Audit template
Nutrition & Hydration
Covers nutritional risk, food and fluid charts, weight monitoring and specialist diets. This template runs quarterly in MyCareCompliance and carries 8 mapped checks across 8 CQC quality statements.
Last reviewed: September 2026. This guidance reflects CQC information available at the date above — always refer to cqc.org.uk for current regulatory requirements.
What the audit covers
Every question in the Nutrition & Hydration is mapped to a CQC quality statement and the underlying regulation, so a failed check tells you exactly which part of the single assessment framework is at risk. This is an optional template you can switch on when it applies to your service.
- Runs quarterly — optional template
- Part of the Service users & care quality audit category
- Maps to 5 regulations: Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatment, Regulation 18 — Staffing, Regulation 9 — Person-centred care, Regulation 14 — Meeting nutritional and hydration needs, Regulation 17 — Good governance
- Failed checks become tracked improvement actions with an owner, due date and evidence
The 8 checks
Involving people to manage risks
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentNutrition & Hydration
Where dysphagia or choking risks exist, are SALT recommendations (e.g. IDDSI levels) clearly documented and followed?
What we look for: Check records for individuals with swallowing difficulties. Ensure exact IDDSI levels for food and fluids are recorded. Fail if staff are not adhering to or recording the specific IDDSI requirements.
Evidence: Risk assessments, SALT reports, IDDSI guidance in care plans, daily care notes
Safe and effective staffing
Safe — 1 check- Regulation 18 — StaffingNutrition & Hydration
Have staff supporting food preparation completed basic food hygiene and necessary specialist training (e.g., dysphagia)?
What we look for: Cross-reference the training matrix against staff providing meal support. Good looks like up-to-date food safety training and observed competency. Fail if staff preparing meals lack required training.
Evidence: Training matrix, staff certificates, spot check records, competency assessments
Assessing needs
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 9 — Person-centred careNutrition & Hydration
Are nutritional and hydration needs, including cultural preferences and allergies, comprehensively assessed before care begins?
What we look for: Sample 5 recent care assessments. Look for clear documentation of dietary needs, allergies, religious/cultural preferences, and any required support level. Fail if allergies or preferences are missing.
Evidence: Initial assessments, malnutrition screening tools (e.g., MUST), dietary requirement records, allergy logs
Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 14 — Meeting nutritional and hydration needsNutrition & Hydration
Do care plans contain specific, person-centred guidance on how to support the person with meals, drinks, and feeding?
What we look for: Review 5 care plans. Good looks like specific instructions (e.g., 'likes tea with one sugar', 'requires prompting to drink'). Fail if plans use generic phrases like 'assist with meals' without detail.
Evidence: Care plans, meal preparation tasks, daily routines
How staff, teams and services work together
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 12 — Safe care and treatmentNutrition & Hydration
Is there evidence that signs of weight loss, dehydration, or poor oral intake are promptly escalated to healthcare professionals?
What we look for: Trace instances where individuals missed intake targets or showed signs of decline. Good looks like prompt referral to GP, Dietitian, or family (as per care plan). Fail if no action was documented.
Evidence: Communication logs, GP/Dietitian referral records, handover notes, incident reports
Monitoring and improving outcomes
Effective — 1 check- Regulation 17 — Good governanceNutrition & Hydration
Are food and fluid charts accurately completed, with clear daily targets and cumulative totals calculated?
What we look for: Sample 5 people requiring monitoring. Look for specific measures (e.g., '150ml juice' not 'a cup') and daily target tracking. Fail if charts have gaps, lack totals, or record 'drank well'.
Evidence: Fluid charts, nutrition charts, daily logs, electronic care records
Independence, choice and control
Caring — 1 check- Regulation 9 — Person-centred careNutrition & Hydration
Do care logs demonstrate that people are offered meaningful choices for their meals and supported to maintain independence?
What we look for: Read daily notes to verify staff ask people what they want to eat, rather than deciding for them. Look for evidence of staff supporting people to prepare their own food where safe and appropriate.
Evidence: Daily care records, service user feedback, care plan reviews
Governance, management and sustainability
Well-led — 1 check- Regulation 17 — Good governanceNutrition & Hydration
Does the service regularly audit nutrition and hydration records to identify shortfalls and drive care improvement?
What we look for: Review management audits of fluid/food charts over the past quarter. Good looks like identified issues (e.g., missed fluid targets) resulting in staff coaching or care plan reviews. Fail if no oversight exists.
Evidence: Internal audits, spot check reports, management action plans, team meeting minutes
See it running for your service
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