27 November 2020
A new online dysphagia training resource is already proving popular, with 16,339 launches of the training programme and 1,593 individuals from across the UK completing the modules. Workforce groups have included over 400 social care staff, 412 care support/health care assistants, 158 SLTs, 35 dietitians, 16 medics including GPs, 91 nurses, 56 carers, as well as two bus drivers.
Health Education England eLearning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has worked in partnership with the speech and language therapy team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, RCSLT and industry experts to develop the Dysphagia Guide e-learning resource for those working with people living with dysphagia.
Developed with the help of care home staff, the Dysphagia Guide can be used to support competency acquisition, as outlined in the Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Competency Framework (EDSCF), and provides guidance for managers in policy and workforce development.
Its design and accessibility makes it ideal for ‘on the spot’ demonstration, accessing resources, memory refreshment or as part of a formal training programme.
Kamini Gadhok, RCSLT CEO, said: “The RCSLT led on the development of the EDSCF and so is delighted to have been involved in supporting this e-learning resource on dysphagia training. With the impact of COVID-19, the need for effective training across the health and care sector has become even more essential to ensure that people with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties get the help they need.”
