Workforce development in dementia care through education and training: an audit of two counties
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 9 May 2016
Abstract
Purpose
People with dementia require care at home, in care homes and in hospitals, which has implications for the current and future workforce in health and social care. To inform regional workforce development planning in dementia care, Health Education East of England commissioned an organisational audit of current dementia training at NHS Trusts and in social care across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative methods and non-probability purposive sampling were used for recruitment and data collection. The audit included NHS Trusts, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups, and health and social care organisations involved in commissioning and providing dementia education and training in the two counties.
Findings
Whilst there was considerable investment in dementia awareness training, learning was not targeted, assessed or structured to ensure on-going professional development.
Practical implications
This has implications for workforce development and career-progression for staff responsible for the care of older people with dementia. Conclusion: if a future workforce is expected to lead, coordinate, support and provide dementia care across health and social care, a qualifying curriculum could play a critical part in ensuring quality and consistency of approach and provision.
Originality/value
This paper makes a timely contribution to discussions on the skills and competencies needed to equip the future workforce for dementia care across health and social care.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This audit was commissioned by the Health Education East of England (HEEoE) Workforce Partnership for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Description of funder involvement in the study: organisations were identified, approached and recruited via the recently established Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Dementia Alliance of which the funder is a member.
Citation
Mayrhofer, A. and Goodman, C. (2016), "Workforce development in dementia care through education and training: an audit of two counties", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 112-121. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-04-2015-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited