Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) Awareness Training (For providers in the South of the county)

Please note this training is currently only being offered to carers that work in Learning Disability Care Settings, that are based in the following areas :

East Staffordshire (e.g. Burton, Uttoxeter, Lichfield and Tamworth)

West Staffordshire (e.g. Cannock, Rugeley, Stafford, Penkridge, Stone and Codsall).

Course Date

Dysphagia - 6 June 2025 - 10:00 - 14:30 - The Friary Centre, St Michael’s Court, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF

Dysphagia - 4 July 2025 - 10:00 - 14:30 - The Friary Centre, St Michael’s Court, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF

Registration and coffee is from 09.45am with a prompt start at 10:00 - Please ensure you arrive prior to 10:00am.

How to book this training

To book a training event, add it to your cart, there will be an option to choose a training session and "purchase" it from the storefront, if there is only one training session available for that course, you will automatically be enrolled on to that session and if there are multiple dates available then you will be prompted to select an available date. Please note there is no cost for this training.

Session Details

This training is being held at:

The Friary Centre,
St Michael’s Court,
Trent Valley Road,
Lichfield,
WS13 6EF

Course Aim and Description

Do you provide care for people with a learning disability? Do those people also have Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)?

If so, please watch this short video, which will help you identify any training needs you might have when supporting people with Learning Disability and Dysphagia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKU3xo8VmZ4

To support gaps in knowledge and skill, you can now take advantage of free Dysphagia training, which is being offered by your local Speech and Language Team.

Please note! If you are based in Shropshire, Telford or Stoke, there are alternative dysphagia training sessions currently being offered by the local Speech and Language Teams who work in those areas.

Who is this session for?

• This session is aimed at all support staff who work in community settings
• Who support someone with a Learning Disability - to eat and drink and take medication
• When that person also has swallowing difficulties

This course is delivered in-person and involves a presentation of information using projected slides.

There will also be guided opportunities to take part in practical activities (e.g. food and drink preparation and modification) and group discussions.

There are 16 places available on each course, which lasts for 4½ hours (this includes a 30-minute lunch break).

Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits will be available on the day. Delegates will need to bring their own lunch.

The course content will cover the following topics: The normal swallow; the factors that can affect the swallow; the risks to a person’s health, wellbeing and quality of life when they have difficulties swallowing; and understanding how to support individuals to continue to enjoy meals and drinks, while reducing their risks of choking and aspiration.

By the end of the session the learner should be able to:

• Understand how swallowing works

• Understand the risks associated with a swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) - including risks of choking and aspiration

• Understand the factors which need to be considered when supporting a person with dysphagia

• Know how to make a referral to Speech and Language Therapy to request a swallowing assessment

• Know how to correctly prepare and modify textures of food and drink in line with national guidance (IDDSI)

Please note, by booking onto this training course you are committing to attending at the referenced date and time. Your space on this session has cost Staffordshire County Council and while there is not a cost to yourself or your organisation, public funds have been utilised to fund the training. 

If you cannot attend, you can send someone in your place but we will require notification so we can update the course register. 

If you are unable to attend or send someone in your place, we ask for 7 working days’ notice in order to have the opportunity to offer this space to others. 

All bookings or unenrolment changes should be emailed to cmdt@staffordshire.gov.uk

If you have any additional requirements, such as the need for British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation or mobility requirements, please let us know in advance so that we can make the necessary arrangements to accommodate your needs.