Current Position
We recognise that our workforce is experiencing challenging times both in terms of capacity, accessing training opportunities, recruitment, and retention for existing and developing roles.
The rate of change is unprecedented and stress is being placed on both dietetic services and the professional body to deliver at pace.
We remain committed to listening and collaborating with our members and stakeholders to understand their training and research needs and where possible developing processes and resources, and expanding our offering to respond to these needs.
To futureproof the dietetic profession, there needs to be a continued focus on growing education and training opportunities in each of the four nations, for both the current and future workforce, which are underpinned by sound research and evidence-based practice.
This area of the strategy concentrates on the availability of key resources to guide career development and offer continual professional development opportunities at all levels which reflect the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion.
We are currently implementing processes and systems in response to the demand for growth in dietetic education and training opportunities. These include accreditation of Higher Education Institute education programmes (including sports and exercise nutrition programmes), degree level apprenticeships and endorsement of learning activities, all of which have grown significantly in recent times.
The education, practice and research pages on the BDA website host an abundance of resources and events to support members to deliver high-quality service provision while developing personally.
We are committed to developing our workforce across the spectrum of dietetic careers by illustrating the different roles and associated levels of training expected. There is a dedicated Equality, diversity and inclusion webpage for pre-registration education and training, highlighting the importance of this area.
We are actively promoting the evidence-based practice and research pillar of practice and responding to increased demand for conference places, mentors and Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN) usage.
For education, the focus will be on the continued growth of the dietetic workforce at all levels. A revised career framework will facilitate the futureproofing of the workforce from support worker to consultant level.
Alongside our robust accreditation process for dietetic training (based on the BDA curriculum framework for pre-registration training, refreshed every five years), we will build on the success of our existing Centre for Education and Development, to further extend and expand continual professional development opportunities for the dietetic workforce nationally and internationally.
We remain fully committed to strengthening our emphasis on evidence-based practice and research. We will focus on providing further tools, resources and opportunities for our members to utilise and generate research and produce data outcomes to underpin practice and advance the science of nutrition and dietetics.
We will continue to build on the impact of the Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics and support and promote high quality research content.
Our job is to horizon scan, engage with a variety of stakeholders and actively listen to what is needed to ensure effective delivery of services and a motivated workforce. This will require flexibility in our approach and investment in people at an individual and group level, to support improved delivery of services to others.
Where it is within our capability to develop mechanisms and resources to enable this, we will do so.
By 2034 BDA members will have:
- A suite of resources across four pillars of practice which support national frameworks across the UK.
- Training and professional development (CPD) for the entire workforce reflecting the four pillars of practice.
- A suite of resources dedicated to supporting the translation of research into practice.
- A greater number of dietitians who will actively participate in the BDA’s Research Symposium.
- Access to a research mentor.
- 25% of BDA Specialist Groups will have developed a curriculum framework for Master’s level education.
By 2027 we will deliver:
- Key resources that clearly articulate the enhanced practice role including webpages, guidance documents, CPD courses.
- An updated BDA Post Registration Framework to reflect four pillars of practice (practice, evidence-based practice and research, facilitated learning, and leadership) at all levels including our support workforce.
- Improved member awareness in using Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition within their practice, to increase our active PEN users and contributors.
- Engagement with specialist groups to ensure that they each have a research officer.
- A research mentorship scheme.
- A conceptual model for Master’s level education with supporting governance structures, piloted with one specialism for accreditation.