Our OPMHN programmes are designed around your requirements and can be tailored to meet the needs of different staff ranging from professionals to support workers.

Working with Older People

Working with older people in health and social care settings requires continuous updating of knowledge and skills. In our experience training in working with this client group is often best delivered in learning environment in which participants can share common experiences across disciplines. All Telos programmes include a ‘toolkit’ on developing practical skills in addition to the theoretical content.

Older People with Mental Health Needs

Telos has a particular interest in training staff in both statutory and third sector agencies in working with Older People with Mental Health Needs. Our OPMHN programmes are designed around your requirements and can be tailored to meet the needs of different staff ranging from professionals responsible for the Single Assessment Process through to workshops for home care workers and residential workers. For example, from January to April 2007 Telos delivered 24 workshops for staff in the Kent Home Care Service to develop skills in working with older people with mental health problems, including dementia and depression, as well as with their carers.

Telos provides a wide range of programmes for staff in care homes and nursing homes, including:

  • Person-centered care in dementia.
  • Promoting the Dignity agenda.
  • Working with Carers.
  • Working with Challenging Behaviour.
  • Working with Depression in Residential and Nursing Care.
  • Meeting spiritual needs.
  • End of life Care.

All our programmes link with requirements for Health and Social Care NVQs levels 2, 3 and 4

Care Pathways

The development of and implementation of Care Pathways is crucial in working with this client group. We can also offer workshops in process mapping and service redesign techniques which aim to assist those responsible for the delivery of care – including third sector organisations – in identifying and dealing with blockages in services across care pathways.

Working with spirituality issues in old age

Telos programmes in working with older people have a number of common features. In line with our core values Telos programmes on spirituality and old age assist staff at all levels to open up this subject. Exploring the links between spirituality, dementia and depression enable staff to provide a more person-centered approach in their work. Our programmes cover spiritual assessment and spiritual care planning, including the needs of services users with dementia as well as their carers.

Some of the feedback from a recent programme for Care Management staff covering spiritual assessment and spiritual care planning:

  • A worthwhile course that all should attend including care givers in homes.
  • I think this was a great course and I am glad I attended.
  • One of the best courses I've attended with KCC - reaffirms my social work values.
  • This element should be added to all aspects of assessing and care planning for all clients.
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Training in spirituality is also particularly relevant for multi-disciplinary staff groups who are involved in joint assessment in both primary and secondary care.

Contact us to discuss how to develop knowledge and skills in this area for your staff.

Links with legislation and case law

All our courses are linked to key themes in legislation and case law where appropriate – for example the new Mental Capacity Act which featured prominently in our programmes for 2007.

Links with knowledge requirements

A significant number of our learners will be involved in personal and professional development programmes. Where possible we ‘add value’ by ensuring that our programmes are linked with relevant knowledge specifications, including NVQ specifications as well as Post Qualification competency frameworks.

Team Development

Older Peoples Services are in a process of constant evolution as new specialised services are established, for example teams providing home treatment for people with dementia. Telos can assist with team development in situations where staff from health and social care backgrounds need to work together effectively through a focus on common goals and values. Contact us for further details.

Feedback

Some reactions from a recent programme for Approved Social Workers and Care Managers in working with Older People with Mental Health problems:

  • Ben‘s teaching style was excellent. His enthusiasm was infectious and he was very helpful throughout.
  • An excellent delivery of very relevant information. It was useful to have an opportunity to discuss practice issues with ASWs, and this assisted me to gain a better understanding of this role.
  • The course helped me to make a more measured response, with MH colleagues, to ‘cold call’ assessments.
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