Service Evaluation of Learning Disability and Dementia Training for Care Staff

Background Compared to the general population, people with a learning disability are at an increased risk of earlier onset and development of dementia. Care staff training is one recommendation (NICE, 2018) identified to address this need. The BPS DCP & RCP (2015) provide a framework for the delivery and content of learning disability and dementia training. The aim of this service evaluation is to evaluate the impact and content of learning disability and dementia training on care staff knowledge and confidence. Methods A mixed methods convergent parallel design was utilised, applying a pre and post training questionnaire. Quantitative data was collected about care staff knowledge and confidence, and qualitative data to understand how the training content impacted on this. Findings There was a significant increase in care staff knowledge and confidence following training. Big picture codes emerged from the data including ‘Learning disability and dementia knowledge’, ‘Application of knowledge’, ‘Impact of training’, ‘Systemic issues’ and ‘Delivery of training’. Conclusions Emerging narratives including learning styles, safe uncertainty and self‐efficacy theory are discussed. Recommendations include a review of learning styles across sessions to facilitate learning of complex content, transfer of knowledge into practice and provision of training to other groups.