Safeguarding People with Dementia

This one day course, designed for all those supporting people with Dementia aims to provide clarity regarding current perception of what constitutes abuse.
The course will highlight different ways in which people, particularly those with Dementia can be abused, who might be the abusers and how abuse might happen in support settings and in the home. The course also looks at patterns of abuse, how abuse might impact on the individual and what indicators might suggest that someone has been or is being abused. Other material covered includes the impact of abuse on the alleged perpetrator and others involved.

There is a focus on practice that is most likely going to prevent the occurrence of abuse and everyone’s responsibility in terms of observation and reporting.

The post training certificate indicates some of the knowledge gained that would underpin achievement on NVQ and CIS.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course participants should be able to understand:

• What abuse means and how this may manifest
• The personal responsibility of each individual within the organisation regarding Safeguarding
• The essential elements of the law to include:
        -guidance regarding Adult Protection and Safeguarding Adults as identified in ‘No Secrets’ and
  ‘Safeguarding Adults’
• Why people with Dementia are at particular risk
• What is described as “The patterns of abuse”
• What “makes” people abuse Vulnerable Adults
• How abuse can impact on the person and those related to them
• The signs & symptoms of abuse, both observable & indirect
• How delusions and hallucinations may confuse the identification of abuse
• How confusion and disorientation might further complicate the issue
• How bruising can be rationalised
• A range of environmental and other indirect factors that may alert one to abuse having taken place
• The impact of discovery on the perpetrator (and others involved)
• How to support the victim/survivor of abuse-the need for support plans to be clear and specific
• Their responsibilities in the reporting and recording abuse disclosures to the appropriate people
• Some of the barriers that are likely to present regarding disclosure
• How to respond to a report of suspected abuse or when observing or suspecting abusive behaviour
• The role of the Support Worker and the Care/Service Manager in abuse prevention with reference to the law
• Some of the complexity regarding confidentiality; what is and what is not to be regarded as confidential; with
  reference to the organisation’s policy

Training methods:

• Tutor presentations
• PowerPoint presentations
• Video/DVD presentation
• Chalk and talk
• Group exercises
• Case studies
• Group discussions

CP145!5.9