Find out more about what the HCPC means for AHPsUpdating your CPD profile
Keeping an up-to-date file of progress which documents your activities and achievements so that you have this to hand at any time should you be asked to provide it.
You can find out more about how to fill in a CPD profile and see lots of examples of CPD activities on the Health and Care Professions Council website.
Your profession may also have specific expectations – as a practicing Dietitian you may find some of the following information helpful.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) Support
The BDA offers a wide range of support and activities to assist its members in upholding the highest standards of professional practice and to develop themselves continually throughout their working lives.
This includes work-based learning such as:
- BDA Classroom and BDA eLearning via the BDA Learning Zone
- reflective practice, clinical audit or Facebook journal club
- professional activity including active membership of a specialist group
- mentoring or teaching
- formal education from short courses to higher degrees
Dietitians undertake many types of CPD from daily reflections to formal periods of study.
The BDA provides guidance and tools to support members in maintaining a record of these activities and you can find out more on the BDA website.
Contact us
- To find out more about how to benefit from CPD funding and other learning and development opportunities at Newcastle Hospitals, speak to your line manager in the first instance or get in touch with the Newcastle Clinical Skills Academy team.