STAFF TRAINING

Staff training is an ongoing part of our daily life. Most of our staff is trained or are being trained to NVQ level 2 which is well above the 50% requirement. We now have a schedule to train all our staff to the new QCF standards that especially apply to dementia care. Apart form standard training in care and safe handling, infection control etc. we also have a number of programmes in place to offer management and development training to our more senior staff. From the day someone joins us their induction programme leads to an ongoing process of training and retraining to ensure we offer the best care we can.

In specialising in dementia we need a deeper understanding of this awful condition and staff must really understand the underlying causes of such conditions but more importantly how they can help residents remain alert and active for as long as we can and to embrace those special times when our residents are back to normal and enjoying themselves once more. We must constantly watch over our residents to be sure they don’t get themselves into any areas of physical risk or with someone they may not like. Also we need to act as their memory for many simple and essential activities they just might forget.

As a result of our training we are constantly in dialogue with our care teams and are looking for creative ways to improve our care. Process and systems are so important in ensuring we follow defined protocols and that we don't miss anything, which is particularly relevant in an environment when on any given day a number of unexpected things will happen.