Scope of Practice

As dietetic professionals, it is imperative that you keep within your scope of practice at all times. This ensures that you are practicing safely, lawfully and effectively.

HCPC Standards

The concept of practicing within your scope of practice is integrated within the HCPC standards, which all dietitians in the UK agree to meet when registering:

Standards of conduct, performance and ethics:

1. You must keep within your scope of practice by only practising in the areas you have appropriate knowledge, skills and experience for.
2. You must refer a service user to another practitioner if the care, treatment or other services they need are beyond your scope of practice.

Standards of proficiency:

      1. You must be able to practise safely and effectively within your scope of practice.

What is Scope of Practice?

The Health and Cares Profession Council (HCPC) describe scope of practice as the limit of your knowledge, skills and experience.

Scope of practice will be different for each individual, and it will likely change and evolve over time as your knowledge, skills and experience develop.

Understanding your scope of practice

As a new graduate, when you first join the register, the HCPC Standards of Proficiency for dietitians clearly defines the skills and knowledge you must have to begin practicing as a dietitian, this will be your initial scope of practice. View the HCPC Standards of proficiency. 

As your career progresses, it is common for dietitians to move into more specialist roles. This may mean you no longer meet all of the standards of proficiency. Your scope of practice will develop with you and may become narrower in scope.