ORAL HEALTHCARE SKILLS AUDIT

3 Day In-House

Raising Standards of Care

What is a Mouth Care Skills Audit?

A Mouth Care Skills Audit assesses the knowledge, skills, and confidence of care home staff in providing effective oral healthcare for vulnerable adults.

We spend 2 -3 days with management and care staff, depending on the size of the home) with management and care staff

providing hands-on support and guidance in best practices for oral healthcare. From ensuring compliance at the management level to working directly with care staff, we cover all aspects of oral care in a practical and supportive way. Our approach is friendly and discreet.

Instead of attending a course where you're told what to do, we actively help implement NICE recommendations, ensuring lasting improvements in oral healthcare standards.

Assessment of Current Standards

The audit begins with a thorough evaluation of the existing oral care practices in the care home. This includes:

Reviewing oral care policies and procedures
Observing staff as they provide oral care
Interviewing staff and residents to gather insights on oral care practices

Tailored Training Sessions

Our oral healthcare audit goes beyond mere assessment. It includes tailored training sessions for all staff members

Basic oral healthcare techniques
Identifying and managing common oral health issues
Effective communication with residents about their oral health needs
Using appropriate tools and products for oral care

Designation of Oral Champions

Oral Champions are individuals who take on a leadership role in promoting and maintaining high standards of oral care. They receive additional training in:

Advanced oral healthcare techniques
Mentoring and supporting other staff members
Monitoring and evaluating oral care practices
Ensuring continuous improvement in oral healthcare

What else?

Observe staff provide oral care or service users, give tips and demonstrate techniques to boost staff confidence.
Facilitate partnerships with local dentists for ongoing support if you don’t have one.
Collect feedback from service users or families about their experience of mouth care. Gathering insights. * CQC advise that you collect your own data on all areas of care to establish if there are any areas of service that require addressing.

By the end of our visit you’ll be compliant with the NICE guidelines and mouth care best practices, reducing the risk of neglect or inadequate care.

Resident Oral Health Assessments –

Evaluating individual oral care needs, identifying issues, and ensuring proper care plans are in place. Includes. Comprehensive oral health assessments for all residents

Support for Residents with Complex Needs – Assessing how staff assist residents with dementia, dysphagia, or limited mobility in maintaining oral health.

Implementing an effective reporting system for care resistant behaviour.

Staff Knowledge & Skills Review –

Assessing staff confidence, understanding of oral care practices, and ability to support residents with complex needs. Includes. Deliver tailored, practical, engaging oral care training sessions for your entire staff. Training, supporting, and assessing Oral Care Champions.

Denture Marking & Management –

Ensuring dentures are correctly labeled and properly maintained to prevent loss or misuse.

Includes. Denture marking for easy identification as recommended in the NICE Guidance

Daily Mouth Care Practices –

Reviewing routines for brushing, denture care, hydration, and use of appropriate oral care products.

Includes. Practical help for individuals with complex needs or challenging behaviour.

Feedback & Continuous Improvement - Establishing clear feedback channels to improve care delivery.

Oral Care Compliance & Documentation –

Checking care plans, record-keeping, and adherence to regulatory guidelines.

Facilitating partnerships with local dentists for ongoing support.