Facilitating the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Course

The Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme is a learning resource for all frontline health and social care staff. Learners are supported by facilitators in their own practice setting. The DSDC’s facilitator training programme has been updated and is now a Stand Alone CPD module, “Facilitating the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme”, with 20 credits at level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

This programme is designed for all staff working in any care environment e.g. hospitals (including A&E / minor injuries), care homes / day care, domiciliary / home care and housing staff.

Students attend for two days face to face learning delivered by the DSDC teaching team. They then return to their workplace and facilitate the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme using skills learned during the initial two days. All students are required to submit two written assignments.

The role of the facilitator is to mentor learners as they study the Learning Programme whilst helping them to meet their personal learning objectives. This involves encouraging them to reflect on their previous experiences and practices, thereby supporting them to link new knowledge to real-world experiences.

To undertake the Facilitating the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme facilitators need to meet the following relevant criteria;

• Have attended and participated in the two-day programme, “Facilitating the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme”.

• Be in a supervisory role and have a minimum of two years’ experience of caring for people with dementia.

• Understand the challenges that dementia creates for the person with dementia, their families, and the staff who care for them

• Have a positive and holistic attitude towards caring for people with dementia

• Be committed to ensuring best practice at all times

• Accept supervision and support from the DSDC’s learning and development team.

• Meet with learners for group discussions as directed in your Facilitator Handbook.

• Recognise that learners will need the opportunity to take their learning into practice and encourage participation in the learning opportunities afforded by the programme.