AHP27 Assist others to monitor individuals’ attempts at managing dysphagia

Overview

This workforce competence 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 competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies.

Knowledge and Understanding

You must be able to apply:

Legislation, Policy and good practice

K1 A factual awareness of the current European and national legislation, national guidelines and local policies which affect your work practice in relation to working with individuals to restore optimum independence in the management of dysphagia

K2 A working understanding of your responsibilities under the current European, national and local legislation and policies on your actions within the care environment

K3 A working understanding of 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 (i.e. because they do not have the capacity to give consent)

K4 A working understanding of the policies and guidance which clarify your scope of practice and the relationship between yourself and the practitioner in terms of delegation and supervision

K5 A working understanding of the actions you should take if adverse issues and risks emerge as a result of the monitoring and evaluation you undertake

K6 A working understanding of the importance of regularly monitoring the individual's progress in relation to managing dysphagia

Care and Support of the individual

K7 A working understanding of 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

K8 A working understanding of why you should seek to support and encourage the individual to promote their own health and wellbeing and how this might be achieved

K9 A working understanding of 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

K10 A working understanding of the importance of communication that is responsive to the needs of the individual

K11 A working understanding of how to create a suitable environment for frank and confidential discussion

Procedures and techniques

K12 A working understanding of 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

K13 A working understanding of your role in reviewing the individual's progress and the type of support the practitioner requires during this activity

Records and Documentation

K14 A working understanding of the information that should be recorded and the importance of doing this contemporaneously

K15 A working understanding of record keeping practices and procedures in relation to diagnostic and therapeutic programmes/treatments

Specific health related knowledge and skills

K16 A factual awareness of the main clinical causes of dysphagia

K17 A working understanding of why the environment and support required by the individual is important including

a) lighting

b) heating

c) environmental stimulus (i.e. distractions)

d) posture and mechanical supports (i.e. pillows, standing frames, specialist seating)

e) utensils, cutlery and feeding aids

f) sensory aids (i.e. glasses, dentures, hearing aids)

g) verbal and physical prompts

h) rate of presentation of oral intake

i) verbal and non-verbal cues from individual

K18 A factual awareness of how an individual's medical and physical state may impact on their ability to swallow

a) sensory impairment

b) loss of bodily function

c) loss of cognition

K19 A factual awareness of the sorts of issues and risks that can arise with dysphagia

K20 A working understanding of the main types of dysphagia and their presentation/identification

Performance Criteria

You need to:

1. ensure the environment is suitable for frank, confidential discussion and where the individual's progress can be evaluated

2. assist others in the care team to review with the individual the progress made since the previous monitoring session

3. work with the care team and the individual to identify and record:

a) areas of positive progress and success

b) specific difficulties arising

4. reinforce constructive feedback and advice provided by the care team in relation to the individual's approach/ability to manage their dysphagia

5. support and encourage the individual to maintain and enhance their efforts at managing dysphagia

6. reinforce the benefits of continuing to practice and develop their skills and knowledge of dysphagia

7. keep accurate, complete and legible records of the review in line with organisational policy and provide regular feedback to the individual's care team

8. promptly alert the care team to any issue or risks arising

Additional Information