Food, Nutrition and Hydration in Health & Social Care

A short blended e-learning course to support the Essence of Care benchmark for Food & Nutrition

Overview
Food and Nutrition is one of the eight original Essence of Care benchmarks. This short blended e-learning course supports this benchmark and healthcare services, in improving the nutritional intake of service users. Practitioners are encouraged to see this learning as a means of bringing together the key tools, techniques and best practice in use.

• Module 1: Introduction to food, nutrition and hydration
• Module 2: Undernutrition and dehydration
• Module 3: Facilitating and supporting eating and drinking
• Module 4: Assistance to eating and drinking
• Module 5: Best practice for nutritional care
• Module 6: Basics of nutrition and hydration.

What will learners get out of it

• An understanding of the importance of good nutrition and hydration
• An understanding of why people become undernourished and/or dehydrated in care settings
• Guidance in identifying practical ways in which you can ensure that service users consume their food and drink
• Guidance in identifying best practice and benchmarks.

Who is the course for
Anyone involved with hands-on service user care including:

• Nurses
• Health care assistants
• Housekeepers
• Care assistants
• People who give or deliver food to service users directly
• Home owners
• Volunteers
• Carers
• Catering staff.

Assessment
Each module is followed by a short assessment designed to test learners’ understanding. Learning progress and test results can be tracked by managers for internal development and learners can keep a certificate of completion for CPD.

Accreditations & Endorsements
This course was originally commissioned by the Department of Health (DH) and meets the Essence of Care benchmark for Food & Nutrition.

Duration: 2 hours approx