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
This training is delivered as a 2 hour workshop in the care home. Reserve your place on the undernutrition or care planning workshops:
- 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.
Online training (including specialist catering course) – for County Durham care homes
The online training is hosted by The Care Academy. Please use the links below to register staff for online training.
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.
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.
Online training (including specialist catering course) – for Darlington care homes
The online training is hosted by Darlington Council. Please use the links below to register.
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
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.
Booking forms
Face to face training events
The Nutrition and Dietetic Service host a range of events for care homes in County Durham and Darlington. View upcoming dates for face to face workshops and reserve your place. Please email: cddft.
Recent events
We recently held a half day Nutrition and Hydration Week Care Home Conference, covering updates on nutrition, hydration and dysphagia, as well as celebrating 25 years of providing the undernutrition service to local care homes.