CHS160 Assist others to monitor individuals' attempts at managing dysphagia

Overview

This standard covers working under the direction of an appropriate specialist, to support individuals participating in therapy programmes to restore or maintain optimum independence in the management of dysphagia. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. The current European and National legislation, national guidelines, organisational policies and protocols in accordance with Clinical/Corporate Governance which affect your work practice in relation to assisting others to monitor individuals’ attempts at managing dysphagia
2. Your responsibilities and accountability in relation to the current European and National legislation, national guidelines and local policies and protocols and Clinical/Corporate Governance
3. The duty to report any acts or omissions in care that could be detrimental to yourself, other individuals or your employer
4. Why it is necessary to obtain informed consent prior to working with an individual and the methods used to achieve this where the individual is not able to give their informed consent directly
5. The actions you should take if adverse issues and risks emerge as a result of the monitoring and evaluation you undertake
6. The importance of regularly monitoring the individual’s progress in relation to managing dysphagia
7. What is involved in assisting others to monitor an individual’s progress and why it is important that this is carried out constructively and in a way that encourages the individual to continue
8. Why you should seek to support and encourage the individual to promote their own health and wellbeing and how this might be achieved
9. The sorts of secondary difficulties that can arise in individuals suffering from dysphagia, how to recognise their emergence and what action you should take to deal with them
10. The importance of communication that is responsive to the needs of the individual
11. How to create a suitable environment for open and confidential discussion
12. The types of information that should be fed back to the individual’s therapist and/or the rest of the care team, and when and how you should do this
13. Your role in reviewing the individual’s progress and the type of support the practitioner requires during this activity
14. The information that should be recorded and the importance of doing this contemporaneously
15. Record keeping practices and procedures in relation to diagnostic and therapeutic programmes/treatments
16. Anatomy and physiology relevant to maintaining a safe swallow
17. The main clinical causes of dysphagia
18. Why the environment and support required by the individual is important including:
1. lighting
2. heating
3. environmental stimulus (i.e. distractions)
4. posture and mechanical supports (i.e. pillows, standing frames, specialist seating
5. utensils, cutlery and feeding aids
6. sensory aids (i.e. glasses, dentures, hearing aids)
7. verbal and physical prompts
8. rate of presentation of oral intake
9. verbal and non-verbal cues from individual
19. How an individual’s medical and physical state may impact on their ability to swallow:
1. sensory impairment
2. loss of bodily function
3. loss of cognition
20. The sorts of issues and risks that can arise with dysphagia
21. The main types of dysphagia and their presentation/identification

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. ensure the environment is suitable for open, confidential discussion and where the individual’s progress can be evaluated
2. give the individual relevant information, support and reassurance in a manner which is sensitive to their needs and concerns
3. gain valid consent to carry out the planned activity
4. assist others in the care team to review with the individual the progress made since the previous monitoring session
5. work with the care team and the individual to identify and record:
1. areas of positive progress and success
2. specific difficulties arising
6. reinforce constructive feedback and advice provided by the care team in relation to the individual’s approach/ability to manage their dysphagia
7. support and encourage the individual to maintain and enhance their efforts at managing dysphagia
8. reinforce the benefits of continuing to practice and develop their skills and knowledge of dysphagia
9. keep accurate, complete and legible records of the review in line with organisational policy and provide regular feedback to the individual’s care team
10. promptly alert the care team to any issue or risks arising

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: HWB6 Assessment and treatment planning This standard has replaced AHP27