Providing Fluids and Nutrition (Hydration) Course

Providing Fluids and Nutrition (Hydration) – Online Course

Course overview
This online course gives health and social care staff the knowledge needed to support people with their nutritional and hydration needs safely and effectively. It explains why adequate food and fluid intake is essential for health, recovery and quality of life, particularly for infants, older adults and vulnerable individuals. Learners explore dehydration, undernutrition, nutritional screening, food safety, cultural and religious dietary considerations, and when concerns should be escalated. The course takes approximately one hour and is CPD accredited.

Please note: This is a knowledge-based course that supports person-centred care and safer practice. It does not replace any practical, role-specific or clinical training that an employer or regulated service may require.

What the course covers
• Case studies in providing fluids and nutrition
• What dehydration is, and its risks
• What undernutrition is, and nutritional screening
• Reasons for not drinking or eating, including clinical conditions
• The physical environment and practical aids
• Service and delivery, including how to encourage and motivate
• Safety, personal hygiene and handwashing
• Culture and religion
• Specialist considerations
• Reporting concerns

Who is it for?
The course is suitable for health and social care workers who support individuals with eating, drinking or nutritional needs. It is appropriate for:
• Healthcare assistants, nurses and rehabilitation staff
• Support workers and carers
• Domiciliary care staff, and residential and nursing home staff
• Volunteers and personal assistants
• Anyone delivering direct care

It can be used for induction and refresher training, and to improve awareness of hydration and nutrition responsibilities across hospitals, care homes, supported living services, community healthcare and home care settings.

Practical benefits
• Recognise early signs of dehydration and undernutrition
• Promote safe hydration and healthy nutrition practices
• Support person-centred dietary preferences and cultural needs
• Improve confidence in identifying and reporting nutritional concerns
• Reinforce safe food handling and infection prevention practices
• Support compliance with recognised health and social care standards
• Gain a CPD-accredited certificate for professional development

What learners will be able to do
• Explain the core principles and terminology associated with providing fluids and nutrition
• Recognise why the subject matters in day-to-day practice
• Identify common risks, concerns or situations relevant to the topic
• Understand individual responsibilities and role boundaries
• Apply good-practice principles in workplace situations
• Communicate effectively with relevant people when issues arise
• Recognise when advice, reporting or escalation is required
• Use the learning to support safer, more consistent practice

Is this training a legal requirement?
No single UK law states that all staff must complete this training. However, employers have legal responsibilities to ensure employees are competent to carry out their duties safely. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly Regulation 14 (Meeting Nutritional and Hydration Needs), requires regulated providers to ensure service users receive adequate food and drink to maintain good health where applicable. Employers also have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to provide appropriate information, instruction and training. In practice, hydration and nutrition training is widely expected in health and social care services as part of induction, ongoing competence and Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance. Many employers include it in annual refresher programmes or ongoing competency assessments, although refresher frequency should follow organisational policies and risk assessments.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online multiple-choice assessment. After successfully completing it, they can download a CPD-accredited digital certificate straight away. The course is delivered online with instant access, so it can be studied on a phone, tablet or computer at the learner’s own pace.