The Office of the Nursing Services Director is currently involved in developing a National Dementia Training Programme for Older Person Services within the HSE.

The aims of the initiative is to:

• Design and deliver a suite of education programmes to nursing and support staff working in the Irish Health Service.
• Complete a Training Needs Analysis within the specified group of Older Persons Services
• Deliver programmes in a manner appropriate to the learning needs and the setting required

The folllowing programmes are being developed:

"Enabling and Enhancing Quality of Life for the person with Dementia"

This three day generic programme has been disseminated to CNMES in the HSE and Voluntary Sector and to the Education Project Officer in the Alzheimer Society of Ireland for roll out in appropriate settings. The overall governance for the management and evaluation of the programme rests with the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, HSE.

A Stand Alone Dementia Champion Module

The Pilot of the first Level 8 degree module of the HSE Dementia Champions initiative was held in the CNME in Castlebar from September-Dec 2010.  The module is accredited by DCU and facilitated by Dr Kate Irving from the School of Nursing at DCU.  Fifteen staff from a variety of care settings completed the module as a follow on to the generic dementia programme.  Graduates of the module will work as champions for the rights and needs of people with dementia in their services.  An evaluation of the programme is currently taking place, with a view to   nationally rolling out the programme.

“ The early identification and recognition of dementia in older persons”

An on line E- learning module is being developed with a group of subject matter experts from the clinical and academic areas. This elearning module will be accessible to staff working across all care areas and will be hosted on HSELanD.

“ Behaviours that Challenge”

A tender for the development and delivery of a “ Behaviours that Challenge” competency based development programme is near completion. It is envisaged that this will be piloted in two care sites in a rural and urban area in September 2011. It is anticipated it will be delivered across other sites.

A Dementia Education Information Resource Pack for Home Helps from the HSE and Voluntary throughout the country is in development. This educational resource pack both in written format and in audio format is currently being developed in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society. The content of the programme is based on the findings from focus groups with home helps as part of the National Needs Analysis.  Once developed, it will be disseminated throughout the country to approximately 5000 home helps. It will also be made available to those education centres that provide education to Home Helps.

ONMSD Lead Contact Person: Patrick Glackin:

A/Area Director, NMPD West, Email: patrick.glackin@hse.ie