This page is designed to answer the following questions:
- 8.3a Ensure any nutritional products are within reach of those that have restrictions on their movement/ mobility (Care Certificate, Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition)
- 8.3b Ensure food is provided at the appropriate temperature and in accordance with the plan of care i.e. the individual is able to eat it (Care Certificate, Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition)
- 8.3c Ensure that appropriate utensils are available to enable the individual to meet their nutritional needs as independently as possible (Care Certificate, Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition)
- 8.3d Support and encourage individuals to eat in accordance with their plan of care (Care Certificate, Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition)
- 8.3e Know how to report any concerns to the relevant person. This could include: Senior member of staff, Carer, Family member (Care Certificate, Standard 8: Fluids and nutrition)
NOTE: This page has been quality assured for 2023 as per our Quality Assurance policy.
Each individual’s care plan should have information about their nutritional needs, which will contain their dietary requirements including their likes, dislikes, allergies and other medical conditions that may affect their food choices.
It is important that you support each individual to eat in accordance with their care plan and encourage them to eat healthily. An incorrect balance of nutrients can have a negative effect on an individual’s health and well-being.
The amount of support that you provide will vary from individual to individual. You should encourage each person that you care for to be as independent as possible, however, some individuals, especially those with restricted movement or mobility, may need more support from you. This can include:
- Food shopping
- Preparation and cooking
- Cutting up food
- Assistance with eating
- Ensuring that food is within easy access to them
- Ensuring they are served food that they like to eat
- Ensuring that they are served food that adheres to their dietary requirements (e.g. vegan diet, halal meat etc.)
- Ensuring that food is served at the correct temperature (e.g. not too hot)
- Ensuring that they do not eat foodstuffs that they are allergic to
- Ensuring that their diet is suitable for any existing medical conditions they have
When preparing food, you should ensure that you conform to food safety standards to reduce the risk of food-related illnesses. You should also make sure that food is cooked properly and served at the correct temperature – food that is too hot could burn an individual’s mouth and traditionally hot meals that are served cold may not be appetising.
If an individual requires certain equipment or utensils (e.g. high-sided plates/bowls or non-slip placemats) to eat then you must make sure that they are made available.
For some individuals, you may need to record their food intake. This should be accurate and legible.
If you have any concerns about an individual’s eating or nutrition, you report them to your manager or another relevant person (s) such as their carer or family.