Resources: New Framework to support high quality dementia care

A comprehensive new resource to support health and social care staff and educators who work with people living with dementia and their carers has been launched today.

The Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework sets out the essential skills and knowledge necessary for all staff involved in dementia care and will enable organisations to:

•    standardise the interpretation of dementia education and training
•    guide the focus and aims of dementia education and training delivery through key learning outcomes
•    ensure the educational relevance of dementia training
•    improve the quality and consistency of education and training provision.

Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, Director of Nursing at Health Education England said: “There are 850,000 people with Dementia in the UK so it is vital that those who are charged with caring for people living with dementia have access to information that can help them provide the highest possible standards of care.

“By April 2015, over 500,000 staff had undertaken dementia awareness training. This new framework will underpin and enhance future education, and will be an extremely valuable tool not only for those involved in day-to-day care, but also for those who provide training.

“I am confident that it will help make sure that there is a more efficient and consistent approach to the delivery of dementia training and education.”

John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health said: “This framework will ensure that when training and education is sought, duplication will be avoided and it will be clear what core skills and knowledge can be used across different clinical areas and care settings.

“The framework will also serve as a medium through which the impact of education and training can be measured in terms of positive results for people living with dementia, their families and carers.

“We believe that use of the framework will result in an increased quality of care for people living with Dementia and their families.”

Skills for Care CEO Sharon Allen said: “This framework will help the 1.44 million people who work in adult social care, to continue to offer effective, person-centred support to people living with dementia”.
 
The Framework is aimed at employers, their employees, educational commissioners and providers, along with organisations that train students who will be employed in the range of health and care settings.

It was commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and the development was led by Skills for Health and Health Education England in partnership with Skills for Care and in collaboration with a number of key stakeholders and experts in Dementia Care

A copy of the framework can be viewed here: http://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/dementia-download