Providing training and support to care homes
Our Community Dietetic team provides training and support to care homes for older people in County Durham and Darlington. The service is delivered in a seamless way using quality standards for implementation and has been implemented in over 115 local care homes, training over 6,000 healthcare staff and 500 catering staff.
We work closely with local authorities to incorporate principles of implementing the service into care home commissioning contracts. Annually, each care home is audited against 17 quality standards and awarded an annual certificate, which is linked to funding in some local authorities.
Evaluation of care home services
Initial research identified that following training the prevalence of undernutrition in local care homes reduced from 44% to 38% of residents. However, resident care was negatively affected in homes when 'MUST' was implemented without appropriate training.
A service evaluation completed on 104 care homes (4,315 residents) over a 13 year period identified that, following training there was:
- A significant improvement in weight for residents at risk of undernutrition
- A significant reduction in the prevalence of undernutrition from 33% to 29%
- A 51% reduction in pressure ulcers
Care home training on identifying and treating undernutrition
Training is delivered as a 2 hour workshop in the care home.
- Introduction to the undernutrition training in care homes
- The nutritional needs of older people in care homes
- The impact of undernutrition in the elderly care homes
- Policy and national guidance on the identification and treatment of undernutrition in adults
- The identification and monitoring of undernutrition using 'MUST'
- Alternative measurements for monitoring height and weight
- Development of nutrition care plans
- The prevention and treatment of undernutrition using a food first approach
- The appropriate use and monitoring of nutritional supplements
- Good practice guidance for monitoring resident's dietary intakes
- Promoting good hydration
- Completing a dietary assessment
- Appropriate referral to a registered dietitian
Catering staff attend a six session specialist catering course on menu planning and special diets for older people. Care home workshops are delivered in centralised training across care homes in County Durham and Darlington.
The online training is hosted by The Care Academy. Please use the links below to register staff for online training.
Undernutrition workshop
All healthcare and catering staff are required to complete this workshop every 3 years. This is available as face to face training or online. Book online with the Care Academy.
Catering training
The Head Cook, Assistant Cook and Home Manager are required to complete specialist catering training on menu planning and special diets. This is specialist training which takes around 40 hours. Register staff here.
Catering staff who have already completed the specialist catering course over 3 years ago are required to complete refresher catering training - please email: cddft.
The online training is hosted by Darlington Council.
Undernutrition workshop
All healthcare and catering staff are required to complete this workshop every 3 years. This is available as face to face training or online. To book online, please download and complete this spreadsheet, then email to: l&s
Catering training
The Head Cook, Assistant Cook and Home Manager are required to complete specialist catering training on menu planning and special diets. This is specialist training which takes around 40 hours.
To book online please download and complete this booking sheet, then email it to: rachael.
Catering staff who have already completed the specialist catering course over 3 years ago are required to complete refresher catering training. To register catering staff to the refresher catering course, please download and complete this booking sheet then email it to: rachael.
The Nutrition and Dietetic Service are hosting a half day conference for care homes in County Durham and Darlington. The conference will cover updates on nutrition, hydration and dysphagia, as well as celebrating 25 years of providing the undernutrition service to local care homes.
Topics include:
- Update on undernutrition in local care homes
- Implications to local homes on the new British Dietetic Association’s Care Home Digest
- How to develop high quality nutrition care plans to support safeguarding
- Dysphagia - sharing best practices
- Hydration and fluid boosters
- Undernutrition and sustainability
Places are limited to 3-4 people per care home. It is recommended the care home manager and head cook attend the conference.
Multiple sessions are being hosted to facilitate maximum attendance. Each session is the same content. Tickets are free of charge.
Dates/times (use links below to book)
Darlington - Monday 17 March 2025: Room 2, Education Centre, Darlington Memorial Hospital
North Durham - Tuesday 18 March 2025: Chester Le Street Cricket Club
South Durham - Wednesday 19 March 2025: Bishop Auckland Football Club
- Session 1: 9.00am – 12.00pm
- Session 2: 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Please email: cddft.