PEG and PEJ (Enteral Feeding) Awareness

Course Overview

This PEG and PEJ Enteral Feeding Awareness course provides safety-focused, knowledge-led training for care and support staff who work alongside individuals receiving nutrition and hydration through gastrostomy and jejunostomy feeding routes.

Enteral feeding is not a routine care task. It is a clinical intervention, and gaps in understanding, however small, can lead to serious harm. This course is built around that reality. It does not soften the clinical weight of the subject, and it does not assume that awareness alone is sufficient for staff who will be administering feeds or medication.

The course focuses specifically on PEG and PEJ feeding, giving learners a grounded, practical understanding of how these feeding methods work, how risks present, and how care staff can support safe, consistent practice within a structured care plan. To strengthen that understanding, the course also introduces awareness of other enteral feeding routes, including NG (nasogastric) and JEJ (jejunostomy) tubes, so staff can recognise differences and respond appropriately when working across services or alongside clinical teams.

Content is aligned with current expectations from the Care Quality Commission, guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE NG116), and recognised best practice from the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN).

Course Details

Duration: Half day (flexible depending on service needs)
Delivery: Face-to-face, in-house training
Certificate: PEG and PEJ Enteral Feeding Awareness certificate of attendance
Group Size: Flexible depending on setting and learning needs

Competency assessment and sign-off are available on request.

Who This Course Is For

This course is suitable for:

  • care staff and support workers
  • healthcare assistants
  • domiciliary care workers
  • residential and nursing home staff
  • personal assistants supporting individuals with complex needs
  • staff new to supporting individuals with PEG or PEJ feeding

It is particularly relevant where staff are supporting, observing, or working alongside clinically trained practitioners rather than acting independently in a clinical capacity.

Under Care Quality Commission Regulation 18 (Staffing), providers must ensure staff are suitably trained, competent, and supported to carry out their roles safely. This course supports that requirement.

Why PEG and PEJ Enteral Feeding Training Is Important

Enteral feeding carries significant clinical risk.

Without an adequate level of understanding, errors in practice can lead to:

  • aspiration
  • tube displacement or migration
  • infection at the insertion site
  • tube blockage
  • incorrect administration of feed or medication
  • deterioration in the individual’s condition

The Care Quality Commission expects providers to demonstrate that staff are trained, competent, and that care is delivered safely and consistently. NICE NG116 supports structured, safe approaches to nutritional care and monitoring, and is explicit that all staff involved in the care of someone receiving enteral nutrition must have appropriate training.

But beyond compliance, this is about what happens on a Tuesday morning in a care home when the nurse isn’t on the floor, and a care worker notices something has changed. The people who spend the most time with a resident or client are often the first to notice when something isn’t right. A site that looks different. A tube that seems to have shifted. A person who is uncomfortable in a way they weren’t before.

Knowing what a healthy PEG site looks like, understanding the early signs of infection or displacement, and being confident enough to raise a concern at the right moment are not clinical skills. They are care skills. And they have a direct impact on outcomes.

A realistic example: a care home supporting a resident with a long-established PEG tube noticed a gradual change at the insertion site over several days. Staff without specific training attributed it to normal variation and did not escalate. By the time the concern reached a clinician, what had been a manageable site infection had become significantly more complex. Awareness training does not turn care workers into clinicians. But it gives them what they need to act at the right moment, not the wrong one.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  • Explain the purpose of PEG and PEJ feeding and describe why a person may require enteral nutrition
  • Understand the relevant anatomy and physiology as it relates to tube placement and function
  • Identify the equipment used in enteral feeding and describe how it is used safely
  • Recognise the risks and complications associated with feeding tubes
  • Understand infection prevention and control requirements in enteral feeding care
  • Recognise signs of tube displacement, blockage, or aspiration risk
  • Understand safe positioning and monitoring before, during, and after feeding
  • Follow care plans accurately and escalate concerns appropriately and promptly
  • Understand documentation and communication responsibilities within the care team
  • Recognise the limits of their role and identify when clinical input is required
  • Apply principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 where relevant to individuals receiving enteral feeding

Course Content

Course content includes:

  • Introduction to enteral feeding and clinical context
  • PEG and PEJ tubes explained
  • Overview of NG and JEJ tubes for contextual awareness
  • Anatomy and physiology relevant to feeding routes
  • Feeding methods, including bolus and pump feeding
  • Equipment handling and safety considerations
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Recognising and responding to complications
  • Positioning, monitoring and observation
  • Documentation and record keeping
  • Roles, responsibilities and professional boundaries
  • Working within care plans and clinical guidance

How the Course Is Delivered

This course is delivered face-to-face at your workplace or chosen venue.

Training includes hands-on simulated practice using training aids, allowing learners to develop understanding in a safe, structured environment. Practical elements are supported by clear instruction, demonstration and guided discussion.

Sessions include:

  • trainer-led demonstrations
  • supervised simulation-based practice
  • scenario-based learning
  • real-world case discussion

This approach supports confidence, reinforces safe practice and helps staff understand how to apply learning within their role.

Certification & Competency

Learners receive a PEG and PEJ Enteral Feeding Awareness certificate of attendance.

As enteral feeding is a clinical task, awareness training alone is not sufficient for staff who will administer feeds or medication.

If your organisation requires formal competency assessment as part of care planning or clinical governance documentation, let us know when you enquire so we can incorporate it into the session design. We recommend sharing your competency framework with us ahead of the booking to confirm the sign-off process meets your specific requirements.

In-House & Bespoke Training

We deliver this course in-house and tailor it to your service.

Training can incorporate:

  • Your care plans and documentation
  • Your escalation procedures
  • Your clinical governance framework
  • Your infection prevention policies
  • The complexity of your service users

This ensures training reflects real practice and supports safer care delivery within your organisation.

Course Location & Service Areas

We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue, tailored to your needs and schedule. This flexible approach removes the need to send staff off-site for essential learning. Our experienced trainers deliver courses across Manchester and Greater Manchester, supporting organisations throughout the North West. We also provide on-site training throughout England, covering major cities, towns, and regions nationwide, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.

Wherever and however the training is delivered, all sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors and meet the same high standards.

FAQs

Is this course suitable for domiciliary care staff?

Yes. This course is suitable for staff working in domiciliary care as well as residential and nursing settings. It is particularly relevant for staff supporting individuals with PEG or PEJ tubes in their own homes, where there may be less immediate access to clinical professionals. The training helps staff understand how to provide safe, consistent support, recognise early signs of complications, and escalate concerns appropriately in line with care plans and organisational procedures.

Does this course cover NG tubes?

The course focuses specifically on PEG and PEJ feeding, as these are the most commonly encountered enteral feeding routes in care settings. However, it also includes awareness of other tube types, including nasogastric (NG) and jejunostomy (JEJ) tubes. This helps staff understand the differences between feeding methods and how tube type may affect care, risk, and escalation decisions in practice.

Do staff need any prior knowledge of enteral feeding to attend?

No prior knowledge is required. The course is designed to be accessible to staff at all levels of experience, including those who have never worked with a person who has a feeding tube before. It builds understanding from the ground up, while still being relevant and useful for more experienced staff who need to refresh or formalise their knowledge.

Can this course be combined with other subjects on the same day?

Yes. This course is often delivered alongside related subjects such as Dysphagia Awareness, Nutrition and Hydration, or other clinical care topics. Combining subjects can be particularly useful where staff are supporting individuals with complex needs and require a broader understanding of safe care. We can work with you to design a blended programme that reflects your team’s roles, responsibilities, and training requirements.

Does this course satisfy CQC requirements around staff training?

This course supports providers in meeting CQC expectations that staff are appropriately trained and competent to support individuals with complex care needs. It aligns with NICE NG116 and BAPEN best practice guidance. However, CQC inspections look at the full picture, including competency, supervision, and governance processes. We recommend discussing your specific inspection feedback or action plan with us so we can ensure the training supports your compliance requirements effectively.

Is this a clinical course?

No. This is an awareness-level course designed for care and support workers. It does not cover clinical procedures such as tube insertion, advanced feeding pump management, or prescribing nutrition. Those responsibilities sit with appropriately qualified healthcare professionals. The course focuses on safe support, observation, and escalation within the care worker role.

Is this course suitable for RGN or nurse revalidation?

No. This course is designed for care and support workers who work alongside individuals with a feeding tube. It is not intended for registered nurses (RGNs) and cannot be used for NMC revalidation or as a substitute for clinical training required for PIN-registered professionals. Nurses must follow their own professional standards and complete appropriate clinical training aligned with their scope of practice.

Is competency assessment available as part of this course?

Yes. Competency assessment and sign-off are available on request and can be incorporated into the training. This allows organisations to evidence that staff are not only trained, but also assessed as competent to carry out specific aspects of care in line with internal policies and clinical governance requirements. We recommend sharing your competency framework with us in advance so the assessment process can be aligned to your organisation’s standards and documentation.

Related Courses

Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance

At Prima Cura Training, training in clinical and high-risk areas such as enteral feeding must be accurate, grounded, and aligned with current UK guidance. We do not cut corners on subject matter that directly affects vulnerable people.

All trainers are selected based on professional experience, subject knowledge, and teaching ability. They hold relevant qualifications and undertake ongoing professional development to ensure their knowledge stays current.

Because the majority of organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all Prima Cura trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.

Training content is reviewed regularly to reflect current guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Care Quality Commission expectations, and recognised best practice, including standards from the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Book or Enquire

If your team supports individuals with PEG or PEJ feeding, this course gives staff the structured knowledge they need to support safe, consistent, person-centred care.

We also support organisations with competency assessment and ongoing compliance, helping ensure staff are not only trained but confident and working clearly within their role.

Call 0333 999 8783, email info@primacuratraining.co.uk, or complete the contact form below.

Reviewed by Stephanie Austin – Owner & Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training
25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer
Last reviewed: March 2026

This page provides general information about enteral feeding awareness training. It is not a substitute for clinical training, competency assessment, or medical advice. Organisations remain responsible for ensuring staff are appropriately trained, assessed as competent, and working within their scope of practice in line with Care Quality Commission requirements, local policies, and current clinical guidance. Training delivered by Prima Cura Training supports knowledge and awareness but does not replace supervised clinical competency assessment where required.

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