DTC4001 : Professional Practice in Dietetics
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Miss Stephanie Wakefield
- Lecturer: Miss Aylish Elliott-Horn, Ms Susan Lennie, Miss Laura Haigh
- Other Staff: Mrs Lisa Rippingale
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will enable the student to apply the nutrition and dietetic care model and process in practice under minimal supervision. Students will interpret assessment information, demonstrate treatment planning and evaluation, and apply a person-centred management approach with a selected caseload in an inter-professional context. In addition, the module aims to provide students with the ability to evaluate critically theoretical and practical aspects of contemporary dietetic practice and consider career planning and continuing professional development requirements.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module will include:
Extending knowledge and skills in the practice of dietetics with increasing autonomy.
Nutrition and Dietetic Care Model and Process.
• Assessment, treatment and management of service users.
• Clinical reasoning, problem solving, enablement and goal setting.
Communication with service users, educators, tutors, interdisciplinary team members, support staff and other relevant parties, including use of relevant professional documentation.
Person-centred care
Independent caseload management
Professionalism
• Fitness to Practise
• Team working, time management, administrative duties, and organisation.
• Application of safe practice including mandatory training and protocols.
• Professional practice, standards, policies and procedures
• Leadership
Reflection on, and in, action
HCPC Continuing Professional Development Requirements, future employment, CV preparation and job applications.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 14:00 | 14:00 | Preparation for assessments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Non-sync online materials |
| Placement/Study Abroad | Clinical Training | 1 | 450:00 | 450:00 | 12 week, full time placement within an approved health and social care setting. |
| Placement/Study Abroad | Clinical Training | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Present in person visit to placement setting. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | PIP pre placement sessions and module induction |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Present in person professional development workshops |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Preparation for assessments- Synchronous online |
| Total | 479:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This module will form part of the evidence of satisfactory completion of 1,000 hours of practice education required by the British Dietetic Association.
Each student will be allocated to a health and social care setting of a placement partner of Newcastle University for a minimum of 12 weeks (fulltime hours). Students on placement and practice educators will normally receive one liaison contact from a member of academic staff to integrate academic based studies with practice-based experience, monitor students' progress and contribute to formative feedback/feed forward advice. Additional contacts may be arranged as necessary. Placement-based staff will conduct the final placement assessment and signing off of learning outcomes and competencies.
Scheduled online activities will allow the student to enhance their professional development.
Scheduled workshops will take place with input from Newcastle University careers service, speakers from dietetic management and those practicing advanced clinical skills. This will allow the students to consider career planning and professional development.
Total hours exceed those recommended for a 20 credit module due to the hours on placement. The placement hours contribute to the mandatory hours specified in the BDA Curriculum Framework for the Education and Training of Dietitians.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Examination | 30 | 1 | A | 100 | Individual viva |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | M | Competence-based portfolio |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The oral viva examination will assess the students’ ability to critically evaluate and justify actions taken in relation to seen case studies, exploring assessment findings, dietetic care plans and interventions, and response to treatment using an appropriate evidence base.
The placement is assessed as a competence via portfolio of evidence by the Practice Educator in the dietetic practice setting. The assessment consists of supervised assessed practice and pieces of written work as determined by the placements group. The student and their Practice Educator carry out an ongoing review of progress and a portfolio is compiled throughout the placement. The placement portfolio assesses placement competencies comprising 100% of the assessed placement portfolio.
Students who are unable to achieve the placement competencies by the end of the placement may be given the opportunity to undertake additional practice hours in order to meet the placement competencies. Such decisions will be made by the Degree Programme Director and Practice Educator. In making this decision the BDA Curriculum Framework for the Pre-registration, Education and Training of Dietitians must be adhered to in relation to undertaking additional practice hours.
MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 50 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- DTC4001's Timetable