Abstract
Background:
The role of Dementia Champions has been applied globally across some health and social care services, to identify staff with specialised knowledge or experience of dementia care. However, while the role may have potential to overcome workforce challenges such as limited training and career progression1,2, and improve care quality and continuity for people affected by dementia3, it is often poorly implemented and difficult to sustain in practice.
Method:
We conducted qualitative interviews with staff working as, or alongside, Dementia Champions within UK-based services, and people affected by dementia in receipt of their support. This was supported by a narrative review of international literature around the role of Dementia Champions across health and social care settings. We used a Theory of Change approach to identify mechanisms of action to successfully implement, embed, and maintain a model of Dementia Champions in care settings.
Results:
Short-term action focused on implementing Dementia Champions in care services, including tactical recruitment strategies to identify staff with passion and capability to become leaders and agents of change. Medium-term action concerned embedding and positioning Dementia Champions in teams, highlighting the importance of role clarity. Long-term action focused on maintaining Dementia Champions in services, through funding of committed and ongoing systemic support to enable Dementia Champions to develop and implement an action plan, whilst ensuring staff feel valued in their role.
Conclusion:
The role of Dementia Champions is not yet well established in care settings but has the potential to improve working conditions for staff, and care quality for people affected by dementia. A Theory of Change approach enabled us to develop a model of the Dementia Champions role, underpinning key mechanisms of action for implementing, embedding, and maintaining staff working in the role to mobilise knowledge transfer to practice.
The role of Dementia Champions has been applied globally across some health and social care services, to identify staff with specialised knowledge or experience of dementia care. However, while the role may have potential to overcome workforce challenges such as limited training and career progression1,2, and improve care quality and continuity for people affected by dementia3, it is often poorly implemented and difficult to sustain in practice.
Method:
We conducted qualitative interviews with staff working as, or alongside, Dementia Champions within UK-based services, and people affected by dementia in receipt of their support. This was supported by a narrative review of international literature around the role of Dementia Champions across health and social care settings. We used a Theory of Change approach to identify mechanisms of action to successfully implement, embed, and maintain a model of Dementia Champions in care settings.
Results:
Short-term action focused on implementing Dementia Champions in care services, including tactical recruitment strategies to identify staff with passion and capability to become leaders and agents of change. Medium-term action concerned embedding and positioning Dementia Champions in teams, highlighting the importance of role clarity. Long-term action focused on maintaining Dementia Champions in services, through funding of committed and ongoing systemic support to enable Dementia Champions to develop and implement an action plan, whilst ensuring staff feel valued in their role.
Conclusion:
The role of Dementia Champions is not yet well established in care settings but has the potential to improve working conditions for staff, and care quality for people affected by dementia. A Theory of Change approach enabled us to develop a model of the Dementia Champions role, underpinning key mechanisms of action for implementing, embedding, and maintaining staff working in the role to mobilise knowledge transfer to practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2023 |
| Event | 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference: New opportunities in dementia care, policy and research - Helsinki, Finland Duration: 16 Oct 2023 → 18 Oct 2023 https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/node/236349 |
Conference
| Conference | 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Finland |
| City | Helsinki |
| Period | 16/10/2023 → 18/10/2023 |
| Internet address |