Carer training for complex care
We provide our carers with in-depth training and comprehensive knowledge for a range of complex conditions
Supplementary carer training for all types of complex care
We provide care for a wide range of needs, from companionship care to more complex conditions and so it is essential that our carers receive ongoing support and training in each of these areas to enable them to provide the best care for our clients.
Our condition specific, complex care training is supplementary to our 10 day induction programme and we run a variety of carer training courses throughout the year. This means if you have a range of clients, you will be equipped to care for a variety of needs. It also means if your client’s condition becomes more complex, we can give you the skills and knowledge you need to continue to provide care for a range of needs.
Christies Carer feedback
In-depth knowledge and skills
Carer training for a range of care needs
DEMENTIA CARE TRAINING
A large portion of our clients are living under the dementia umbrella so we invest heavily in our dementia training to ensure we provide the best care for people living with this condition. There is no doubt about it, caring for someone with dementia can be difficult and unpredictable. With in-depth, quality training our carers learn the general principles and practices to help their client navigate and cope with daily life, being cared for in their own home.
Our dementia training is facilitated by Helen Drain (an approved trainer for the Alzheimer’s Society) who has first-hand, personal experience of caring for a loved one after her husband developed vascular dementia. This course is facilitated by Ben Weygang.
Helen says, “I got everything wrong, made all the mistakes you can and I don’t want to see anyone else going through that.”
In addition to our induction training, the dementia training includes a two-day residential course at Runnel House, our specialist skills centre, as well as an annual update in the form of eLearning so that our carers can learn how to adapt the general principles to their own client’s needs.
Christies Carers explain explain how Christies Care dementia training has helped them to provide the best care they can:
“I now feel confident that I have a good, wide understanding of the different conditions falling under dementia affecting people with dementia.”
“I have learned how to evoke memories and give something back. The course has shown me how to get so much more from my work and how something as small as a smile can have such a big meaning.”
“The course opened my mind towards not just the person with a dementia condition, but generally towards elderly and vulnerable people. It helped me to see them as a person, not just patients with health problems. Now I feel satisfaction when I can understand my clients and recognise their needs.”
“I have a new insight into the mind of a person with a dementia condition and it helps me to be more successful with my clients. In my work I use the whole range of exercises given I learned.”
“One can have a lot of sympathy and compassion doing this work but it might not be enough to be efficient if one hasn’t the knowledge and skills to know how to approach the client. This course gave me tools and skills which I can use in my professional life and I personally feel more competent and confident working with clients now.”
EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK
Our induction training will equip you with essential emergency first aid skills. Our programme has been developed specifically for Christies Care, covering all aspects of emergency first aid with the course content customised to fit the likely scenarios a live-in or visiting home care provider will encounter.
The first aid course takes place over one day and comprises:
- Primary survey
- Secondary survey
- Basic Life Support
- Severe bleeding
- Causes of unconsciousness
- Heart conditions
END OF LIFE / PALLIATIVE CARE
The end of someone’s life is a very important time and it is essential that the right care is given in a manner that suits the person who is dying.
It is equally important that carers themselves stay strong and so it is vital our carers look after themselves and are able to bear the emotional effects of death. Our award-winning training ensures that carers are given the essential tools to cope with this difficult time and remain able to give their best care and attention to their client. This one-day in-house Gold Standard Framework residential course has been put together by Sarah Hostler and has been developed with input from UKHCA and St Elizabeth Hospice. It prepares all those who attend the course to support and assist with their client and their daily needs towards the end of their life.
What does this course cover?
- Aspects of change as someone approaches the end of life.
- Spiritual and religious needs
- Communication and documentation
- Collaboration with other professionals
- Helpful information on how to look after yourself
- Managing death and bereavement
LEARNING DISABILITIES
We know that a well-trained carer is far more likely to deliver a successful care plan for somebody with learning difficulties than someone without any training. Our one-day learning disabilities residential training has become a part of our essential induction training for all carers.
This one-day learning disability training course is facilitated by experienced trainers led by our learning disabilities coordinator. All have experience working in the Learning Disabilities field and pass on their enthusiasm, knowledge and experience to the carers they are training.
The team are also able to advise carers during their assignment supporting a client with a learning disability, should the carer have any questions or concerns.
The aim of the training we deliver is to encourage carers to see beyond labels and support their client to have a great life, living as independently as they can.
Learning disabilities training
- To gain an understanding of the causes and effects of having a learning disability
- To discuss and explore person-centred values in care
- To develop an understanding of person-centred thinking and planning
- To identify and compare communication needs in relation to learning disability support.
- To look at the purpose and use of NHS passports
- Introducing useful resources
Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Behaviours that challenge
- To gain a basic understanding of the Autistic Spectrum Disorders and the complexities to support people with ASD.
- To gain a basic understanding of ‘behaviours that challenge’
- To explore the stages of behaviour and the cues to an incident of behaviour that challenges.
- To know the difference between proactive and reactive strategies
- To know how to complete records and reports relating to an incident of behaviour that challenges.
- Introducing person-centred thinking tools that support recording and reflecting behaviours.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Multiple Sclerosis affects many of our clients. Our training offers carers a comprehensive understanding of this disease and the conditions affecting people living with MS.
The course has been compiled with the help of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the training has been adapted to answer the questions most often asked by carers.
The course covers:
- What is Multiple Sclerosis?
- Types of Multiple Sclerosis
- Diagnosis and treatment
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Many of our clients have Parkinson’s disease and our training has been designed around feedback from our carers who care regularly for clients living with Parkinson’s disease.
With training given directly by Parkinson’s UK, our in-house trainers have adapted Parkinson’s UK training to fit the circumstances likely to be encountered by a live in carer.
The course covers:
- The History of Parkinson’s
- Non-motor symptoms
- Causes and diagnosis
- Treatments and progression
- Mobility and exercise
- Looking after the bladder and bowel
STROKE AWARENESS AND CARE
Stroke and the effects of stroke, affect a large number of our clients, many of whom will have a live-in carer for a short-term period, immediately upon discharge from hospital to help in their rehabilitation as they re-learn skills and recover speech and mobility.
Other clients who have experienced a more serious stroke or a series of strokes, may need live-in carers on a full-time basis to provide around-the-clock support which enables them to continue to live at home.
Our Stroke Awareness and Care training course helps give carers the skills they need to care for stroke survivors. Our in-house training team have received their own training directly from the Stroke Association and are able to impart their knowledge and skills to equip carers with comprehensive and practical advice to help their clients through recovery.
This one day course covers:
- What is a stroke?
- Risks and causes
- Signs and symptoms
- Long-term effects
- Diagnosis and treatments
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION RECORD
One of the most important aspects of our induction training is the Medication Administration Record (MAR) sheets. These are used to keep track of a client’s medication, tracking when and what has been used and updating current stock levels.
