Information for Practitioners

 

Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act) a health practitioner or practitioner means a person who is, or is deemed to be, registered with an authority as a practitioner of a particular health profession, i.e. a dietitian under the Dietitians Board of New Zealand.

Practitioners' Responsibilities

 

Dietitians registered in New Zealand are responsible under the HPCA Act, for ensuring that:

 
  • They must hold a current practising certificate to practise dietetics, or to be known as dietitian (Section 7(2) and S 8(1) refer),
  • They do not practise outside their Scope of Practice and they comply with any conditions on the Scope of Practice (S 8(2) and S 22 refer),
  • They renew their Annual Practising Certificate (APC) by the middle of March annually, to allow time for processing and issuing the APC, to enable them to continue working (S 30 refers),
  • They are competent and fit to practise (S 27, 40 and 118 refer),
  • They promptly inform the Dietitians Board in writing of any changes in address, and email addresses - email is the Board’s major means of communication (S 140 refers),
  • They inform the Board within one month of changes to name (S 141 refers).
  • Entry level dietitians must inform the Board immediately if their nominated and approved supervisor changes (for whatever reason) (S23 refers).

Annual Practising Certificate (APC) Renewal

APC RENEWALS

 

(Please read the 'Practitioners' Responsibilities' section first)

 

All Dietitians who wish to practise dietetics in NZ must be registered with the Dietitians Board and hold a current Practising Certificate

 

APPLYING to RENEW YOUR APC?

 

Registered dietitians who are practising in New Zealand must hold a current Practising Certificate.

 

Current APC Holders:If you were practising in the 2011/2012 year, please either

i)download the website APC Renewal form and send the 3 pages back to the Board, with your Payment  and the 'My CCP' dashboard summary (to prove you have been undertaking the 'My CCP' programme), 

OR

ii) Apply online for a new APC through the 'My CCP' system. Please read the

FAQs for APC Renewals Online, and the February 2012 Newsletter.

 

NB: Applications and payment are due at the office by 15 March 2012, in order to ensure you are sent your new APC by 31 March.

 

APPLYING FOR AN APC? 

 

If you do not hold a current APC (i.e. are Inactive/not practising), please download the following forms:
 
 
(NB: If you are returning to work after three + years out of dietetic practice in NZ, please read the related section on the website)
 
Please post the documentation and the fee to PO Box 10-140, Wellington 6143 and/or email the Registrar with any queries: dietitians@dietitiansboard.org.nz
   

Competency

Code of Ethics

 
The Board is required under the HPCA Act to set standards of ethical conduct, as well as clinical and cultural competence (S 118(i) refers).
 

In 2003, the Board therefore developed a ‘Code of Ethics’ for the profession in consultation with Dietitians NZ. 

 

The Board has had requests for clarification or amendment of: 

Clause 4 (c) "dietitians do not allow their professional standing to be used in direct endorsement of commercial products", which is of particular concern for dietitians working for nutritional companies, industry and in private practice with commercial interests".

This issue has been considered by the Code of Ethics committee and the Board. The Board has decided to deal with issues as they are raised.

 
Feedback often given to those asking is:
You cannot advertise a product directly or endorse a product for commercial gain. Dietitians can have overall responsibility for promoting products, where scientific evidence is provided to underpin the recommendations for that product. 
 
However, a dietitian should not participate in a promotion, which shows him / her directly endorsing a particular product. 
 
The clause does not prevent you providing information on products to health professionals, this would be consistent with the Code of Ethics, where scientific evidence is provided to underpin the recommendations for the particular use of a specific product.
 
Dietitians can work with the general public, by promoting generic products, but can only endorse/promote branded products to other health practitioners. 
 
The following guidelines should also assist you to interpret clause 4 (c):
 
1. A dietitian working for a food company and / or in private practice.
 
You have been asked by your company to write an article promoting a breakfast cereal.
How do you do this?
Write an article on the benefits of eating breakfast and provide a simple meal plan using a variety of food examples. A company advertisement would be acceptable sitting alongside the article. There is no endorsement of a branded product by the dietitian. 
 
2. A dietitian working for a company supplying nutritional support products.
 
a) With the responsibility for informing the Health Sector
Providing information on nutritional products to health professionals would be consistent  with the Code of Ethics where scientific evidence is provided to underpin the recommendations for the particular use of a specific product. 
 
b) With responsibility for information / promotion of nutritional products to the public by  Direct marketing / advertising products with print, visual, sound and electronic media. This would be considered direct endorsement of a product and not comply with the Code of Ethics.
 
3) Dietitian working in private practice and giving advice to individual clients or to resthome management on the use of particular products. 
 
As a dietitian you would not be breaking the Code of Ethics , as it does not prohibit you from discussing and / or advising on specific nutritional product and / or food as you will be advising your client on the basis of scientific evidence. Where ever possible a range of products should be suggested from a variety of companies.
 
If you have a workplace situation of concern that relates to the Code of Ethics, please contact the Board.

Changing Register Details / Area of Practice

 

Change of Address 

You are legally obliged to inform the Board promptly, in writing of any change of residential, postal or work address (section 140 of the HPCA Act refers). 

This is able to be done by email.  Include your registration number on all correspondence, if possible. 

 

Please also inform the Board of changes to email addresses as newsletters and other information, are ONLY sent by email.

 

Change of Name

You are obliged by law (section 141 of the HPCA Act) to notify the Board's Registrar of your change of name within one month. If this is around APC renewal time, complete your new details on the reverse of the "application form" included in the APC Renewal Notice. 

 

Otherwise inform the Registrar at any time during the year within one month of the name change. You must send a copy of the document changing your name (e.g. marriage certificate) as evidence of your name change. Please write your registration number on your copy.

 

Additional Qualifications

If you have gained a new qualification and would like this listed on the Register, and/or your designation changed to 'Dr', please send a copy of this new qualification to the Registrar.

 

Significant Change in Area of Practice 

If you wish to significantly change your area of practice, you will need to notify the Board prior to the change. The Board will require you to identify a mentor / expert in your new area of practice. You will need to jointly develop learning objectives with this mentor to be submitted for approval. 

 

An example of a significant change to practice, would be a change from Food Service Management to Clinical or Community Dietetics, or vice versa, but not a change within a speciality. 

Returning to Work

 

(Please also see next section 'Travelling Overseas')

 

THOSE RETURNING WITHIN THREE YEARS OF PRACTISING DIETETICS IN NZ 

 

When you decide to return to work then you need to: 

 

• Complete and send in a signed ‘Application for a practising certificate’ form, • Include the APC payment.

NB: a part payment is applicable for those wishing to return to work between 1 December and 31 March in any year

• Enclose:

i. APC credit summary form, noting the CC you have done over the past year, OR if this is not possible 

ii. Send in signed learning objectives. This will need to be approved by the Continuing Competence Committee

iii. You will need to sign the declaration to say you will be participating in the CCP from this time onwards.

 

NZ DIETITIANS RETURNING FROM PRACTISING DIETETICS OVERSEAS

 

If you have recently practised dietetics overseas, you will need to: 

 

• Complete and send in a signed ‘Application for a practising certificate’ form

• Include the APC payment of $552.00.

NB: a part payment is applicable for those wishing to return to work between 1 December and 31 March in any year.

• Proof of competency and practice, e.g. any Performance Appraisals, summary of work experience, reference, and/or any information about continuing competence programmes you have participated in, a Certificate of Good Standing from overseas (if applicable) and/or Certificate of Health Professions Council registration. At least two relevant documents to prove your competency and practice, are required.

• You will need to sign the declaration to say you will be participating in the CCP from this time onwards

• The committee may ask for a mentor/Learning Plan to be approved, if you supply insufficient documentation.

 

DIETITIANS WHO HAVE NOT PRACTISED DIETETICS IN NZ OR OVERSEAS, FOR OVER THREE YEARS

 

Wanting to return to work as a dietitian after more than three years out of dietetic practice?

 

• Contact the Registrar to discuss your situation

• Read the 'Flow Chart for Those Wishing To Return To Dietetic Work after 3 Years or More' 

• Then send in an up-to-date CV, proof of competency programmes undertaken - if applicable, and 

• Send the Recertification Request to the Board.

Traveling Overseas

 

Please also refer to the previous page in this section, Returning to work.

 

Before you leave

 

When saying "good bye" to your job, friends and New Zealand remember to contact the Dietitians Board to ensure that your registration details are updated on the Dietitians Board's Register. (Members of Dietitians NZ remember to also contact the Association.) 

Before you leave please tell the Board: 

• The date when you will cease practice in New Zealand

• Contact details

• The estimated time you will be overseas and 

• Whether you intend to practise dietetics whilst you are away.

If you are not practising dietetics in New Zealand you do not need to pay for an APC, but you do need to advise the Board of your intentions. Your name will then remain on the Dietitians Board's Register, and your record will show that you are currently 'inactive'. Contact the Board when you are ready to practise in New Zealand again to arrange a new Annual Practising Certificate. 

If you do not advise the Board of your status or contact details you could be removed from the Register. There is a charge of $50.00 to be restored to the Register. 

 

Applying for Registration Overseas?

 

Australia: You must have a current APC without conditions when you apply for credentialing as an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) under the ‘Mutual Recognition Voluntary Relationship Charter’ with the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA).  You will likely be asked for a Certificate of Registration, which the Board will supply at a cost of $52.00. 

 

Whilst practising in Australia, you may work under either Continuing Competency programme. 

 

United Kingdom: You will likely require a Certificate of Good Standing (Professional Status), which the Board will supply at a cost of $52.00.

The Certificate of Good Standing is created from information held on the Register of Dietitians and states your registration and practising status, and whether there are any disciplinary actions pending or proceeding. 

For information on registration internationally: 

• USA Registration

Commission on Dietetic Registration

• UK Registration

The Health Professions Council 

You are likely to also require information on your dietetic training programme. This can be obtained from the University of Otago . 

Whilst you are away

The Board strongly advises you to participate in opportunities to maintain your continuing competency whilst you are away. This includes saving your evidence of activities undertaken in NZ (of 3 or more credits), in case you are audited after you return. The Board suggests that you read the website from time to time: www.dietitiansboard.org.nz. 

If you do not have a current APC, you will not be sent the newsletters, so please read these on the website (they are written 2-3 times a year).

And please continue to advise the Board of changes to addresses.

 

Returning to NZ

 

When you return from overseas, you are recommended to bring back any evidence of continuing competence programmes you have been involved in. You are also advised to bring back proof of practising overseas and of competency (e.g. a certificate of Registration/Good Standing from the Health Professions Council, references and appropriate Performance Appraisals). Please also see the ‘Return to Work’ section above.

Frequently Asked Questions - Travelling Overseas

1. If I go overseas for some time, how will the Board know what Continuing Competence activities I took part in over the last year?

It is your responsibility to notify the Dietitians Board of your intention to travel and arrange for submission of your CCP Audit Templates if you are required to be audited. Please do not lose these.

2. Should I send in a summary of my credits earned, whilst overseas, and when?

This depends on the length of time that you will be away. If you are applying for an APC during the year you will be away, they still need to be sent in.

3. Will I still be required to send in information and evidence, if my name comes up for auditing whilst overseas?

It is your responsibility to notify the Board of your intention to travel. If you know that you are to be audited submit your credit summary forms to the Dietitians Board before you leave or ask for a deferment of your audit. If you are deferred, you will still need to send in your evidence for the CC done before you went overseas.

 

Complaints

 

If the Dietitians Board receives a complaint about a registered dietitian, the Board considers whether:

1. The complaint concerns a particular patient, that is, it alleges that the practice or conduct of a dietitian has detrimentally affected a particular health consumer; or 

2. The complaint is based more generally on issues of competence or fitness of a dietitian to practice and there is no identifiable health consumer in the complaint.

 

1. The complaint concerns a particular health consumer

If the complaint is of the first kind relating to a particular health consumer, it must by law be referred to the Health and Disability Commissioner. The Board will send such complaints it receives to the Commissioner. The Board recommends therefore that such complaints be sent directly to the Health and Disability Commissioner, PO Box 1791, Auckland, in writing and in sufficient detail. The Commissioner will liaise with the Board as necessary.

 

If the scope of the complaint is not clear, the Board will refer the complaint to the Commissioner for a preliminary assessment.

 

The Commissioner has a number of options available for dealing with such complaints. He may decide it is appropriate for the complaint to be dealt with by the Dietitians Board. In such cases the Board will:

 

• Assess the complaint 

• Consider, in light of the nature and circumstances of the complaint, the action or actions that the Board should take to respond to it 

• Decide whether to refer the complaint to a special Professional Conduct Committee set up by the Board under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. 

A Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) can make various determinations and recommendations, for example that: 

• The Board counsel the practitioner; 

• The Board review the competence of the health practitioner; 

• The Board review the practitioner's scope of practice; 

• A charge be brought against the dietitian in the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal; or 

• No further steps be taken.

 

Professional Conduct Committee

The Board may appoint this committee from time to time to investigate the complaint and make recommendations and/or determinations. The committee is composed of 2 dietitians who are registered with the authority; and 1 layperson. Members of the Board may be on the PCC.

 

Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 has established a Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal to hear and determine charges brought before it for any health practitioner covered by the Act. The Tribunal is a separate body from the Board and other health registration authorities. It is likely that the Tribunal will consider only the most serious of complaints. 

The source of charges brought before the Tribunal is either the Director of Proceedings (Health and Disability Commissioner's Office) or the Board's Professional Conduct Committee. 

 

2. The complaint is based more generally on issues of competence or fitness of a dietitian to practice and there is no identifiable health consumer in the complaint.

The Dietitians Board may at any time review the competence of a registered dietitian who holds a current practising certificate, whether or not it has received a complaint and whether or not it has other reason to believe that the dietitian's competence may be deficient.

If the Board assesses a risk of serious harm to the public because the dietitian is practising below the required standard of competence, the Board can suspend the dietitian's Annual Practising Certificate or change the dietitian's Scope of Practice.

The Board may undertake a review of a registered dietitian. If the Board has reason to believe that the dietitian fails to meet the standard of competence the Board must make one or more of the orders specified in the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, that:

• The dietitian undertake a competence programme

• One or more conditions be included in the dietitian's Scope of Practice 

• The dietitian sit an examination or undertake an assessment specified in the order 

• The dietitian be counselled or assisted by one or more nominated persons.

Prescribing

Dietitian Prescribers

As from 13 December 2011, there are 236 trained dietitians authorised to prescribe special foods, oral vitamins and minerals and oral electrolyte solutions.

  

These   Dietitian Prescribers are listed here (alphabetical Christian names).

 
These dietitians have undertaken 15-20 hours pre course learning (mainly on-line) and attended a one day workshop, which includes passing a test, before a ‘Dietitian Prescriber’ can have ‘Dietitian Prescriber’ endorsed on his/her practising certificate and endorsed on the Board’s register.  Dietitian Prescribers will be monitored during the year and must have approved supervisors.

 

If you change your supervisor you MUST immediately inform the Board and re-send the supervision form for Prescribing.

 

Forthcoming Dietitian Prescribers' Workshops
 

No further workshops have been planned until after April 2012. There will likely be workshops in Christchurch, Auckland  and linked to the Dietitians NZ AGM/professional development in Wellington.

 

Please read the revised 'Policy' document and 'Information regarding Dietitian Prescribing',  and please indicate your interest in one of the courses to the Registrar at dietitians@dietitiansboard.org.nz

 
Applications for Special Foods Authority 

 

On 1 March 2011, PHARMAC announced a change to applications for Special Authority Authorisation. The change is that some dietitians will be able to make initial applications for Special Food Special Authorities. Dietitians must note however that although the change is effective from April 2011, Prescribing dietitians still need to wait until computer system changes by Healthpac have been made before this can be implemented and this date is still unknown. Only dietitians who have attended a Dietitian Prescribers' course will be able to make initial applications for Special Authorities, as their names will not otherwise be on the list.
 
The full PHARMAC document is at http://www.pharmac.govt.nz/2011/02/28/2011-01%20Notification%20of%20Special%20Foods%20decisions.pdf