Courses available (click on the link for more course details and dates):

New courses in association with University of Stirling:
Enabling communication for people with dementia >>>
Palliative care for people with dementia >>>
Creative care planning for dementia care >>>

Courses in association with ARW Mental Health Training:
Developing good practice in clinical risk management >>
Mental health awareness>>

• Take a look at our course leaders >>
• Interested in taking some of these courses in-house >>
• Return to GateHouse Courses home page >>

A practical one-day workshop designed to develop the skills and tools you need to enhance clinical risk management practice in an increasingly complex environment. While risk management has always been a crucial part of the mental health practitioner role, it now has a higher profile and recent changes in Government policy present new challenges. Yet the key remains good clinical practice within mental health services which is based on sound professional approaches and effective engagement of service users. The aim is to provide a relaxed, enjoyable and informative day where the process of 'working with risk' can be examined using practical excercises, case studies and new tools for service user engagement.

COURSE CONTENT
• Looking at risk categories and individual risk factors
• 'Positive risk-taking' in practice
• Formulating effective crisis plans
• Enhancing engagement of service users
• Working with service users' strengths and skills

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Community psychiatric nurses, socail workers, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, in-patient nurses, psychologists and any mental health practitioner working in the statutory, voluntary or private sector who formulates risk management plans as part of their remit. Senior managers and anyone responsible for risk assessment and management strategies within mental health services.

The aim of this one-day workshop is to increase awareness of mental health problems, explore the stigma attached to mental illness, and consider risk and safety issues. One in four of us esperience mental ill-health at some point in our lives, and one in six of adults of working age having a mental health problem at any one time. Yet how much do we understand about the challenges which face people suffering from mental disorders?

COURSE CONTENT:
• General discussion and sharing ideas/experiences of mental illness
• Looking at the role of the media
• Examining the main neurotic and psychotic disorders
• Working with people who have mental health problems ~ promotin trust and engagement
•Deliberate self-harm or self-injury
•Substance misuse
•Sensitive approaches to mental health problems

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This one-day workshop will be useful for anyone who may have contact with people experiencing mental health problems, and where they feel their knowledge would benefit from being enhanced. This could include: careers for people with mental health problems, GP surgery staff, community matrons, health visitors, pharmacists, district nurses, chiropodists, sheltered housing wardens, speech & language therapists, physiotherapists.

Good communication is the key to unlocking memories and improving quality of life and care. Our attitudes are vital in assisting people with dementia to communicate. You need to believe it is possible. We need to be positive and concentrate on what the person can still do.

COURSE CONTENT:

• What is it about dementia that makes communication difficult, but very important?
• How can you manage to see the person behind the illness?
• Important strategies to help the person with dementia to feel in control
• The environment and communication
• Behaviour as a form of communication
• Six practical steps to aid our communication

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Those who work with people with dementia in the community, in health care or in care homes.

Caring for a dying person is both complex and challenging. In planning care we need to consider not only the psychological needs of patients and their relatives, but also their emotional, spiritual and social needs.

COURSE CONTENT

• Carer support and involving the patient and relatives
• Making difficult decisions – how this can best be done
• Environmental factors – keeping a tranquil place
• Isolation and sensory experiences – giving comfort
• Communications and behaviour
• Knowing when someone is in pain
• Nutrition – eating and drinking at the end of life
• Skin care and continence
• Meaningful activity
• Spiritual support

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Anyone involved in hospital, care home or community care of people with dementia at the end of life. Staff who are involved at earlier stages who will be able to help with planning care and education of staff.

Caring for someone with dementia involves understanding and meeting their sometimes complex and changing needs. This includes emotional support, help with decision making, coping with risks, behaviour and personality changes, and the provision of intimate personal care. They will often have other complex health problems and quality care needs good planning.

COURSE CONTENT

• Daily routine, personal care and hygiene – the stress free day
• Improving nutrition – how to make sure everyone eats well
• Skin care and continence – the special needs of people with dementia
• Movement and mobility – balancing risk and fun!
• Knowing when someone is in pain
• Meaningful activity including life story work and involving relatives
• End of life care – the gentle good night.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Those who work with people with dementia in the community, in health care or in care homes.

Roberta Wetherell is a founding memeber and former national co-ordinator of the UKAdvocacy Network and founder chairperson of the European Network of Users and Ex-Users in Mental Health. Roberta was a memeber of the NHS Executive's Mental Health Task Force User Group, the National Users and Carers Group and has sat on a number of advisory committees to the UK Government and the European Parliment.

Andrew Wetherall has worked in the mental health service user
movement for over a decade, including developing self-help initiatives
and managing advocacy services. He is an associate trainer with The
Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.

Maria McManus is the the associate director for the Dementia Service Development Centre (DSDC) in Northern Ireland. She has a background in occupational therapy and has worked as both a clinician and manager in general adult mental health services and psychiatry of old age. In 2000 she completed an MBA with specialism in health and social care at the University of Ulster. Maria is experienced in project management and has led services in day care, OT, community development, and vocational rehabilitation. She has worked across health, social services and the voluntary and community sectors. She has a special interest in design for people with dementia and the provision and enhancement of creative arts and meaningful activities in dementia care.

Colm Cunningham is director of operations for DSDC. Colm manages the consultancy and planning services of the centre. Colm has a background in general and learning disability nursing before he
undertook his diploma in social work. He completed an MSc in dementia studies at the University of Stirling in 2002. Colm has undertaken extensive planning and development work and has 16
years of experience in supporting older people within the community and of within the management of care homes. Colm’s current research is focused on pain care in people with dementia, the use of technology, learning disability and dementia, night care and acute care issues.

Alan Chapman is associate director for education and training at the DSDC, University of Stirling, and has co-written and edited a number of training publications. He has extensive experience of leading training sessions on a wide range of dementia-related topics.

Professor June Andrews is the director of the DSDC at the University of Stirling based in the Iris Murdoch Building. She is a psychiatric and general trained nurse and experienced change manager.

Dr Fiona Kelly is a lecturer on the University of Stirling on line MSc degree in dementia studies. She is also a registered nurse experienced in the care of people with dementia. Her research interests include selfhood in dementia, creative approaches to care and promoting change in practice.

Got a question?

Take a look at our frequently asked questions, call Samantha Zoratto on 020 8334 4525 or email gatehouse@chamberdunn.co.uk