We take an innovative approach to providing practice education opportunities. We believe in creating great placements in role emerging areas of practice will grow communication and dietetic professional skills for the future dietetic workforce.
NHS experience is essential to dietetic training however, our aim is to unblock the bottleneck by offering exciting alternatives to replace perhaps one of the traditional face to face placements and to provide opportunity to build additional skills and knowledge in other areas of dietetics. We host a variety of non-traditional practice placements for Universities in the UK using a variety of practice based learning models including:
to.be.a.Dietitian was founded with a service to grow practice placement opportunities for student dietitians across the UK.
We provide educational activities, practice placements and learning experiences which can be tailored to any BSc and MSc dietetic programmes to enable students to gain their 1000 hours of practice placement experience and enable Universities to grow student numbers to meet the needs of the workforce.
A virtual two-week placement meticulously structured to facilitate the seamless transition from academic knowledge to its practical application. During this placement, students will engage in a series of scheduled workshops, projects, and simulated clinics. This hands-on experience is tailored to familiarize them with the intricacies of nutrition and dietetic practice, ultimately preparing them for their first placement in the NHS. This placement is thoughtfully designed, drawing from the evidence-based model of peer-enhanced e-placements.
2 weeks / 75 hours.
Minimum student numbers – 4.
Designed to the first placement of the programme.
A two-week virtual placement meticulously crafted to introduce the pivotal role of behaviour change in dietetic care. Through a combination of lectures, workshops, and projects, participants will delve into the fundamentals of behaviour change, particularly in the context of working with patients facing clinical conditions. The program includes simulated cases, affording students the valuable opportunity to apply and practice behaviour change techniques in realistic scenarios & cases.
2 - 4 weeks / 75 - 150 hours.
Minimum student numbers – 4.
Suitable as part of a 1st or 2nd placement.
A seamless blend of three key elements — educational theory, leadership, & social media - providing a dynamic practice education environment for the enhancement of your dietetic skills.
This program offers students the opportunity to deepen their comprehension of educational theory and its practical implementation across diverse dietetic roles. It underscores the cultivation of leadership skills with a focus on their transferability between both traditional and non-traditional dietetic positions. Moreover, students will delve into the dynamic realm of social media, acquiring both knowledge and hands-on experience to make a meaningful impact in their roles. This multifaceted experience not only widens students' skill sets but also equips them for the intricacies and nuances inherent in dietetics roles. .
Minimum time – 6 weeks.
Minimum student numbers – 2.
This placement can be adapted to any stage of the programme.
This placement aims to actively involve students in evidence-based teaching and educational theory. Students will have the chance to partake in diverse activities, workshops, and projects delving into various educational roles within dietetics. This encompasses roles such as lecturers, researchers, clinical educators, and involvement in patient group education programs, including but not limited to DESMOND, DAPHNE, and HCA malnutrition training. Additionally, students will gain valuable insights through conversations with BDA committee education leads and volunteers. This placement opportunity will grow knowledge of educational theory and we hope it will encourage more dietitians into higher education career paths.
Minimum time - 2 weeks / 75 hours.
Maximum time - 4 weeks / 150 hours.
Minimum student numbers – 4.
This placement can be adapted for any stage of the programme but is better suited to placements 2, 3 and beyond.
In the era of social media, we find unparalleled prospects to elevate and spotlight our profession through evidence-based narratives. Engaging in this placement equips you with genuine expertise in managing the social media presence of to.be.a.Dietitian. You'll delve into crafting blogs, contributing to articles for magazines, curating podcasts, and designing impactful posts. Our comprehensive program extends beyond content creation — offering webinars and workshops that cover maintaining professionalism online, refining communication techniques on social media platforms, and providing insights on using AI platforms such as ChatGPT & its limitations.
Minimum time - 2 weeks / 75 hours.
Minimum student numbers – 2.
This placement can be adapted for any stage of the programme
An online placement crafted to foster an appreciation for leadership's significance in clinical practice and service enhancement. Over the course of two weeks, students will embark on a comprehensive exploration of leadership qualities and their impact on those within their sphere. Embedded within this leadership course is a dedicated two-day project focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion, further enriching the understanding of leadership in a holistic context.
2 weeks / 75 hours.
Minimum student numbers – 4.
This placement can be adapted for any stage of the programme.
Role-emerging placements often involve promoting dietetics and nutrition in novel contexts where dedicated dietetic roles may not be firmly established yet. Student dietitians might be keen on undertaking elective placements in these emerging areas however, the absence of dietitians within these teams can pose a challenge in finding suitable supervision.
Recognizing this hurdle, we provide a solution through long-arm supervision for role-emerging placements. We collaborate closely with the hosting teams, ensuring that students seamlessly integrate and receive necessary supervision, ultimately endorsing their learning outcomes.
Whether students wish to secure their own placements or seek our assistance in finding role-emerging opportunities, we are flexible. Our extensive network encompasses a range of settings, including charities, GP surgeries, sports nutrition, NHS management, the food industry, corporate companies, and various non-dietetic nutrition-related services. This diversity ensures that we can tailor placements to suit individual preferences and career goals.
Minimum time – 4 weeks.
Minimum student numbers – 2
Our practice education offerings are crafted to deliver immersive practical experiences, ensuring a smooth transition from academic studies to the professional realm. These education packages can be utilized independently, combined for a comprehensive experience, or integrated as a complementary spoke placement to another practice education area.
Participation in our practice education opportunities at to.be.a.Dietitian comes at no cost to the student. We proudly accept the HEE non-NHS education tariff through your University.
We firmly believe in involving students in the design of our future practice education opportunities. Consequently, each placement will include a project that encourages students to contribute to the creation of educational resources and activities for future students. This approach ensures that the programme evolves with valuable input from those directly engaged in the educational experience.
We are compiling sustainable recipes that align with UK healthy eating guidelines, ensure they incorporate at least two of your recommended five portions of fruits and vegetables per day & are family friendly! Every student will be able to adapt & add their favourite recipe - gathering recipes from all backgrounds and cultures. Our focus is on creating these to be budget-friendly family meals that can be mixed & matched!
These curated recipes will be made available as a free downloadable resource for the public!
Copyright © 2024 to.be.a.Dietitian - All Rights Reserved.
to.be.a.Dietitian