Title of the innovative practice:
Development of a City and Guilds vocational related level 2 programme for mental health and older people. Development of a Let's Respect poster as a teaching aid displayed in all ward areas.
Aims of the innovative practice:
Equip health care staff to work effectively and safely to meet the needs of patients with mental health problems. These basic principles are vital to ensure that patients, relatives and carers have confidence in the care they receive. The course gives our staff the knowledge and skills to care for patients who may, at times, display challenging behaviour which ensures that the skills profiles are matched to care demands. The programme meets the NSF for Older People standards 4 and 7 and is linked to the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework
What have been the challenges and solutions in setting up and maintaining the innovative practice?
Challenges have included motivating our staff to understand the benefits of the initiative and also to release them from the rota to attend the training sessions. Funding and resources were initially a challenge, however working collaboratively with our vocational training department; we have been supported to ensure that staff have adequate equipment to complete the programme. All candidates were required to complete a skills assessment and achieve an agreed level of competence as a prerequisite to the course. The results identified training needs and this was facilitated by support from Stockton Riverside College. Staff were also assured that their results were treated confidentially.
Outcomes:
Evaluation as part of their assessment is observation in practice. A second cohort commenced June 2009 and through word or mouth we have a waiting list for future cohorts. IT resources need to be compatible with candidates as there has been occasions when work has been lost. More literature available as a resource in advance of the programme commencement. Involvement in teaching and training sessions from senior management teams has proved supportive and effective. Curriculum needs to be relevant to practice areas so that candidates can apply this in their clinical areas. Staff behaviour and attitudes change in how they can manage patients with the resources they have access to.
Plans for the future:
- Waiting list for the course.
- Continue to raise awareness.
- Mandatory training for skills profiles for our staff
- Involvement of clinical staff
- Development of a level 4 award for trained staff
- Support from the Trust Chair Deborah Jenkins
- Sharing good practice in our local hospital magazine.