Reading List

These official sources support the course content and are useful for workplace follow-up, supervision, refresher learning and policy review. The course is UK-wide: England regulator sources are included where they explain the care standard clearly, and devolved sections signpost Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland resources so local pathways remain distinct.

Core UK practice and England regulator sources

• CQC Regulation 14: Meeting nutritional and hydration needs
  England regulation and guidance on assessment, review, consent, best interests, suitable food and drink, support to eat and drink, accessible water and prompt action where intake is inadequate.
• CQC: Nutrition and hydration in adult social care
  Practical prompts on choice, cultural and religious preferences, balanced diet, flexible mealtimes and managing eating and drinking risks.
• CQC: Dysphagia and thickeners
  Guidance for swallowing-related care plans, recommended consistencies, warning signs, staff training and when to seek further support.
• NICE CG32: Nutrition support for adults
  Guidance covering adults who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition in hospital, at home or in a care home.
• NICE CG32 recommendations
  Advice on screening, care home review points, oral nutrition support, dysphagia indicators, referral and ongoing monitoring.
• NICE QS24: Nutrition support in adults
  Quality standard on screening, treatment, documentation, communication and review for adults who are malnourished or at risk.
• NICE QS24 quality statement 1: Screening for the risk of malnutrition
  Details on validated screening tools, monthly screening in care homes and examples of clinical concern such as poor appetite, loose clothes, altered bowel habit and impaired swallowing.
• NICE QS24 quality statement 2: Treatment
  Guidance for management plans that aim to meet nutritional requirements while accounting for underlying conditions and associated needs.
• NHS England: Enhanced health in care homes framework
  Information on care and support plan detail, Food First, regular monitoring, escalation to the multidisciplinary team and dysphagia-related support in care homes.
• Skills for Care: Care Certificate standards March 2025
  Standard 8 on fluids and nutrition, including promoting adequate nutrition and hydration, keeping fluids within reach, refreshing drinks and reporting concerns.
• NHS: Dehydration
  Summary of adult dehydration signs such as dark urine, reduced urine output, tiredness, dizziness and dry mouth, and reminder that older adults are at higher risk.

Wales signposting

• GOV.WALES: Food and nutrition guidance for older people in care homes
  Welsh care home guidance on helping residents eat and drink well, encouraging hydration and assessing and monitoring dietary needs.

Scotland signposting

• Care Inspectorate Hub: Eating and drinking well in care
  Scottish good-practice guidance on nutrition, hydration, dining with dignity and Health and Social Care Standards expectations.
• NHS inform Scotland: Hydration
  Public guidance on dehydration risk, warning signs, urine colour checks and why older people may be less aware they are becoming dehydrated.

Northern Ireland signposting

• HSC Public Health Agency: Time to Hydrate
  Care-home resource on dehydration risk, practical drinks support and warning signs relevant to older people in care homes.
• HSC Public Health Agency: Oral nutrition support resources
  Northern Ireland resource page for oral nutritional supplement information for healthcare professionals, patients and carers.
• RQIA: Residential Care Homes Minimum Standards
  Northern Ireland standards for care home providers, including person-centred care, records, management and regulatory expectations.

For daily practice, follow the person's current care plan and your local escalation route. Use these official sources when you need clinical, regulatory or nation-specific context.