NHS Grampian’s Dietetic service is split across six teams: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Acute, Community Child Health, Mental Health and Adults with Learning Disabilities. These teams work in a range of locations from hospitals, care homes, patients’ homes and health centres. The patient group is similarly diverse; you may find yourself working with adults or children who are underweight or overweight or assessing and developing treatment plans for people requiring modifications to their diet.
I would like to become a Dietitian
Practising as a Dietitian requires a degree from a recognised institution. Training in Scotland is available at Robert Gordon University, Glasgow Caledonian University and Queen Margaret University. Please visit their websites for more information on the entry requirements and course content.
If you would like to learn more about working as a Dietitian, the Grampian dietitians run an annual information day. The event involves dietitians from all teams sharing experiences of working with children, the elderly, adults and people with mental health or learning disabilities. The workshops demonstrate a variety of methods used such a one-to-one working, group education and public health initiatives. Please use the NHS Grampian Work Experience website for more details.
It is also possible for undergraduates with a relevant degree (biological sciences or a science degree with a high proportion of physiology and biochemistry) to become a Dietitian. Postgraduate training is offered by Glasgow Caledonian University and Queen Margaret University.
I am currently training to be a Dietitian
Dietetic students must complete 3 clinical placements during their 4 years of study. The NHS Grampian departments take students for placement. These are organised across Scotland and provide the opportunity to experience working in different dietetic departments.
I am a qualified Dietitian and considering a move to Grampian
We are please to hear you are interested in joining our team. Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Grampian Recruitment website and updated weekly.
I am a qualified Dietitian but it’s been some years since I practised. Am I able to return to work?
NHS Grampian welcome enquiries from Dietitians who have allowed their registration to lapse or have had a career break. We are happy to support you to regain registration through supervision and an assessment of your clinical competencies. For an informal chat please contact Karin Massie, AHP Practice Education Lead, karin.massie@nhs.net. More information is also available from the British Dietetic Association and the Health & Care Professions Council.
Flying Start
Flying Start NHS® is a national development programme for newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It aims to support your learning and build your confidence during your first year of practice in NHS Scotland. It will do this by assisting you to navigate to the Foundation gateway of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework 'Agenda for Change'. After completing Flying Start NHS® newly qualified practitioners would be expected to participate in ongoing Continuing Professional Development.
Benefits for newly qualified practitioners include:
- Offers a learner-directed solution to finding information and making sense of a complex environment
- Guides and supports the transition from student to qualified practitioner
- Links to the NHS KSF development review cycle
- Supports the development of skills for lifelong learning and CPD
- Offers practical advice on how to manage portfolios and PDPs within NHS Scotland
- Gives access to up to date material, useful websites and national policy and developments
- Decreases feelings of isolation through the on-line forum, Flying Start Community and Ask a Mentor functions
- Draws and builds on the learning skills developed as pre-registration or undergraduate student
- Increased understanding of the role of other health and social care professionals and partners
Effective Practitioner
Effective Practitioner is a national initiative providing work based learning resources and support for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in Scotland. It assists Practitioners and Senior Practitioners to deliver the 2020 vision and meet the Quality Ambitions of Person Centred, Safe and Effective Care. The Effective Practitioner website provides the online foundation for wider work-based support.
Senior AHP Framework
The Senior AHP Framework website provides support and guidance on the education and development needs of Senior AHPs who are leading and managing services or teams. It provides information and support for Senior AHPs at level 6 of The Career Framework for Health, and those aspiring to this level, who have leadership components within their role e.g. Team Leaders.
It also allows Knowledge and Skills Framework reviewers and managers to guide and assist the planning and implementation of leadership skills for their staff and help them develop Personal Development Plans (PDPs).
Skills Maximisation Toolkit
The Skills Maximisation Toolkit allows AHP staff to examine their unique contributions to the patient journey, and to ask which aspects could best be managed by others. The exercise has been developed into the skills maximisation process. It can be used by AHPs and other staff to identify adjustments that make optimum use of staff with various levels of qualification.
The toolkit guides you through 3 stages:
- Clarifying the patient journey
- Capturing uniqueness
- Creating improvement