A Sandstone Care Group team have attended a food service training day designed to help care home residents who have difficulty eating.

Sixteen people from Sandstone Care Group and their portfolio of seven care homes attended the Berkshire based course, including operations managers, home managers and their deputies, chefs and cooks.

The IDDSI Level 4 training programme provides practical advice and recipe ideas to help residents who have a serious swallowing disorder called dysphagia.

The course was run by Solutions for Care at food service supplier Bidfood’s headquarters in Slough.

Sandstone Care, which has been working with Bidfood for over three years, has recently signed a new four-year commercial contract with the food provider.

Jen Roberts, Sandstone Care’s regional operations manager, said: “It was a really good and informative day. It was also emotional for me. If my mum had been provided with food like this when she was in hospital it would have been absolutely amazing. Food like this opens up so much more choice for people who find it difficult to eat.

“Since the training day we have set goals and targets for implementing the framework for all residents within our homes on a Level 4 diet. We will be regularly following up with Solutions for Care to discuss progress over the coming months.”

Brendan Andrews, head chef at Fleetwood Hall Care Home in Lancashire, said: “I’m excited to get back into the kitchen and use the skills we have learnt.”