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What people do in their work

This section outlines the kind of responsibilities someone within this role category is likely to undertake as part of their role.

This role category focuses on people working in catering roles within adult social care supporting people who draw on care and support to meet their nutritional needs. This may involve:

• designing and preparing high-quality, nutritious meals tailored to people’s dietary requirements
• working with healthcare professionals to meet specific nutritional requirements outlined in care plans - things like preparing meals for people who have difficulty swallowing or who need to avoid specific food types due to allergies or chronic illnesses
• engaging with people who draw on care and support to understand their choices and preferences, adapting menus to reflect cultural, religious and individual needs
• maintaining kitchen cleanliness, managing stock and budgets, and ensuring all kitchen equipment is safe and well maintained

This role category could be across a variety of settings. You might work:

• in a residential setting
• through supported independent living
• in a day service

While you will not provide support with direct care tasks like personal care, your work in catering will still play an integral role in enhancing the health, wellbeing and overall experience of individuals who draw on care and support.

It will also provide opportunities to develop knowledge and skills within direct care, with the potential for career progression into care if that is what you want to do.

Examples of the type of role performed

Some role titles for individuals working in catering might include:

• chef manager
• catering manager
• hospitality manager
• head chef
• sous chef
• assistant chef
• chef
• cook
• catering assistant
• kitchen porter
• kitchen assistant
• food services assistant

Values

Values are the foundation underpinning the behaviours that people in this role category must show.

The values are:

• kind, compassionate and empathetic
• honest, trustworthy and reliable
• respect
• courageous and principled
• see the whole person
• flexible, open and learning
• proud and positive

The behaviours people must show (must do)

Behaviours are the way that values are demonstrated in practice.

This section outlines the behaviours required to work within this role category. These are the things people must be doing in their job.

You must:

• act in an ethical and professional manner in the workplace
• build and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and adults in a care setting
• take an organised and methodical approach to complete tasks in a timely manner
• take personal responsibility for developing knowledge and skills and continually seek to improve your performance
• seek to develop personal resilience and maintain wellbeing
• use and promote sustainable practices and challenge unsustainable practices
• treat everyone with dignity, sensitivity and respect, acting with integrity while interacting with others
• actively listen to individuals, families and colleagues to understand their needs
• take pride in your role in adult social care, celebrating achievements and successes
• demonstrate an energy and enthusiasm for your work, ensuring the focus is always on providing the best outcomes for people who draw on care and support
• demonstrate a commitment to maintaining confidentiality
• ensure you remain up to date on relevant food preparation and storage standards, including those used in adult social care

Knowledge and skills people should have

Knowledge is the understanding someone needs to carry out the responsibilities of the role.

Skills are the ability to apply that knowledge in practice.

This section outlines the knowledge and skills someone working in this role category should know and the things they should be able to do in their job.

Diversity of practice: setting-specific training

As part of this role category, you may also be asked to complete setting-specific training, such as completing dementia training when working in a dementia care setting. This will give you a wider understanding of how you can best cater for the people in your setting who draw on care and support.

We expect organisations to define their own setting-specific training based on the needs of the people drawing on care and support.

Digital skills

As part of learner knowledge and skill development, you can also work to level 1 (digital skills for all) of the .

Knowledge and skills breakdown for this role category

Detailed below are the knowledge and skills expected of someone working in catering services in adult social care. These competencies reflect what is specific to the adult social care environment and do not represent the full range of knowledge and skills a caterer may need.

Understanding the care environment

You should:

• understand how the care in your setting operates
• be aware of relevant legislation and how it might affect the setting you work in and how you need to work (for exampe, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, safeguarding adults)
• be aware of the role food plays in health, wellbeing and dignity for people who draw on adult social care
• understand the limits of your role and when, in emergencies or otherwise, you need to contact other staff for support

Awareness of common conditions among people who draw on care (specific to your setting)

You should:

• be aware of common conditions that individuals might have within adult social care and how you can support them in the context of your role. This might include:
  • adults with learning disabilities
  • autistic adults
  • people living with mental health or dementia
  • dysphagia and other conditions that can impact someone’s ability to swallow safely
  • diabetes, allergies and other medical dietary requirements
  • appetite and hydration challenges in older adults
• understand how good nutrition and hydration help health and wellbeing and help prevent malnutrition and dehydration
• have an awareness of common medical terms used within the health and social care sector
• be able to speak with confidence when communicating with other professionals, including from the health service and local council

Understanding compliance and safety for catering in adult care

You should understand and follow:

• the relevant food hygiene standards
• health and safety and control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations as they relate to your role
• hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) principles and temperature control regulations
• Care Quality Commission regulations relevant to catering in care settings

Food hygiene for people who serve food and drink

You should:

• understand the principles of food safety
• understand the importance of food safety measures when providing food and drink for individuals
• be able to maintain hygiene when handling food and drink
• be able to meet safety requirements when serving food and drink for individuals
• be able to meet safety requirements when clearing away food and drink

Provide catering in adult social care

You should:

• understand food preparation frameworks and principles that are used in adult social care. This will include:
  • the Food First approach
  • the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI)
  • the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
• understand why individuals in adult social care environments might refuse food or drink
• understand how to prompt and encourage food and drink intake
• understand how medications can impact how food and drink should be provided and be able to manage around these requirements
• be able to prepare meals and drinks managing individuals’ personal conditions such as diabetes or allergies or where modified texture diets are required
• be able to support monitoring individuals’ weight, modifying meals when issues are noted
• be able to prepare food and drink safely in adult social care environments

Engaging with IT systems

You should:

• be able to record catering tasks completed in IT systems as directed by your organisation
• be able to keep up-to-date and accurate records of catering completed in your setting
• where applicable, be able to track budgets for catering through systems agreed with your employer

Understanding person-centred meal planning and preparation

You should:

• understand what is meant by the term ‘person-centred care’
• be able to meal plan in a person-centred way, meeting individual preferences and needs
• be able to meet cultural and religious considerations in meal planning
• be able to liaise with dietitians, other health professionals, care staff and people who draw on care and support to ensure that meal planning and provision is person-centred
• be able to absorb feedback from people who draw on care and support, helping shape meal planning and dining experiences
• be able to positively engage with people who draw on care and support during mealtimes, supporting them to have a positive and inclusive dining experience

Support wellbeing through catering in care environments

You should:

• where appropriate, be able to work with activity co-ordinators to organise specific food events and activities for the benefit of people who draw on care and support
• where appropriate and safe, be able to support residents to build their own independence and confidence in making food for themselves
• be able to support the health and wellbeing of people who draw on care and support

Infection prevention and control

You should:

• understand the importance of infection prevention and control in care settings
• understand what cleaning products are safe to be used in a kitchen environment to help prevent and control the spread of infection
• know how to and be able to prevent and control the spread of infection
• be able to support managing outbreaks in care environments

Additional knowledge and skills

In addition to the above knowledge and skills, catering staff should also have the following competencies that align with the knowledge and skills detailed in the ‘New to care’ role category (as required):

• using and managing data, and data security
• reduce the likelihood of abuse
• demonstrating effective interpersonal skills
• managing your time
• introduction to health, safety​ and wellbeing
• fire safety (health and safety)

Oliver’s Training

Complete Oliver’s Training on Learning Disability and Autism: Tier 1. Tier 2 can be undertaken in settings providing direct care to individuals with autism or a learning disability.