Dementia Champion Forum
Pembrokeshire Dementia Champions Forum
- A Dementia Champion is someone with knowledge, understanding and skills in the care of people living with Dementia.
- They encourage support and motivate others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their care setting.
- They play a key role in raising and promoting awareness, knowledge and understanding of Dementia.
The purpose of this forum is to help support Dementia Champions in their role by sharing knowledge and best practice, helping identify training needs and provide learning opportunities.
Anyone whose work involves supporting people living with Dementia is welcome to come along.
Background
The Pembrokeshire Dementia Champions Forum was set up by the Social Care Workforce Development Partnership (SCWDP) to support local care providers meet the requirements of a review by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales into the quality of life and care of older people living in care homes in Wales entitled ‘A Place to Call Home?’. This review included a requirement that ‘all care homes have at least one member of staff who is a Dementia Champion’.
The first forum was held in April 2016 and was attended by 40 Dementia Champions and managers from residential and nursing homes, learning disabilities and domiciliary care agencies.
For more information contact – scwdp@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Dementia Champion Job Description
What is a Dementia Champion?
- A Dementia Champion is someone with knowledge, understanding and skills in the care of people with Dementia.
- Encourages supports and motivates others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their care setting.
- To play a key role in raising and promoting awareness, knowledge and understanding of Dementia.
- The role of the Dementia Champion is not an add-on to an existing role, rather it should be an everyday part of it. Accountable to – Floor manager/ qualified staff (alter as necessary)
What does the role entail?
- Supporting people with dementia to have a voice and be heard.
- Supporting and engaging with families, friends / and other visitors
- Being a named point of contact or a specialist resource for colleagues who are working with people living with dementia and their families, carers, friends.
- Signposting- Identifying useful dementia resources e.g. support groups, community services, leaflets and sharing this information with others,
- Promoting and sharing best practice with others, providing information, advice and guidance. Keeping staff up to date regarding current dementia issues.
- Lead by example - Identify and support new initiatives to improve care. Assist in any changes to practice and culture.
- Be a role model in developing and demonstrating quality dementia care. Show how things should be done - translating words into actual practice.
- Playing a key role in raising the awareness, knowledge and understanding of Dementia
- Empower other members of the team to develop good practice in caring for people living with dementia.
- Promote physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
- Training- Identify any additional training for staff and share your specialist knowledge.
- Identify gaps and update your own skills and knowledge
- Attend Dementia Champion Forums
Qualities of a Dementia Champion
Have a genuine interest in Dementia care and a willingness to learn
- Good communication skills
- Be a supportive person
- Have good listening skills
- Be a people person
- Have the confidence to use your own initiative and think outside the box.