Dementia groups

The County Council is keen to support the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy's key objectives through the formation of groups.

Please contact us for more information.

Phone: 01243 756834
Email: traininganddevelopment@westsussex.gov.uk

West Sussex Dementia Strategy Joint Implementation Group

Our work has included the formation of the West Sussex Dementia Strategy Joint Implementation Group. This group is responsible for the improvement of dementia services to meet some of the objectives of the National Dementia Strategy. It brings together representatives of key stakeholders in dementia services in West Sussex.

Dementia Care Workforce Development Group

A group has also been formed to focus on Dementia Care Workforce Development across Sussex. The group’s focus is to develop a coherent approach to workforce development across the Sussex area to match the requirements of the Dementia Strategy. This links into planning and strategy groups within Sussex, including the West Sussex Joint Implementation Group.

To support the work of these 2 groups, and to continue to support staff working with older adults with mental health-related problems, the Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) Learning and Development Team provides learning opportunities that offer a wide range of choice to meet people's needs. Our interactive sessions are aimed at providing an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills and, more importantly, to share experiences.

HOPE

Over the past year we have been working with a group of people who have direct experience of a variety of dementias. The group is known as HOPE (Hope Of People of Experience). Its members believe that by sharing their experiences of living with dementia, staff can gain important insights that would be difficult to acquire any other way.

HOPE will be heavily involved in many of the learning opportunities for 2011–2012 and we really look forward to working with its members in the future.