Appendix 5: NSW Health Facility Nutrition Care Committee Terms of Reference Template

Terms of Reference

nutrition care committee

[Insert name of NSW Facility Nutrition Care Meeting]
[Insert name NSW LHD / Network Area]
REPORTS TO / [Insert Facility Nutrition Care Committee name]
REPORTER / [Insert Chairpersons name and/or other committee members name]
CHAIRPERSON(S) / [Insert Chairpersons name]
SECRETARIAT / [Insert Administration Staff name]
ENDORSED BY / [Insert sites / area Manager name] / DATE
NEXT REVIEW / Annually
  1. PURPOSe

The purpose of this committee is to:

  • Oversee the provision of nutrition care for all inpatients and residents within this facility/service as per the NSW Health Nutrition Care Policy (PD2011_078) directive and related accreditation standards
  • Ensure nutrition care services are in line with LHD / Network / Facility strategic and operational plan(s).
  1. responsibilities / functions
  1. Oversee the implementation of the Nutrition Care Policy (PD2011_078) and relevant aspects of the accreditation standards at the site / facility.
  2. Commence and regularly hold nutrition care meetings that form the site / facility governance structure.
  3. Facilitate communication of information on the implementation of the policy throughout the site / facility.
  4. Demonstrate how their site / facility meets their nutrition care accreditation requirements.
  5. Develop a site / facility based action plan for the implementation of the nutrition care journey process i.e. one that identifies areas for improvement, assign responsibilities to nutrition care steps, identifies procedures or guidelines that need developing and/or areas that need addressing by the [LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee].
  6. Review and make site / facility recommendations directly to the [LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee] in terms of assignments of responsibility, personnel and resources to meet the policy.
  7. Assist in outlining the menu requirements for the site and approval of menu changes in conjunction with [insert LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee] and appropriate staff e.g. Dietitian.
  8. Implement all LHD / network recommendations e.g. staff education and training, nutrition risk screening and nutrition assessment tools, nutrition evaluation tools.
  9. Report on implementation progress and evaluation of the requirements of the policy to [insert LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee] including staff and consumer feedback.
  1. required membership

Members of [Insert LHD/Network Committee Name / Title]

Correct as at: [Insert dd/mm/yyyy]

Role / Name / Responsibilities
Chairperson and/or Executive Sponsor / Chairing meeting
Reporting to LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee
Nursing/Midwifery Manager(s) / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with site Staff
Dietitian(s) and/or Consultant Dietitian / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Nurse Unit Manager Representative(s) / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Medical Staff Representative(s) / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Food Service Provider Representative(s) / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Consumer/Carer Representation / Advice and contribution from consumer / carer perspective
Administration Staff / Booking rooms, organising equipment and organising timetable for meetings
Agenda item forwards to Chair for approval prior to the meeting
Agenda to be circulated one week in advance
Minutes to be circulated by email within two weeks of the meeting
  1. Other memebership for Consideration / circulation of minutes

Role / Responsibilities
Finance and Corporate Services Representative / Professional advice and contribution
Clinical Governance and/or Quality Representative / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Speech Pathologist / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Occupational Therapist / Professional advice and contribution
Two-way information flow with staff
Dietitian Assistant / Allied Health Assistant (Nutrition and Dietetics) Representative / Professional advice and contribution

The Committee may request the attendance of other personnel, as required. Other personnel in attendance are able to provide support and advice but have no formal role in decisions made by the committee.

  1. frequency of meetings
  • [Insert frequency of meetings e.g. monthly/bimonthly]
  1. Quorum
  • 50% or at the discretion of Chairperson(s)
  • If <50% present, issues or documents to be circulated to members prior to sign off.
  1. reporting committees
  • The committee reports directly to the [insert NSW LHD / Network Nutrition Care Committee].

An example of a reporting structure is below:

Figure 1: Reporting line for Facility Nutrition Care Committee

  1. LINKS TO OTHER COMMITTEES

This committee has links to the following committees:

Examples could include:

-ACI Nutrition in Hospitals Committee

- HealthShare NSW Food Service Committees (where appropriate)

  1. method of evaluation
  • Annual review of Terms of Reference against action plan
  • Annual review of membership

Other examples could include:

  • Six monthly review of progress against action plan, Nutrition Care Policy checklist and/or Mental Health Nutrition Standards implementation checklist
  • Six monthly review of IIMS data
  • Six monthly review of complaints and compliments
  • Official Visitors reports, if includes mental health units/facilities

ACI Nutrition and Mental Health Toolkit March 2015