A multi – agency approach for

Gloucestershire that supports the National

Dementia Strategy

Angela Willis
Background and Development
• Emerging evidence – local, regional and national
•The work of Gloucestershire’s Older People’s Mental
Health Training Group – benchmarked best practice &
undertook learning needs analysis
• Partnerships for Older People’s Project (POPP) provided
funding which enabled focus on dementia training
• A countywide strategy for dementia training & education –
first draft March 2008
• Alignment with national strategy and local priorities – final
draft September 2009
Challenges
• Low skills base
• Huge staff numbers
• Different cultures / organisations
• Patchy and disjointed training provision / packages
• Need for cost effective and sustainable approach

Critical Challenges
• How to embed the learning into everyday practice?
- the role of the Dementia Link Worker (DLW)
- In-reach specialist support
 Key outcome
• To improve the quality of individual centred
dementia care, through the development of
dementia knowledge, skills and confidence
throughout Gloucestershire’s Health & Social
Care workforce
Aims
• To develop a confident and competent workforce to
meet both current and future demand
• To deliver a systematic and consistent multi-agency
pathway and staged development model
• To achieve core workforce competencies
• To ‘kite mark’ training / introduce dementia ‘passport’
• To ensure learning is embedded into practice to improve
the quality of person centred dementia care
Related Objectives
• To work in partnership to meet a shared, outcome
focussed framework
• To work with training & education providers to develop
their capacity
• To promote the development of a learning culture
- increasing learning opportunities and addressing
sustainability issues
• To align approach within wider training and qualification
frameworks (both existing and new)
How?

A three year implementation plan which…..

• builds on successful pathway model for care homes
• is jointly funded and resourced
• Is overseen by the dementia training & education group,
reporting to Gloucestershire’s Dementia PMB
 The pathway
• Dementia e-learning
• Dementia local learning resources which
include bite size training (hard copy packs and
interactive e-versions)
• Dementia training days one and two
• Dementia level 2 Award (now QCF)

All of above supported in practice by DLW

 The role of the DLW
• Provides a link between theory & practice –
translating learning into person centred
practice
• Uses the on-site dementia learning resources
to develop other staff
• Promotes interests of person with dementia
• Works with other DLW’s for peer support and
sharing of best practice
 How are DLW’s supported?
• Three new roles of Dementia Education
Nurses (DEN) develop & support DLW’s
• Undertake enhanced dementia link worker
training pathway, includes best practice
forums and trainer / coaching skills
• Once qualified they participate in DLW CPD
programme
Priorities
• The Strategy aims to be inclusive of a wide range of
groups and services
• Dementia training days and E-Learning have been
developed and are available for all
• In accordance with agreed priorities the following
groups are being supported with dedicated
resources……….
Priority Groups (2010/11)

• Care Homes (as in 2009/10)

• Domiciliary Care
•Community Hospitals
• Managers
• Primary Care Facilities
• Carers
Where are we now?
• Dementia training & education pathways agreed for
care homes, domiciliary care, intermediate care, primary
care and community hospitals
•Practising Dementia Link Workers in 87% of our Care
Homes, 25 DLW’s being developed in domiciliary care
and DLW model now agreed for Community Hospitals
• Excellent uptake of all learning resources
•New dementia leadership programme introduced
 Where are we now (continued)
• Significant cross-sector working to embed
learning into practice
• Joint PCT & LA funding agreed
• Carers Education developments
• Resources being accessed by Housing, wider
community groups, carers and PA’s
• Alignment with End of Life Care education
• Successful CPD programme for DLW’s
Evaluation to date
• Greater knowledge, skills and confidence within care
homes reported by managers, DLW’s, staff and
relatives
• Evidence of higher quality person centred dementia
care
• Emerging evidence of reduction in referrals to NHS
• Successful pathway model
• Identified as ‘innovative practice’ by SHA review team
The future
• To maintain the knowledge, skills and attributes of those trained-
sustainability the key!
• Addressing the needs of primary care - increasing knowledge and
skills of General Practitioners
• Designated support and links to Community Dementia
Nursing
• Flexible approaches
• Meeting the needs of local communities, local companies,
businesses
• Cultural competence and sensitivity
The future
• Develop DLW’s for community hospitals
• Year three priority areas to be agreed - includes wider
community development
• Ensure pathway meets competency requirements for new
dementia qualifications on the Qualifications & Credits
Framework
• Secure sufficient and long term funding
• Evaluate impact on people living with dementia