Administer oral nutritional products to individuals

This standard covers your role in preparing and administering nutritional products to individuals and monitoring of the effects.  This role is complex and will not be the role of all care staff, only those designated to undertake this activity according to their expertise and employer's decisions.

This standard is intended to be used in a variety of care settings including hospitals, nursing and residential homes, hospices, and community settings including the individuals own home and GP surgeries.  

---

1. ​access and accurately interpret all relevant work instructions and information
2. work safely at all times and in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols
3. deal promptly and effectively with any problems within your control and report those which cannot be solved
4. identify and minimise hazards and risk in the workplace
5. communicate with the individual and key people at a pace, in a manner and at a level appropriate to the individual's understanding, preferences and needs
6. respect the individual's rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs, and dignity
7. provide support to the individual and ensure health and safety measures are implemented at all times
8. gain valid, informed consent from the individual in accordance with specific procedures
9. confirm identity of the individual in accordance with organisational procedures
10. apply standard precautions for infection prevention and control any other relevant health and safety measures
11. check that all administration records or protocols are available, up to date and legible
12. report any discrepancies, omissions or immediate problems you might find to the relevant person in control of the administration and to relevant staff as appropriate
13. read the administration record or information leaflet accurately, referring any illegible directions to the appropriate member of staff before administering any nutritional products
14. check whether individual has taken any nutritional products recently and be aware of the appropriate timing of nutritional products
15. select, check and correctly prepare the nutritional products according to the administration record or information leaflet
16. safely administer the nutritional products in accordance with organisational procedures and in a way which minimises individual pain, discomfort and trauma
17. check and confirm that the individual actually takes the nutritional products
18. monitor the individual's condition throughout, recognise any adverse effects and take the appropriate action without delay
19. maintain the security of nutritional products throughout the process and return it to the correct place for storage
20. monitor and rotate stocks of nutritional products, maintain appropriate storage conditions and report any discrepancies in stocks immediately to the relevant staff 
21. dispose of waste in accordance with organisational procedures
22. complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

---

1. ​the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere
2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
3. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions and information
4. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
5. the duty to report any acts or omissions that could be unsafe/detrimental to you or others
6. the hazards and risks which may arise during the execution of your work role and how you can minimise these
7. how to adapt communication styles in ways which are appropriate to the needs of the individual  
8. the correct use of any equipment and PPE to protect the health and safety of you and others
9. the principles, practice and procedures associated with informed consent
10. how to obtain positive confirmation of an individual's identity in accordance with organisational procedures
11. the needs of individuals and carers including issues relating to dignity, confidentiality, and privacy
12. organisational management structures, roles, and responsibilities
13. the importance of applying standard precautions to the administering of nutritional products and the potential consequences of poor practice
14. the importance of offering effective verbal and non-verbal support and reassurance to individuals, and appropriate ways of doing so, according to their needs
15. the importance of communicating effectively and how communication barriers/difficulties may be overcome
16. the factors which may compromise the comfort and dignity of individuals during the administration of nutritional products and how the effects can be minimised
17. the common types of nutritional products and rules for their storage
18. the effects of common nutritional products relevant to the individual's condition
19. nutritional products which demand for the measurement of specific physiological measurements and why these are vital to monitor the effects of the nutritional products
20. the common adverse reactions to nutritional products, how each can be recognised and the appropriate action(s) required
21. the common side effects of the nutritional product being used
22. the information which needs to be on the label of nutritional products, both prescribed and non-prescribed, and the significance of the information
23. the various aids to help individuals take their nutritional products
24. the types, purpose and function of materials and equipment needed for the oral administration of nutritional products
25. the factors which affect the choice of materials and equipment for the administration of nutritional products to individuals
26. how to read prescriptions/medication administration charts to identify:
27. the nutritional product required
28. the amount required
29. the time and frequency for administration
30. how to prepare the nutritional product for administration using a non-touch technique
31. how you would check that the individual had taken their nutritional product
32. how to dispose of waste in accordance with organisational procedures
33. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

2

---

2026

---

Current

---

Original

---

Skills for Health

---

SFHCHS147

---

Health and Social Care, Health and Social Services Officers, Health Associate Professionals, Health Professionals, Health, Public Services and Care, Healthcare and Related Personal Services

---

2259

---

Administer, oral, nutritional, products

---