Introduction to Validation Therapy

Dementia Pathfinders Community Interest Company

Dementia Pathfinders FREE Training Day
 
Dementia Pathfinders CIC, in partnership with Agewell CIC, is pleased to offer free places on the following training day as part of the Kingfisher Buddies project, funded by the Big Lottery ‘Reaching Communities’ Fund:
 
Introduction to Validation Therapy
 
This course is for people going about their daily lives, who are coming into contact with individuals ex-periencing dementia. This may be in a voluntary or caring capacity, a family member, ambulance or hospital personnel, who want to communication effectively and confidently in difficult situations.
 
Course Aim:
This programme is designed to create compassionate communities and caring organisations through the way individuals communicate to ensure those people with dementia feel understood and included. 
It provides the opportunity for the learner to understand, but more importantly learn how to communi-cate confidently, and effectively, in those crucial moments when emotions start to run high. Effective communication can build therapeutic relationships that makes physical care easier for everyone.
This course mapped across QCF Dementia 210. 
 
Training Style
The day is skills-based rather than academic, making learning an easy and fun experience. We use film, case studies, learner’s experiences and ‘real-time’ skills coaching to build confidence and competence in learners.
 
Course Objectives:
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<LI>To introduce the theoretical approaches underpinning person-centred communication in demen-tia care and support. </LI>
<LI>To discuss why emotional care is as important as physical care when working with vulnerable people.</LI>
<LI>To encourage learners to reflect on their ethos, behaviour and skills in the helping environment, particularly when emotional and difficult conversations arise.</LI>
<LI>To inspire learners to explore in more detail a person's significant life themes which have shaped their personality and routines, therefore adding more meaning into life story work.</LI>
<LI>To explore the link between a person's behaviour with a deeper unmet emotional need.</LI>
<LI>To equip learners with a set of interactions skills that help them build strong therapeutic rela-tionships with the person experiencing dementia. An acronym for such interactive skills is the iCARER.</LI>
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Learners will be able to: 
<UL>
<LI>describe the basic human psychological needs behind the language and behaviour of people ex-periencing dementia</LI>
<LI>explore the impact the person’s significant life themes has on the experience of dementia and apply this to their current life story work</LI>
<LI>reflect and discuss their ability to establish the necessary ‘ethos and skills’ needed to build thera-peutic relationships</LI>
<LI>develop the ability to put aside their feelings and apprehensions at crucial moments and to cross over into the other person's reality or personal experience of dementia. </LI>
<LI>gain an awareness of interactions that they and others use that unintentionally close down com-munication</LI>
<LI>practice some validation skills (iCARER) to facilitate positive interactions with an individual at different stages of dementia</LI>
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 Trainer: Julia Pitkin
Julia trained as an occupational therapist and has a post graduate Certificate in Dementia Studies. She is the UK’s first certified Validation Trainer in Dementia Care, completing her training in Pennsylvania, USA. Her decision to specialise in dementia care was influenced by her work as a quality care auditor for a private sector accreditation company and for the former National Care Standards Commission, where she identified training needs for staff caring for people living with dementia in care homes. Her specialist interest and passion is in person-centred listening and communication, having recently made a training film called ‘Conversations that Matter: breaking through dementia’. 
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