Gloucestershire’s Dementia Training & Education Strategy A multi agency approach which supports the national dementia strategy Angela Willis

Alignment with national strategy: Supports all three high level objectives Explicitly linked to objective 13: “to have an informed and effective workforce for people with dementia” Our strategy prioritises care homes’ needs (objective 11) through the development of a training & support pathway

What informed the strategy? Growing understanding of need – local and national research evidence Identification of priority groups Benchmarking best practice: - Skills for Care knowledge sets - NICE / SCIE guidelines - Existing development programmes Learning Needs Analysis - Poor knowledge & skills - Learning styles - Operational / organisational needs More recently – The National Dementia Strategy

Key Outcome: To improve the quality of person centred dementia care within Gloucestershire’s H&SC workforce, through the development of dementia knowledge, skills and competence

Supporting outcomes Integrated pathway across H&SC Utilize & co-ordinate expertise Instil confidence Best practice Blended learning approach Accessible & sustainable Staged development model Align with wider competencies, training & qualification pathways Formal recognition of individual learning

Challenges Low skills base Huge staff numbers Different cultures / organisations Time factor Different packages of training Patchy and disjointed training provision across H&SC Many priority groups

Critical challenge How to embed the learning into everyday practice? the role of the Dementia Link Worker in-reach specialist support

Approach Vision Research Stakeholder engagement Cross sector working Local needs analysis Align with emerging national drivers Agree priorities

Basic Essential Dementia Awareness: E-Learning Dementia E-learning commissioned by Gloucestershire SCIE E-learning SCILS All above promoted and supported

Basic Essential Dementia Awareness – 3 file resource pack Resource File – Powerpoint presentations, workbooks, E- learning Research File – Alzheimer’s Society Fact Sheets, NICE guidelines, CSCI ‘See me’, research articles Admin File – Skills for Care knowledge set progress logs, certificates

Specialist Training Programme DAY ONE An Introduction to and analysis of the nature and causes of dementia, delirium and depression. An examination of various strategies for working with individuals in these situations DAY TWO Person Centred Care - including behaviours that challenge us: wandering and aggression

The role of the Dementia Link Worker (DLW) Provides a link between theory and practice – translating learning into person centred practice Uses the on-site dementia learning resources to develop other staff members Promotes best interests of person with dementia Works with other DLW’s for peer support and sharing best practice

How are DLW’s supported? Two new roles of Care Homes Education Nurses (CHEN) created mid 2008 DLW’s undertake the full pathway themselves and undertake additional trainer / coaching skills training Participate in regular facilitated Best Practice Forum (BPF) Regular contact and support from CHEN (and wider Care Homes Support Team)

Where are we now? All care homes have on-site 3 file dementia learning resources 48% of our care homes have a trained and supported DLW Excellent uptake of E-learning, bite size training, training days and BPF Significant cross sector working to embed learning into practice through role of dementia CHEN Joint PCT and LA funding agreed to implement three year county wide T&E strategy

Evaluation to date Greater knowledge, skills and confidence reported by managers, DLW’s, staff and relatives Emerging evidence of higher quality person centred dementia care Emerging evidence of reduction in referrals from care homes to NHS Successful pathway model (meets supporting outcomes)

Where next? Three year dementia T&E strategy being finalised, builds on care home model Joint PCT and LA funding agreed to implement strategy Priorities for 09/10 include: Complete coverage for care homes Develop pathway to include end of life care (objective 12) Build on model for domiciliary care and primary care (objective 6)