Food safety, nutrition and hydration are essential to maintaining health, wellbeing and dignity in health and social care. People who use services may be more vulnerable to infection, dehydration and malnutrition, so workers must know how to prepare, handle and offer food and drinks safely and in line with individual care plans.
This Care Certificate Standard 8 online course introduces the key principles of food safety, hygiene, nutrition and hydration in health and social care settings in England. It explains how safe practice protects people from harm, how good nutrition and hydration support recovery and wellbeing, and how workers can provide person-centred support with food and fluids in everyday care.
Why Take This eLearning Course?
Supporting people with food and drink is a core part of safe and compassionate care. Good practice helps prevent food poisoning, dehydration and malnutrition, while also promoting dignity, independence and comfort. It also helps workers meet legal, professional and organisational responsibilities.
This free course will help you to:
- Understand the importance of food safety and hygiene in the preparation and handling of food.
- Recognise why good nutrition and hydration are essential for health and wellbeing.
- Identify signs and symptoms of poor nutrition and dehydration.
- Learn how to promote adequate nutrition and hydration in day-to-day care.
- Understand how to ensure drinks are accessible for people with reduced mobility.
- Recognise why drinks should be refreshed regularly and offered in line with care plans.
- Learn how to support and encourage individuals to drink safely and adequately.
- Understand how to report concerns about hydration to the relevant person.
- Learn how to ensure food and nutritional products are within reach for those with movement restrictions.
- Understand how to provide food at the correct temperature and according to the plan of care.
- Recognise the importance of providing suitable utensils to promote independence at mealtimes.
- Learn how to support and encourage individuals to eat in line with their plan of care.
- Understand how to report concerns about food intake, nutrition or swallowing difficulties.
- Review good practice in safe, person-centred food and nutrition support.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the importance of food safety, including hygiene, in the preparation and handling of food.
- Explain the importance of good nutrition and hydration in maintaining health and wellbeing.
- Identify signs and symptoms of poor nutrition and hydration.
- Explain how to promote adequate nutrition and hydration.
- Ensure drinks are within reach of individuals with restrictions on movement or mobility.
- Ensure drinks are refreshed on a regular basis.
- Ensure that drinks are offered in accordance with the individual’s plan of care.
- Support and encourage individuals to drink in accordance with their plan of care.
- Recognise how to report any concerns to the relevant person.
- Ensure nutritional products are within reach of individuals with restrictions on movement or mobility.
- Ensure food is provided at the appropriate temperature and in accordance with the plan of care.
- Ensure appropriate utensils are available to enable the individual to meet their nutritional needs as independently as possible.
- Support and encourage individuals to eat in accordance with their plan of care.
- Report concerns about food, hydration or nutrition safely and appropriately.
- Summarise good practice for supporting food, fluids and nutrition in care settings.
Care Certificate Standard 8 Course Outline
Module 1: Food Safety, Hygiene, and Safe Food Handling
Learners will explore the importance of food safety and hygiene in the preparation and handling of food within health and social care settings. This module explains how safe food handling helps prevent illness, reduce the spread of bacteria, and protect people who use services from food poisoning and related harm. Learners will examine key hygiene practices such as handwashing, safe storage, avoiding cross-contamination, checking use-by dates, and cleaning equipment and surfaces properly. The module also introduces the legal and professional responsibilities linked to food hygiene and explains how maintaining high standards supports trust, safety, and professionalism in care environments.
Module 2: Nutrition, Hydration, and Recognising Poor Intake
This module focuses on the importance of good nutrition and hydration in maintaining health and wellbeing. Learners will examine how balanced nutrition supports energy, tissue repair, immunity, and recovery, while hydration is essential for digestion, temperature control, and waste removal. The module also explains the signs and symptoms of poor nutrition and dehydration, including physical changes such as weight loss, dry skin, headaches, dark urine, and low energy, as well as behavioural changes such as confusion, irritability, and reduced concentration. Learners will explore why early recognition, recording, and reporting of these signs is essential in preventing further health decline and promoting timely intervention.
Module 3: Promoting Adequate Nutrition and Hydration in Practice
Learners will explore how to promote adequate nutrition and hydration through planning, encouragement, observation, and person-centred support. This module explains the importance of checking care plans, understanding dietary needs, allergies, preferences, and cultural or religious requirements, and involving individuals in choices about meals and drinks wherever possible. Learners will examine practical ways to support eating and drinking, including assisting where needed, monitoring intake, creating a positive mealtime environment, and involving other professionals when concerns arise. The module highlights how promoting nutrition and hydration contributes to wellbeing, independence, and high-quality care.
Module 4: Supporting Access to Fluids Safely and Effectively
This module focuses on how to support individuals to have safe and appropriate access to fluids. Learners will examine the importance of ensuring drinks are within reach for people with restricted movement or mobility and how suitable positioning, adaptive equipment, and regular checks can reduce the risk of dehydration. The module also explains why drinks should be refreshed regularly, how to maintain hygiene when handling cups and containers, and how to offer fluids in line with each person’s care plan, including any fluid restrictions or specialist requirements such as thickened fluids. Learners will explore how to encourage and support people to drink in ways that respect their preferences, dignity, routines, and independence.
Module 5: Supporting Access to Food and Nutrition
Learners will explore how to ensure individuals have safe and suitable access to food and nutritional support. This module explains the importance of making food, snacks, and nutritional products accessible to those with reduced mobility and ensuring meals are served at the correct temperature and in accordance with care plans. Learners will examine how appropriate utensils and adaptive equipment can support independence at mealtimes and how posture, positioning, and observation all contribute to safe and effective eating. The module also covers person-centred ways to support and encourage individuals to eat, including practical assistance, respecting preferences, and creating calm, welcoming mealtime environments.
Module 6: Reporting Concerns and Good Practice in Food and Drink Support
In the final module, learners will explore their responsibility to report concerns about food, drink, nutrition, or hydration promptly and appropriately. This module explains how to recognise concerns such as refusal to eat or drink, reduced intake, choking, weight loss, dehydration, or changes in health, and how to report these using clear, factual records and workplace procedures. Learners will examine who concerns should be reported to, when issues should be escalated urgently, and why confidentiality and accurate documentation are essential. The module concludes by summarising good practice in food and nutrition support, including following care plans, encouraging independence, maintaining hygiene, observing intake, reporting changes, and promoting dignity and person-centred care throughout.
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Health and social care workers.
- Care assistants and support workers.
- Senior carers and team leaders.
- Residential and domiciliary care staff.
- Managers and supervisors.
- Anyone involved in preparing, serving or supporting food and drinks in a care setting.
No previous specialist knowledge is required.
FAQ
Is this course relevant to health and social care in England?
Yes. The course reflects practice in England and refers to key legislation and guidance, including the Food Safety Act 1990, Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, NICE guidance, NHS nutrition guidance, and relevant CQC standards.
Does the course cover both food hygiene and nutrition?
Yes. It covers safe food handling and hygiene as well as the importance of balanced nutrition, hydration, monitoring intake, and supporting people to eat and drink well.
Will the course help me recognise dehydration or poor nutrition?
Yes. It explains common physical and behavioural signs of dehydration and poor nutrition, and when concerns should be recorded and reported.
Does it include person-centred care planning?
Yes. The course explains how food and drink support should follow individual care plans, including dietary needs, cultural preferences, allergies, swallowing difficulties and fluid restrictions.
Does it cover promoting independence at mealtimes?
Yes. It includes practical ways to support independence, such as using adapted utensils, positioning food and drinks correctly, and encouraging choice while offering help when needed.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced and typically takes 1 hour to complete.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is issued after successful completion.
Is the course CPD accredited?
Courses are not currently CPD accredited, but accreditation is planned.
Safe food handling, good nutrition and regular hydration all play a vital part in protecting health and wellbeing in care. By following care plans, maintaining hygiene, encouraging independence and reporting concerns promptly, health and social care workers can help ensure that people receive safe, respectful and person-centred support every day.
Enrol now to build your understanding of food safety, nutrition and hydration in care.
Care Certificate Standard 8 Training Course CPD Accredited and Government Funding
We’re working on getting this Care Certificate Standard 8 Training Course CPD accredited, and any course that’s approved will be clearly labelled as CPD accredited on the site. Not every health and social care course has to be accredited to help you meet CQC expectations – what matters is that staff are competent, confident and properly trained for their roles under Regulation 18. Our courses are built to support those requirements, and because they’re not government funded there are no eligibility checks or ID needed – you can enrol and start learning straight away.
