Healthcare Caterers International
The National Association of Care Catering
The National Association of Care Catering, known as the NACC, is a member organisation, with a defined structure managed by a National Executive.
Members come from a variety of walks of life and all have an interest in catering within the caring sector.
That catering may take place in residential homes for children, for older people or for people with disabilities. It may be meals served to groups in day care or other centres or it may involve delivering individual fresh or frozen meals to people’s homes. NACC Members include catering officers and social workers from local authorities, representatives of professional caring agencies, several voluntary organisations and a number of major suppliers of chilled and frozen meals, catering materials and catering equipment.
The NACC was formed in 1986/87 and is now recognised by local authorities, independent providers, the charitable sector and government departments as a prime source of information and opinion on catering within the caring sector.
By any stretch of the imagination providing catering services for the Care Sector has a wide range of applications and interests, and given the size of the market place, that will come as no surprise.
Our recent independent research delivered the following statistics:
- 40 million Meals on Wheels are served each year in the UK
- 40 thousand day centres and clinics are operated
- 597 million meals are served annually in Residential and Nursing Homes.
Our aim is to publish guidelines, policy papers and authoritative statements on all aspects of catering for the care sector. To this end and to improve service delivery and nutrition for the Meals on Wheels Sector we created The Recommended Standard for Community Meals.
The document has been adopted by Local Authorities and leading manufacturers as the Industry Standard. The document includes informative advice about operating and specifying a community meals service. The standards state the importance of nutrition to our customers cannot be ignored. “Sound nutrition is the single most basic factor in maintaining health and averting disease”. However, in spite of volumes of research, reports and findings there is still no clear direction advocated for the full dietary needs of older people. Taking into consideration the service variations and new trends it became obvious that it was not so much a nutritional standard for community meals that was required but a 100% Food Policy.
The objective of the NACC Food Policy within the standard is to make a stance amidst the confusion and to guide anyone involved in community care towards a more uniform, coherent, and committed approach to nutrition that enables them to operate in an informed and consistent manner. It has worked towards providing applicable standards by establishing a framework that embraces all the needs and exigencies in the service.
The Recommended Standard is a working document and is updated when new research or legislation has a direct effect on the community meals sector. Our work in the area of Community Meals has also involved the highlighting of this essential service by the introduction of Meals on Wheels Week, which this year runs from the 6th to 12th November.
Last years event sought to increase awareness of good hydration and the health benefits that can be gained. The NACC is a founder member of the Water for Health Alliance, an organisation supported by Water UK and interest groups from around the country who agree with the World Health Organisation that water is a key nutrient.
The National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People sets out the Government policy for meals and menu choices, together with beverages. Attention to the resident’s environment and dining experience is essential as research indicates that the social aspects directly affect the amount of food consumed. No attention to the quality and nutritional value of the meal will serve any purpose if it is not eaten. The NACC has produced its own tools for members who work in the residential care sector The National Minimum Standards (As Related to Catering) Care Homes for Older People and for Younger Adults.
The assessment of the successful delivery of any service and the way it meets the needs of its consumers can, we, believe, be tested by direct comparison. To this end we have created a National Benchmarking Forum, unique to our members, which enables them to compare and analyse the services provided against those involved in similar work. The forum covers Support Services, Community Meals, Residential and Day Care Services and compares the following areas, Strategic Objectives, Cost Efficiency, Service Deliver Outcomes, Quality and Fair Access.
The NACC is proud of its history and achievements but has always sought to have vision in respect of changes and development. The choice of alliances is therefore paramount and we are delighted to be charter members of Healthcare Caterers International, we look forward to its continuing growth and influence.
For further information on the NACC and its work please look at our website www.thenacc.co.uk or contact us at info@thenacc.co.uk The full range of NACC Documents are available via the HCI website at member rates.