Care Home Training

IDDSI Staff Training ProgrammeFor Care Home Kitchen & Nursing Staff

Equip your care home team with the knowledge and skills to prepare, test and document IDDSI-compliant texture-modified food — protecting resident safety.

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Care Home Requirements

Licensing & Annual Refresher

Licensed residential care homes must maintain documented evidence of staff competency in dysphagia dietary management. Our training programme is designed to meet these requirements.

Licensing Requirement

Licensed care homes must demonstrate that kitchen and care staff can correctly identify and prepare food to the prescribed IDDSI texture level for each resident.

Annual Refresher Recommended

Best practice guidance recommends an annual refresher for all staff involved in food preparation and meal service to residents with dysphagia.

Competency Documentation

Our training includes a signed competency checklist for each attendee, suitable for inclusion in staff records and audit files.

Training Modules

4 Core Modules — Foundation to Emergency Response

Module 1: IDDSI Basics

60 minutes

What is IDDSI and why it matters
The 8 IDDSI levels — food and liquid
How to read a resident's dietary prescription
Common misconceptions and errors

Module 2: Texture Testing

90 minutes

Fork Drip Test (Levels 4–6)
Flow Test (Levels 1–4)
Spoon Tilt Test (Level 4)
Hands-on practice with SeniorDeli products

Module 3: Documentation & Compliance

45 minutes

Recording IDDSI levels in resident care plans
Batch record keeping for audits
Labelling meals in the kitchen
Incident reporting procedures

Module 4: Emergency Response

45 minutes

Recognising choking and aspiration warning signs
First response protocol
When to escalate to a speech therapist
Post-incident documentation

Delivery Formats

In-Person, Online & Train-the-Trainer

In-Person Workshop

Full-day on-site training at your care home. Includes hands-on texture testing with real products. Suitable for up to 20 staff per session.

Online Video Programme

Self-paced 2-hour video course accessible on any device. Ideal for new staff induction or refresher training.

Train-the-Trainer

Certify one or two senior staff members to deliver ongoing in-house training. Includes trainer handbook and assessment materials.

Certification

All staff who complete the full training programme receive a SeniorDeli IDDSI Competency Certificate documenting the modules completed, date of training, and trainer's name.

Certificate Valid 2 Years

Each certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of training. A refresher session resets the validity period.

Easy Renewal

Renewal training takes half the time of the initial programme (2 hours) and can be delivered on-site or online.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many staff can attend one in-person session?

Each in-person workshop accommodates up to 20 participants. For larger care homes, we can schedule back-to-back sessions on the same day.

Is the training available in Chinese?

Yes. All training materials and sessions are available in Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. English sessions are also available.

Can the training be customised for our care home's products?

Yes. We can incorporate your current menu and product range into the hands-on testing modules so staff practise with the exact products they use daily.

Do you provide competency certificates?

Yes. All attendees receive a signed IDDSI Competency Certificate upon completion, suitable for staff records and audit files.

Ready to Train Your Team?

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