This is the profession specific page for apprentices joining the Degree Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) Dietetics course. This page will give you more information about preparing for Dietetics specifically. 

The course leader is Sean Coleman

Sean.Coleman@shu.ac.uk

Course calendar

March 2024

This is the  calendar for apprentices starting March 2024.  On here you will be able to see when you have teaching blocks , placement blocks and when you are back on the job with your employer.

Induction will commence on Monday 11th March, more information with times will be sent nearer the start date. Once you have enrolled you will receive an online teaching and assessment calendar.

March 2023

This is the course calendar for apprentices starting March 2023. On here you will be able to see when you have teaching blocks , placement blocks and when you are back on the job with your employer.

Induction will commence on Monday 13th March, more information with times will be sent nearer the start date. Once you have enrolled you will receive an online teaching and assessment calendar.

Learning and teaching

The Dietetics apprenticeship is a distance learning course which means that you receive a mixture of online in person (taught) sessions and online independent activities (non-taught). These can be a mixture of lectures, seminars and practicals.

You can wear any clothing for online sessions, but professional 'netiquette' is expected. This requires that cameras are switched on during sessions (where appropriate) to encourage active participation and engagement.

Placements

You will have 3 placements throughout your course- one block at level 4, one block at level 5 and 6. We will work with your employer and placement providers to ensure clearance for placement (such as DBS, immunisations and mandatory training) and allocations. We encourage a broad range of experiences such as clinical, leadership, education and research placements. All placements will be assessed as pass or fail.

The placement calendar can be found here

Professional body

This link takes you to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the professional body for dieititians. You may already be a member and familiar with this, but please take the time to look at the expectations and support for students and apprentice learners.

This link takes you to the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) guidance on conduct and behaviour for learners. HCPC has a useful hub for learners to find out more about their work.

You can join the BDA as a learner, this does come at a cost, check with your employer if they are supporting colleagues and or learners with the cost.

Useful activities to complete/observe before starting the course:

• Observe a new patient assessment

• Collect, without service user/patients names, staff names or logo's any dietetic assessments, you come across at work

• Find out about/shadow the role of other professions who may be in  your workplace e.g OT, SALT, physiotherapist, nurse

• Find out about some information about the role of a dietitian working within acute and community settings and with different service users e.g. older adults, paediatrics, people with learning disabilities. What might be their role?

• Find out about what other environments/settings a dietitian could work within and what their role might be e.g. councils, schools, prison, sports, media, research and freelance.

• Look at food and drink packaging, making a note of sizes/weights

• Keep a 3 day food diary, which includes weighing out the portion sizes of foods/drinks consumed

• Ask dietetic colleagues if you can read Dietetics Today or Complete Nutrition