PAEDIATRIC A DAY IN THE LIFE OF . . .
A NEW DANONE NUTRICIA EARLY LIFE NUTRITION KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Belinda Mortell Registered Dietitian, Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition
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Having left the NHS earlier this year, Belinda explains the challenges she faces in her new role. After two years in the NHS working part time as an acute dietitian and two service improvement projects, I felt it was time to move on with my career. On my 40th birthday I spotted a job advert for Danone, for a role based around my home in North Wales. This is a rare opportunity and it was just the right time for me. I needed a new venture, so I decided to apply. After a very challenging recruitment process I started my new role in March this year. I am in the middle of my initial seven-week training programme known as the ITC as I write this Day in the Life column. Training is all based at head office in Chiswick Business Park. The level of support and training is amazing, although it is very intense and I am away from home frequently at the moment. The large community team of account managers currently focus on Cows’ Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs) in infants. This week at ITC, we have to gain a solid grasp of the infant formula, toddler food and newly launched breastfeeding and pregnancy fortified snack bar ranges. The whole training focuses on promoting and protecting the message that breastfeeding is best for baby and mum and that we must do nothing which could influence healthcare professionals to think otherwise. Other presentations have been on the weaning and snack range including information on new products and innovations in the pipeline. Channel Strategy (Marketing) presented to us an update on the Weaning Guide and Baby Symptom Checker. Science and
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Innovation then took us through the core infant feeding ranges, highlighting composition and the evidence behind all the other ingredients in the products. We then had an exam which was very nerve racking, followed by a further session by the legal and regulatory team. The key principles are around compliance including European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rules on macronutrient and micronutrient composition through to advertising legislation. For example you cannot have an advert which shows a kiwi fruit next to a weaning product that does not contain kiwi! After lunch it was a two hour session on ‘Insights’ which is a psychometric tool to help employees to understand themselves and make the most of relationships in the workplace. DIETITIAN WORKING IN A SOLUTIONS TEAM
As a dietitian working in a Solutions (Sales) team, I am surrounded by colleagues who are not healthcare professionals. This is a real challenge for me, but I realise that the HCPC standards and code of conduct have been very useful and a great guide for me during this period of transition from NHS to industry, particularly around being professional, working appropriately and drawing on my knowledge and skills. And even though I am now in a sales role, I will always be a dietitian first and foremost. BRITISH DIETETIC ASSOCIATION (BDA)
On the train home this week, I receive an email from the newer members of the local branch, the North Wales and
I am in the middle of my initial seven-week training programme known as the ITC as I write this Day in the Life column. Training is all based at head office in Chiswick Business Park. North West England branch. Hopefully, we will be able to organise a CPD event this year in our area. We still need new Committee members, as several of us left recently, including me. Having stepped down from the BDA Council, I have recently joined the Allergy and Paediatric Special Interest Group of the BDA. I am still linked in with the Freelance Group on Facebook, which is a brilliant place to network and find out about what's happening in my profession. I hope
to then link up with other dietitians working in industry to see how we can come together to share ideas. It seems that we are very separate from our colleagues in the NHS and I feel that it is time we came closer together to improve patient outcomes, be more effective and find innovation solutions to some of the challenges in the NHS. Follow the BDA branch on Facebook or Twitter @NWNWBDA @BrDieteticAssoc
NETWORK HEALTH DIGEST
www.NHDmag.com A wealth of useful dietetic resources for all dietitians and nutritionists Make the most of your NHD Community! www.NHDmag.com July 2017 - Issue 126
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