Travelling across the UK to deliver our ever-expanding programme of meaningful care sector training and activity sessions, the past few months have been busy for our Training & Delivery Manager, Nicola, and her team. Here’s what they’ve been up to.
The Empathy Suit Experience
We continue to be overwhelmed by the impact that our Empathy Suit training is having all around the UK! Recently, Nicola took the suit to Avon Manor care home in Worthing, using the suit to give care workers a deeper understanding of what it might be like for the residents living with dementia in their care home, and how they may see their world.
By using the suit in everyday care home situations, such as getting in and out of bed, being pushed in a wheelchair, having a drink and getting dressed, care staff were able to experience how challenging these situations might be for the people they support, and reflected upon their practice on ways that could make life easier for them. All of the team said they had learnt the importance of good communication skills while supporting residents with their personal care, reflecting on how sometimes words are not enough and we need to be aware of how we use our body language and tone of voice.
The training was amazing, the best I have ever had in 20 years. It really makes you realise what life might be like for people with dementia.
– Training Attendee
Worthing Manor have invited Nicola back to train their team for the third time, wanting to implement good practice and dementia awareness to all of their employees.
Alive Meaningful Activity Audit
Earlier this year, CQC changed their inspection process from the previous Key Lines of Enquiry to the new Single Assessment Framework, so we have re-written our audit to align with it. This enables care homes to have a full audit of their activity provision ensuring that the resulting audit report will match CQC requirements.
The audits are held over one and a half days, and our trainer will assess the care setting on Positive Care Culture, Environment, Personhood, Community Links, Quality of Activities, Planning and Choice and Control.
The Bristol Care Homes group are currently undergoing their fourth annual audit and, by following the recommendations in each yearly audit report alongside monthly Meaningful Engagement Everyday training for the whole team, they have significantly improved the activity culture within their four homes.
We are looking forward to being able to demonstrate to CQC how we have put our residents first and engaged in supporting our staff. We can demonstrate through the improvements in our activity audits that the personalisation of our activity is much better and this will hopefully help us to maintain and improve our inspection ratings.
– Richard Crocker, Director of Bristol Care Homes
To find out more about our Meaningful Activity Audit, email info@aliveactivities for more information.
Men’s Groups
Staff in care homes told us that it is often their male residents who felt more socially isolated and wanted something more tailored for them. We listened, and launched our Men’s Groups.
Ken, our talented facilitator, is a great connector, storyteller and fountain of knowledge, delivering sessions with men (and women!) in care homes which allow them to speak about what is important or meaningful to them. The sessions have been a great success, with topics covered such as teenage years, photography, and transport, and we always allow the conversations to meander and let the members take topics where they want them to go.