Thank you for considering a volunteer role with the specialist group committee. You can find more information about the role, support available, and the nomination process below.
Aims and Objectives of the Group
- To bring together members with an interest in Kidney nutrition
- To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and experience
- To provide expert nutritional advice and information to dietitians, other health professionals and carers working with people with renal disease
- To promote research into the role of nutrition and renal disease
- To promote appropriate resources
- To liaise with other specialist groups within the BDA as appropriate and circulate and act upon information from BDA Board of Directors
- To deliver the Kidney Dietitian Specialist Group strategic plan in conjunction with the BDA Strategic plan
What the post has to offer
As an Extra Ordinary Member, you will work with the committee to provide expertise and support to allow the successful delivery of projects, education and networking for specialist group members. You’ll have a particularly important role in supporting the committee in its work, dipping in and out of projects of interest and using your skills and expertise to help deliver your specialist group aims and objectives.
You’ll work with the committee to 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 specialist group members interests, advocate for the kidney dietetic specialism and the dietetic profession as a whole.
We don’t expect you to do it alone, you’ll work closely with the specialist group committee and with the support of the BDA staff team.
Through this position 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 duties and responsibilities
- Support the committee by providing support & expertise on projects, events and resources.
- Provide peer review of resources produced by the committee, members or external candidates.
- Work closely with the BDA’s Volunteer Team and staff across the BDA, seeking advice and guidance where needed.
- Learn from committee members with specific portfolios, getting involved and leading on specific projects as required.
- Undertake specific duties as agreed with the committee e.g. support research activities or events.
Training Support and Resources
Support for this role is offered by key committee members including the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer who work as a team to set strategy, determine priorities and lead the committee to success.
We have a variety of resources, tools and training available to support this role including:
- Full induction with BDA staff and a full handover from the previous postholder.
- Training and development opportunities to help build personal and professional skills including workshops, webinars and the BDA’s annual volunteer conference.
- Committee leadership training to help build skills in strategy and governance.
- 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 six times a year, plus a yearly goal setting meeting, all of which are attended virtually. There are often additional meetings to allow for development of projects you may be working on, or to discuss specific projects. 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. It is recommended to obtain support from your manager to fulfil this role, and as such would recommend this be one of your work objectives with protected time within work to complete some duties of the role and attend meetings. It is not uncommon for duties to be completed within personal time, however, to maintain wellbeing and a work-life balance, we would recommend that as much as possible is completed within work time.
The specialist 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.
Appointment method
To apply for this role please submit a nomination form by 4 April 2025. 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 Angeline at [email protected].