Elevating dementia care

Client: EDGE Services
Service: Customised dementia qualification

Background
EDGE Services, a leading UK people handling training provider, recently worked with RoSPA Qualifications to create an innovative new qualification for individuals working with people with dementia.

Challenge
The aim of the course is to give staff the confidence and skills to work more effectively with the practicalities of working with those affected by dementia, which is a broad term used to describe a number of different conditions affecting the brain.

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, 944,000 people are currently estimated to be living with dementia in the UK with the number expected to increase rapidly over the next few decades.

EDGE Services’ Operations Manager, Ruth Hewitt, said: “The course is aimed at those whose staff may come into contact with adults who live with dementia - both in the healthcare sector and beyond. It provides delegates with the expertise to train others in awareness of dementia that can be adopted to deal with symptoms, challenges and how to work effectively.”

Results

EDGE Services is already a recognised RoSPA Qualification Centre, which enables it to deliver a suite of customised awards. Debbie Clueit, RoSPA Qualifications’ External Verifier, said: “EDGE approached RoSPA Qualifications to get approval from us to deliver their new course as a customised qualification at Level 4. I liaised with them to ensure that the course was accessible and met the Level 4 Ofqual descriptors and I developed the learning outcomes, content and assessment methods over a set amount of learning hours.

“I was able to guide and assist them in what they could achieve within the parameters of a Level 4 customised qualification, building the course to enable them to register bookings and to upload assessments for moderation and certification of learners. The brief was always for the course to be open to a variety of environments where individuals may be working with or coming into contact with people with dementia, such as retail and leisure, as well as healthcare.”

Ruth Hewitt said: “RoSPA’s involvement enabled us to focus the content and assessment criteria with the learning outcomes to ensure that delegates receive a comprehensive and thorough learning experience in the subject of dementia care. We were fully supported through the course creation process, enabling us to discuss options to guarantee that delegates would gain the right skills, knowledge and confidence in this field.”
 

“RoSPA’s involvement enabled us to focus the content and assessment criteria with the learning outcomes to ensure that delegates receive a comprehensive and thorough learning experience in the subject of dementia care. We were fully supported through the course creation process, enabling us to discuss options to guarantee that delegates would gain the right skills, knowledge and confidence in this field.”  - Ruth Hewitt, EDGE Services