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  7. Education Officer - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

Education Officer - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

Education Officer - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

If you would like to be nominated for this role, please complete your details below and we will be in touch to discuss next steps.

Aims & Objectives

Aims: To raise awareness of the dietetic needs of the Learning Disabilities population and to reduce diet related physical health inequalities. To raise the profile of dietitians working with this client group and provide support and guidance to this network. To represent dietetics within stakeholder and multi-disciplinary and multi-agency forums.

Objectives:

1. To inform and resource dietitians working with people with learning disabilities, both within the LD specialism and within all other areas of dietetics. To raise awareness of the dietetically related health inequalities and associated factors including the implementation of reasonable adjustments.

2. To provide a learning forum for dietitians working within the LD Dietetics specialism by means of confidential case discussion, shared best practice, literature reviews, CPD opportunities, peer supervision and networking.

3. To provide a developmental forum for the specialism by means of regular strategy meetings.

4. To provide expert advice and resource for dietitians practicing within all specialisms when working with a person with a learning disability.

5. To influence and promote the role of a dietitian in the health and social care sector to help raise awareness the impact of dietitians can make on this client group and reduce the health inequalities of the LD population.

6. To provide an expert voice within the BDA on the dietetic needs of the LD population.

What the role has to offer

As the sub group Education Officer, you will work closely with the committee to develop education, resources opportunities for group members. You’ll use your expertise to guide and shape the groups education strategy, working with the BDA’s Education, Practice and Policy Team to contribute to the BDA’s education work.

You’ll work with the committee to develop group resources and educational materials for members and the public, collaborating with organisations to influence and develop external resources. Through this role you’ll develop an overview of the strategic developments affecting the specialist group from both within the BDA and externally to the profession. Using your knowledge and skills to represent sub group members interests, advocate for the learning disabilities specialism and the dietetic profession as a whole.

We don’t expect you to do it alone, as the Education Officer you’ll work closely with the sub group committee and with the support of the BDA staff team to deliver your sub group aims and objectives.

Through this role you will gain organisation, communication and project management skills, which can translate directly into career development. It will also give you an opportunity to work with colleagues across your speciality, building networks, sharing knowledge and skills.

 

Main tasks and responsibilities

  • Overall responsibility for the group’s education strategy.
  • Co-ordinate the committee and group members to create education resources for members and, where relevant, the public.
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to influence and develop resources. 
  • Ensure all resources are regularly reviewed and updated in line with BDA policy.
  • Ensure all resources comply with BDA standards policy and, seeking endorsement where relevant.
  • Work closely with the BDA’s Volunteering Team and Education, Practice and Policy Team, seeking advice and guidance where needed.
  • Collaborate with the Website Editor and Social Media Officer to promote the education work of the group and new resources through BDA communication channels.
  • Co-ordinate the committee’s responses to NICE, contributions to PEN and the research symposium.

Training, support and resources

As the Education Officer you’ll work closely with the Volunteering Team and the Education, Practice and Policy Team who offer support, guidance and advice to the volunteer. Support for this role is offered by key committee members who work as a team to promote the work of the group. 

We have a variety of resources, tools and training available to support this role including:

Induction with BDA staff and a full handover from the previous volunteer.

Training and development opportunities to help build personal and professional skills including workshops, webinars and the BDA’s annual volunteer conference.

Access to our volunteer hub with a wide range of website editing tools and resources.

Access to our volunteer handbook and volunteer hub providing a range of resources and guidance.

Regular communications including a monthly volunteer ezine with BDA updates and opportunities.

Networking with other volunteers through events, webinars and access to our volunteer forums.

Length of service and commitment

You will be elected for a two-year term of office and hope that you will be able to stay in the role throughout this term. There is the option to extend for an additional two-year term. We hope that reasonable notice would be given if you are no longer able to fulfil this role, as we appreciate that circumstances can change.

There are a number of training and development opportunities available, including a detailed induction with BDA staff and governance training to be undertaken upon commencement of each term.

Committee meetings are held regularly and can be attended virtually if required. There is a varying and flexible amount of work in between meetings which is dependent on the strategy, workplans and projects agreed to by the committee. 

The group holds a minimum of one event for members a year which includes the Annual General Meeting. It is typical for the committee to attend these events.

Recruitment Method 

To apply for this role please submit a nomination form by 30 June 2024. Nominees must be a member of the group and provide the names and signatories of two BDA members to support their nomination. If you would like an informal, confidential discussion about the role and the nomination process, please contact Briony the sub group chair. 


Members who support my application

First member

Second member


Declaring conflicts of interest

Council has decided that it is good practice for all members who represent the BDA on outside bodies, who are completing specific pieces of work for the BDA, are executive committee members of specialist groups or members of standing committees to register any interests which may be perceived as potentially generating a conflict of interests with BDA business.

The definition of what needs to be recorded is: the interests of a member which might reasonably be thought by others to influence their actions in their capacity as a BDA member acting on behalf of the BDA. This is consistent with our Members’ Charter and the way other councils work (including the Health Professions Council).

This form will be held confidentially by the BDA Chief Executive and the Honorary Secretary. It will be completed by anyone representing the BDA externally or taking on a distinct piece of work, where the BDA thinks it appropriate that the member complete it. It may be used if a conflict of interests arises and  Council or the Investigatory Committee decides that it needs to access it.

Please complete the following details as fully as possible and declare any possible conflict of interest you may have. Click on either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to answer each question.

I confirm that the information given on this form is correct and understand that failure to disclose relevant information may result in my role representing the BDA being terminated.

I agree that the information I have provided may be disclosed to the Council or the Investigatory Committee if requested.

I acknowledge that, under the terms of my membership of the BDA, I must comply with the rules and policies of the BDA, professional Codes of Conduct and the Members’ Charter. In particular, I will ensure that:

  • I act in the best interests of the BDA
  • I uphold confidentiality and ensure that any information obtained during a visit is used solely for the purposes of the BDA and is not divulged to any person or third party.
  • I conduct myself appropriately and treat all present with equal respect.