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  7. Vice Chair - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

Vice Chair - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

Vice Chair - Learning Disabilities Sub Group

(12 month post - maternity leave)

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 and Objectives of the Group

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 Vice-Chair, you will support the Chair to lead and guide a motivated committee of volunteers, who work as a team to set sub group strategy, deliver objectives and provide branch members with resources, education and networking opportunities. 

You will have an overview of the strategic developments affecting the sub group, using your knowledge and skills to represent sub group members interests and provide education.

We don’t expect you to do it alone; you’ll be supported by the sub group Chair, will work closely with your committee and have the support of the BDA staff team to deliver your sub group aims and objectives.

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

Main tasks and responsibilities

  • Provide assistant leadership to enable the Chair and committee members to fulfil their roles.
  • Work closely with the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary to lead and support the committee to achieve its aims and objectives.
  • Call, attend and chair meetings of the committee in the absence of the Chair.
  • Work with the Chair to lead on projects as agreed.
  • Alongside the Chair act as the main branch committee contact and representative of the branch within the BDA.
  • Support the Chair and group committee in the delivery of key governance responsibilities.
  • Work closely with the BDA’s Volunteering Team, seeking advice and guidance where needed.
  • Lead and encourage committee members to work with the BDA staff team to seek advice and guidance, provide expertise and contribute to projects.
  • Communicate with other branch, specialist group and sub group committees, Country Boards and the BDA staff team in order to collaborate and share best practice.

Training Support and Resources

As the Vice-Chair you’ll work closely with the Volunteering Team who offers support, guidance and advice to the Vice Chair. 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 Vice Chair.
  • Training and development opportunities to help build personal and professional skills including workshops, webinars and the BDA’s annual volunteer conference.
  • Vice-Chair 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 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 sub 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 25 October 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 the Volunteer Team.


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.