Orchard Rock Training • Full-Day Course

Dysphagia & IDDSI Framework + Practical

Our dysphagia training gives your care and catering teams the confidence to prepare, test and serve food and drink safely. This full-day course combines classroom learning with hands-on IDDSI practical testing.

● Full day — 6 hours ● Classroom + kitchen practical ● Levels 0–7 covered

Enquire & Book → Call 01706 375578

About the course

Dysphagia training that puts IDDSI into practice

This full-day course helps you understand the IDDSI Framework and use it in everyday care. First, you cover the theory in the morning. Then you move into a kitchen to plate and test food to each IDDSI level yourself.

A chef plating a tricolore dish to IDDSI standard

Level 4 puréed meal plated with quenelles and sauce

Overhead view of dishes plated to different IDDSI levels

Minced and moist meal with puréed vegetables

A chef presenting a Level 5 minced and moist plate

A piped dish tested against the IDDSI framework chart

Soft and bite-sized dish with its IDDSI descriptor card

Level 7 easy to chew meal with diced meat and vegetables

Minced and moist meal with its IDDSI Level 5 card

Level 4 puréed meal plated to IDDSI standard

Puréed dessert with its IDDSI descriptor card

Minced and moist layered dish on a plate

A finished puréed dessert plated for service

Real dishes plated and tested to IDDSI levels by delegates on our practical course.

What you’ll cover

Full course content

Eight modules guide you through the course. First, you learn the fundamentals of the framework. Then you move on to hands-on food and drink testing across every IDDSI level.

Introduction to the Framework

What is the IDDSI Framework?
What is dysphagia?
Anatomy of swallowing
The IDDSI Chart

Dysphagia

Causes
Symptoms
Facts and statistics

Characteristics

Levels 0–2 — Drinks
Levels 3–4 — Either drink or food
Levels 5–7 — Foods
Transitional foods (Levels 5–7)
Medication
Thickening agents / powder

Risk Assessments

Symptoms risk assessment
Visitors and food
Risk assessing choice
Choking

Roles & Responsibilities

Employer’s responsibilities
All employees’ responsibilities
Chef’s responsibilities
Mealtime support responsibilities

Resources

IDDSI website
Posters
The IDDSI app

Practical: Drinks Flow Test (Levels 0–3)

Introduction to the flow test
Syringe sizing
Flow test
Levels 0–3 results & Level 4 results

Practical: Food Tests (Levels 3–7)

The Fork Drip Test
Spoon Tilt Test — Levels 4 & 5
Minced & Moist — Level 5
Fork Pressure Test — Level 6
Regular / Easy to Chew — Level 7

Book this course

We bring IDDSI training to your care home

We deliver all training on-site at your care home. We also price each course on application. So just get in touch, and we’ll reply quickly with dates and a quote.