A System-Wide Approach to Working with Distress Behaviours
Parallel 3
17 November, 2026 5:00 – 6:10 pmStaff Development in Care Homes: Evidence, Outcomes and Practice
Jo-Anne Wilson
Registered Manager
Galanos House
Lynn Bassett & Dr Judith Bond
Manager & Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Learning & Development Partnership, Warwickshire cc and Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust
Summary
In 2024 colleagues at Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT), raised growing concerns about the increasing number of people in Dementia Social Care settings displaying distressed behaviours and the challenges that care staff and professionals face when trying to respond effectively.
What became clear in discussions is that many Health and Social Care Professionals are seeking more support, greater confidence, and practical tools to support people in managing these situations, and importantly to do so in a way that does not involve medication.
In response, Health Professionals, Social Care and Care Home representatives, Commissioners, Family Care-givers, Dementia Leads, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia Leads, along with other key partners/professionals collaborated to co-develop a Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Dementia workbook to be used alongside a series of live webinars and eLearning. This has truly been a collaboration of professionals, all of whom have brought their specialist knowledge and experience working in partnership with the aim of supporting care staff who are right at the heart of compassionate, person-centred care and one that is central to improving the quality of care that we deliver.
To date four webinars have been delivered, attended by over 400 staff from across the health and social care system (with the majority working within Care Homes). The feedback from the webinars has been overwhelmingly positive with care staff reporting increased levels of knowledge and confidence.
The webinar has been recorded and also developed into eLearning modules, enabling staff who work nights and weekends to access the training.
Future plans are to train Social Workers, Primary Care, Family Carers and Mental Health staff in the approach which will support a consistent systemwide approach to caring for people displaying distressed behaviours which will ensure that they receive the best possible evidence-based care.
This project is unique in the fact that we will be able to offer a blended approach to learning and support with resources to embed practice.