Care Home Nutrition, Hydration & MUST Screening SOP Template | Enterprise UK Edition

Enterprise Care Home Nutrition, Hydration, MUST Scoring & Catering Governance SOP

Standardize monthly Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) calculations, enforce daily fluid balance intake targets, govern IDDSI texture-modified diets for dysphagia care, manage kitchen food safety (HACCP), and maintain 100% CQC inspection readiness across your residential or nursing care home with this enterprise-grade Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Specifically engineered for UK care home operators to satisfy CQC Regulation 14 (Meeting nutritional and hydration needs), CQC Regulation 17 (Good Governance), the BAPEN MUST Screening Framework, the IDDSI Framework, the Food Safety Act 1990, and UK GDPR requirements.

Key Regulatory & Nutritional Governance Highlights

• CQC Single Assessment Framework & Reg 14 Parity: Establishes auditable clinical workflows ensuring all residents receive suitable, nutritious food and adequate hydration tailored to individual health and cultural needs.
• Monthly MUST Screening & Weight Tracking: Standardizes 5-step MUST risk scoring, BMI calculations, and automatic referral pathways for un-planned weight loss (>5% in 30 days).
• 24-Hour Fluid Intake & 16:00 Triage Gateways: Enforces daily hydration targets (minimum 1,500 ml/day) with real-time electronic chart logging and afternoon hydration review triggers.
• IDDSI Dysphagia Texture Prescription Controls: Governs kitchen prep and nurse verification for texture-modified foods (Levels 3–7) and thickened liquids (Levels 0–4) to prevent choking hazards.
• Catering Hygiene & Allergen Management: Integrates HACCP food safety rules, EHO rating benchmarks, and 14-allergen matrix controls across kitchen operations.
• Data Protection & Confidentiality: Full UK GDPR Article 9 compliance for secure, role-based encryption of resident clinical weights, MUST score sheets, and dietitian notes.

What's Included in the Download Package?

Delivered as an editable Microsoft Word (.docx) document formatted with Executive Midnight Navy styling and standalone control templates:

• Appendix A: Master Care Home Nutrition & Hydration Register Template
• Appendix B: Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) & Action Plan Form
• Appendix C: 24-Hour Fluid Intake & Food Consumption Monitoring Chart
• Appendix D: IDDSI Texture-Modified Diet & Fluid Prescription Form
• Appendix E: Weight Loss Non-Conformance & CAPA Tracker
• Appendix F: Annual Care Home Nutrition, Catering & Hydration Governance Review
• Appendix G: Internal Care Home Nutrition & Hydration Audit Checklist

Visual Operational Status Badges Included

Document Technical Specifications

• Document Code: SOP-CARE-NUT-DIR-2026-025
• Format: Microsoft Word (.docx) — Fully Editable
• Jurisdiction: United Kingdom (CQC Regulated Social Care — England & Wales)
• Target Audience: Registered Providers, Registered Managers, Clinical Leads, Head Chefs, Registered Nurses, and Dietitians.