HPCSA’s Professional board for Dietetics and Nutrition
Scope of Practice
Optimizing the nutritional well-being of individuals, groups, communities and the population in different settings by:
- Utilizing (critically appraise and apply) a comprehensive body of evidence-based food and nutrition theory and principles;
- Assessing the nutritional status, food and nutrition situation(s) and concomitant health risks of clients/patients, groups, communities and the population using relevant methodologies;
- Advocating for the nutrition professionals, services and programmes;
- Conceptualizing, planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, evaluating and documenting appropriate nutritional prescriptions for patients/clients with specific nutritional needs;
- Conceptualizing, planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, evaluating and documenting appropriate nutrition interventions programmes, nutrition policies, strategies and guidelines for individuals, groups, communities and the population with specific needs;
- Taking responsibility for using/applying appropriate nutrition policies, strategies and guidelines;
- Influencing the national food systems/environment to enable all individuals to have access to affordable, nutritious and safe food;
- Applying information, communication, education and counselling skills and social mobilizing to empower individuals/communities/populations to change their food/nutrition behaviour to make safe, healthy food choices to prevent nutrition-related diseases and to improve quality of life;
- Planning and executing an effective food service system based on the specific food and nutritional needs of the healthy and ill;
- Managing human, financial and other resources to ensure optimal and equitable delivery of nutrition services at all levels of service delivery including PHC and population level;
- Conceptualizing, formulating, implementing and communicating nutrition related research;
- Planning, implementing, managing, evaluating, monitoring and documenting procedures and policies relating to human, financial, operational and other resources;
- Applying critical and creative thinking in working effectively within a multidisciplinary environment, the community and stakeholders in contributing to the personal, social and economic development of society in an ethical and professional manner.