Psychology and Psychological Interventions in Dementia
Following publication of Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy in June 2010, a set of Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland and Promoting Excellence were published in June 2011. Taken together, these three key policy documents outline the care and treatment which can be expected by people with dementia, their families and carers when they come into contact with health and social care services.
NHS Education for Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council jointly developed the knowledge and skills framework, Promoting Excellence, to outline the skills required of all health and social care staff who come into contact with people with dementia, their families and carers within their role. This framework includes the knowledge and skills required to provide evidence-based psychological care to this client group.
NES is taking forward a programme of work in response to the Dementia Strategy and within this, there are two aims relating to multiprofessional psychology. These are:
- Increase Access to Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions and Therapies for People with Dementia, Families and Carers
- Increase Access to Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions and Therapies for Stress and Distress in Dementia
A number of staff have been appointed to lead on the work designed to enable us to achieve these aims. These are:
Dr Susan Conaghan, Programme Director - Psychology and
Psychological Interventions in Dementia - 2.5 days per week
(e-mail: Susan.Conaghan@nes.scot.nhs.uk)
Dr Vicky Thurlby, Educational Projects Manager - Psychology and
Psychological Interventions in Dementia - 3 days per week
(e-mail: Vicky.Thurlby@nes.scot.nhs.uk)
Dr Leigh Whitnall, Educational Projects Manager - Psychology and
Psychological Interventions in Dementia - 2 days per week
(e-mail: Leigh.Whitnall@nes.scot.nhs.uk)
More information can be found on the resources we have already commissioned and training events we are planning by clicking on this link. Similarly, a useful summary of how the aims relating to Psychology and Psychological Interventions in Dementia relate to the wider Dementia Workstream programme of work can be accessed here.
