PRAXIS Care is celebrating after 28 members of staff successfully completed their Best Practice in Dementia Care qualification.
Staff from St Paul’s Court, Lisburn, Connaught House, Newry and Coleraine Floating Support completed the six-part, self-study course for health and social care staff working in care home and day care settings.
Commenting on the importance of the course, Praxis Care director Andy Mayhew said: “Scheme managers can see a change in the staff everyday practice.
They see and hear the communication of service users with dementia, and they respond in an appropriate manner, taking into account the varying degree of needs and support needed for them to live well.
“Ultimately service users have benefited from the training course due to the new knowledge and insight of the staff that completed the programme.”
Materials for the course are supplied by the University of Stirling and the Dementia Services Development Centre, Northern Ireland. The course is Royal College Nursing and City and Guilds Qualification Certified Framework Level 3 accredited.
Praising Praxis Care’s commitment to learning, Northern Ireland Dementia Services Development Centre’s Sean Hughes said: “People living with dementia can at times experience difficulties with communication which means it is difficult for them to be understood by others.
Appropriate training allows staff to realise there are lots of things that can be done to positively improve communication and make life much better for the person living with dementia, for e.g. being aware that communication difficulties can be a result of common sensory impairments, and are often not due to dementia.
“Praxis Care has recognised dementia as a specialist field where staff need additional knowledge and support.
They have evidenced their commitment to service users and family carers through this training.
I commend Praxis Care staff that have completed the Best Practice Programme and achieved accreditation from City and Guilds.”