This page has the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about members of the Support Workforce and their roles in practice. We will continue to add questions to this page as deemed necessary.
Can the DSW work alone with service users?
Members of the DSW, can work alone with service users, within the scope of their role. At all levels they must only be completing tasks within their individual scope of practice, which means they have received the appropriate training and education, and have been signed off as competent.
All staff must be aware of the lone working policies in place within their organisation.
All organisations must have clear and appropriate escalation plans in place for tasks or activities the DSW are undertaking alone, should an issue or concern arise. All staff should have an understanding, and awareness of these. This is of particular importance for the DSW at band 3 and above, who will undertake direct service user care within their role.
Do the DSW need to be directly supervised when undertaking tasks?
This will depend on the activity or task they are undertaking; the BDA Roles and Responsibilities guidance provides additional support and advice on this topic.
Members of the DSW at band 3 and above can work unsupervised, providing direct service user care, on tasks that are within the scope of their role, and within their individual scope of practice. This means they they have had appropriate training and education, and are competent to perform the tasks they are undertaking. They should be working within clear protocols or procedurces which have been written and agreed by registered healthcare professionals.
All staff should be aware of the local escalation protocols should they find themselves in a situation which is outside the scope of their role, or their scope of practice and the support of a registered healthcare professional be required.
Do the DSW need competencies to work to?
To undertake a delegated role or responsibility, appropriate training must be provided, and competency must be demonstrated prior to undertaking the activity. Written evidence of this is needed, whether that is in the form of a formal competence, or documentation following a supervisory session including details of the training provided and competency achieved. Members of the DSW should not undertake an activity without the necessary relevant training to ensure safe and legal practice, protecting themselves and their service users.
When starting a role or taking on a new activity which involves direct service user care, a competency framework should be provided, outlining the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. A supervising dietitian or other registered healthcare professional (where appropriate) is responsible for supporting and signing off these competencies. Examples of competencies can be found in the BDA Accountability and Delegation guidance.
For activities which do not involve direct service user care, a standard operating procedure (SOP) should be in place. This should detail the step-by-step instructions of how to carry out the activity or task. In these circumstances, it is still important to observe and confirm that an individual understands and can complete the instructions competently.
What tasks or activities do the DSW need competencies for?
When starting a role or taking on a new activity which involves direct service user care, a competency framework should be provided, outlining the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. A supervising dietitian or other registered healthcare professional (where appropriate) is responsible for supporting and signing off these competencies. Examples of competencies can be found in the BDA Accountability and Delegation guidance.
For activities which do not involve direct service user care, a standard operating procedure (SOP) should be in place. This should detail the step-by-step instructions of how to carry out the activity or task. In these circumstances, it is still important to observe and confirm that an individual understands and can complete the instructions safely and effectively.
How is the DSW assessed to be competent?
To be assessed as competent, they must demonstrate their ability to perform the task correctly and consistently on observation. Depending on the complexity of the task, the registered healthcare professional may want to observe an individual performing the task on multiple occasions and if appropriate in different situations/settings. The DSW should be supported in recording their competence for specific tasks. Competence should be reviewed, ideally on an annual basis.
Examples of DSW competency documentation can be found in the BDA Accountability and Delegation guidance.
Who can assess the competence of a member of the Support Workforce?
A registered health care professional must assess competence. The registered healthcare professional must feel confident and competent to undertake the task they are assessing competence for. For dietetic specific competencies, these need to be assessed by a registered dietitian, with experience in the competency being assessed.
Can the DSW assist with the support of pre-registration learners on Practice-based Learning?
The DSW are well placed to support learners during PBL. They can do so by demonstrating and explaining activities within the scope of their role, and within their individual scope of practice. They may also assist departments with the organisation of PBL including time table planning, and inductions.
They should not be assessing or signing off the competency of a learner (student). This should only be undertaken by a registered healthcare professional.
We recommend that any staff members, including the DSW, who support learners during PBL, undertake the PBL training which is often provided by local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Additionally, Health Education England (HEE) has developed an e-Learning programme available to members of the support workforce, to provide training to develop their understanding of student education and develop their skills in supporting students and educators within their teams. More information on this programme can be found here.
Can members of the support workforce mentor/buddy learners (students)?
Members of the Support Workforce at Band 4 and above, who have good knowledge of the department and support systems in place for learners (students) are well placed to be mentors/buddies.
We recommend that any staff members, including members of the Support Workforce, who support learners during PBL, undertake the PBL training which is often provided by local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Additionally, Health Education England (HEE) has developed an e-Learning programme available to members of the Support Workforce, to provide training to develop their understanding of student education and develop their skills in supporting students and educators within their teams. More information on this programme can be found here.
What education and experience should the DSW have on appointment?
Details of the education requirements for the DSW can be found within the BDA Dietetic Career Framework.
Organisations may wish to outline additional experience requirements when recruiting to a specific role, particularly if it is focused within a particular specialism. This will be at the discretion of the recruiting organisation. However, it is not appropriate for organisations to quantify how much experience an individual must have e.g., 2 years’ experience.
It is important to note that experience cannot be a replacement for the minimum education requirements. This is to ensure there is a standardised level of education for roles within each level of practice, anywhere across the UK, regardless of the setting.