Reading List

Official guidance and policy documents that support the course. Use these sources for workplace follow-up, supervision, policy review and refresher learning. The course is based on current NICE guidance, with additional nation-specific signposting where pathways, regulators or service arrangements differ across the UK.

Core clinical guidance used in this course

• NICE NG249: Falls - assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk
  Current guideline published on 29 April 2025. Covers identifying risk, comprehensive falls assessment, tailored interventions, participation in falls prevention and information and education. Explicitly includes residential care settings.
• NICE NG249 recommendations
  Detailed list of fall-risk factors to assess, including cognition, delirium, diet and fluid intake, dizziness, footwear, gait and balance, medication review, continence and visual impairment.
• NICE NG249 rationale and impact
  Explains the reasoning behind the guidance, including why risk-prediction tools should not replace a full multifactorial assessment.
• NICE QS86: Falls in older people
  Quality standard for falls improvement. Useful when reviewing post-fall systems and organisational expectations.

England operational and regulatory context

• NHS England: Enhanced health in care homes framework
  Covers care-home practice in England, including individualised falls prevention plans, assessment and management policies, access to mechanical lifting aids and post-fall tools.
• CQC Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment
  England-specific regulation and guidance on assessing and mitigating risks, staff competence, safe equipment and care planning.

Wales signposting

• GOV.WALES: Older people and people living with frailty - integrated quality statement
  Welsh policy context, with emphasis on early recognition of change such as a fall and on falls prevention for older people and people living with frailty.
• NHS Wales: National Community-Based Falls Response Framework for Wales
  Signposting on community falls response pathways and levels of response after a fall.

Scotland signposting

• NHS inform Scotland: Causes of falls
  Scottish public guidance on common falls risk factors including postural hypotension, dehydration, poor footwear, visual change and memory problems.
• NHS inform Scotland: Falls risk screening
  Explains home-and-person screening, bone health discussion and what a falls review may involve.
• NHS inform Scotland: What to do if you fall
  Practical post-fall advice on calling for help, when not to get up, staying safe if you remain on the floor and keeping hydrated if on the floor for a long time.

Northern Ireland signposting

• HSC Public Health Agency Northern Ireland: Falls prevention
  Northern Ireland quality and safety context and local falls-prevention resources.
• RQIA: Adult Residential Care Homes Provider Guidance 2025/26
  Provider expectations on reviewing accidents, incidents and falls to identify trends and improve practice.
• RQIA: Care Standards for Nursing Homes
  Expectations for falls prevention policy, falls care plans, equipment, staff training and review after changes in condition.

For day-to-day practice, start with your own service's falls policy and the person's current plan, then use these official sources when you need the wider clinical, regulatory or nation-specific context.