There are a range of good practice examples highlighting innovative and new ways of working within dementia care across the South West and nationally.

Commissioners and providers may be particularly interested in finding out more.

Do you have information about new ways of working within dementia care in your local area?
If so, please download this form, complete it and submit your information by email to Diane Bardsley at [email protected].

• Memory Matters South West CIC
  Memory Matters South West Community Interest Company is a small social enterprise that provides therapy and training to health and care providers, primarily but not exclusively in Cornwall.
• Dementia Link Workers/Care Homes Workforce Development in Plymouth
  In order to ensure that people who have or may have a dementia are appropriately supported in their existing care home, the care homes are participating in a workforce development project, led by NHS Plymouth and Plymouth City Council.
• South Gloucestershire Primary Care Liaison Service
  The service supports primary care professionals who are concerned about the mental wellbeing of their patients by providing advice and guidance with the overall aim of people getting access to the right care at the right time in a way which suits them.
• New Ways of Working in Swindon
  Several activities are underway to improve understanding and recognition of dementia in the local health and social care workforce, and to support carers.
• New Ways of Working in Wiltshire
  Wiltshire Council’s Dementia Strategy Group have produced a DVD to improve early recognition of memory problems for people who may be reluctant to approach their GP.
• Champions in hospital dementia care workshop (Australia)
  This train-the-trainer workshop provides participants with a resource kit and skills to support hospital staff to improve dementia care. Participants attend a two day workshop and are required to implement changes in the workplace, using material from the resource kit or other recognised resources.
• The Dementia Voice Nurse (Housing 21 Dementia Voice)
  Housing 21 appointed a specialist palliative care nurse for dementia patients at the end of 2008. The remit of the Dementia Voice Nurse (DVN) role is for a qualified nurse with expertise in dementia, end of-life care, symptom control and effective communication to act as an expert practitioner, advocate and facilitator.
• The Gnosall Project – Dementia Co-ordinator Role (Staffordshire)
  The Gnosall dementia service is a primary care-based older people’s mental health service which identifies patients at risk or in the early stages of dementia are, as well as those exhibiting signs of altered cognition or mood.
• The Jack Dawe Service Nottingham
  Nottingham City Council’s dementia service, also known as Jack Dawe was set up to deal with the needs of people with dementia and related conditions living in the community. The team supports the most severe dementia cases transferring users to non-critical care services providers when and where appropriate.