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Jobs: Food for Thought

Posted on: Tuesday, 31 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

NAME: Amy Harris

AGE: 27

JOB: Dietician

PERSONAL: Amy's younger sister is diabetic, so she grew up knowing exactly what sort of impact the food we eat can have on our health.

She enjoyed science subjects at school, particularly learning about vitamins and food groups. This convinced her that she wanted to become a dietician.

She did well in her GCSEs and A-levels and went on to university to read for a degree in nutrition and dietetics.

After graduation, she got a job as a dietician with the NHS. She initially worked in a hospital, but now works in the community.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Dieticians are experts on food and health and give people advice on how to make positive changes to their diets.

The National Health Service employs the majority of dieticians. They usually work in hospital wards and outpatient clinics, and their clients often include patients with diabetes, food allergies or medical conditions such as kidney or heart problems, as well as people who are very overweight or who suffer from eating disorders.

NHS dieticians also work in the community, where they give advice on a one-to-one basis and to groups. They may advise people with special needs, such as pregnant women or the elderly, and often visit schools to talk to students and improve school meals. They often work with other healthcare professionals, such as GPs, nurses and midwives, public health authorities, social services and voluntary groups.

Dieticians are also employed in other industries. Some work in sport to help athletes to improve their performance, while others may work in the food or drug industry. Roles in research and teaching may also be available.

SKILLS AND PERSONALITY: Dieticians need to have a good understanding of science and nutrition and to be able to explain this information to a range of people in a way they can understand.

Dieticians need to have very good people skills and be able to motivate clients to change their eating habits. Tact is needed, as many people with weight problems suffer from low self-esteem, and they must also try to understand the cultural and financial considerations that can affect someone's diet.

Progress can be very slow so patience is also required, and dieticians should try not to judge their clients.

As they work with a range of other health professionals, it is important to be able to work as part of a team, and good organisational skills are also needed to record progress.

TRAINING AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: To work in the NHS, dieticians must be registered with the Health Professional Council. To achieve this, it is necessary to have a recognised qualification, usually a BSc honours degree in nutrition and/or dietetics. Entry requirements for most courses are usually at least two A-levels (preferably chemistry and one other science subject) and five GCSE passes at A to C, including maths and English.

Equivalent qualifications may be accepted and mature candidates with relevant experience may be accepted with lower qualifications.

The course lasts four years and contains 28 weeks of practical training in hospital and community settings.

Graduates with a first degree in a life science subject that contains an acceptable level of biochemistry and human physiology, such as biomedical science, medicine, nursing or food science technology, may be eligible for a two-year postgraduate course in dietetics.

Most students will have their fees paid by the NHS and may be able to claim a bursary.

EARNINGS AND PROSPECTS: Newly qualified dieticians working in the NHS can expect to earn around pounds 17,700, rising to between pounds 22,000 and pounds 28,000 with experience. Dieticians working in the NHS as a consultant allied to health professionals can earn up to pounds 49,000.

The NHS has a clear career path and, after two years, dieticians can normally start applying for more senior positions, either in specialist clinical roles or management.

In industry, there may be opportunities to move into product development and marketing roles, and some dieticians move into teaching and research.

FURTHER INFORMATION: For more details visit www.nhscareers.nhs.uk or the British Dietetic Association website at www.bda.uk.com

MAIN MOAN: We try to

help people as much as we can, but obviously we can't force them to eat healthily. It can be frustrating when a patient just won't change their diet.

MAIN SATISFACTION: I think the message about healthy eating is really starting to get through, especially in schools, and it's good to be a part of that.

Source: Sunday Mercury; Birmingham (UK)

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