Training
“Learning is a treasure that follows its owner everywhere”
Chinese Proverb
Offering Tailored Solutions for
- Dementia Care Home Managers
- Charity Leaders and Volunteer Managers
- NHS and Local Authority Learning & Development Coordinators
- Training Providers
Training Themes
Click on any of the course themes for details of individual courses and download free course outlines for each topic.
Training delivery formats
(usually one or two days)
Training ethos and philosophy
My philosophy about learning and development is that it should validate and build upon learners’ existing knowledge, skills and strengths and support them to build their confidence in order to create real change in the world.
The days of ‘chalk and talk’ or ‘pour and snore’ training are no longer appropriate.
Adults don’t learn and retain information from training that is fixated on ‘fixing them’ or focussed on how much of an ‘expert’ the trainer is.
Adults learn best through interaction and doing; learning from themselves and their fellow learners – in other words, from a learner-centred, rather than trainer-centred approach.
I use a range of interactive training techniques which are built upon adult learning principles, brain-friendly and accelerated learning.
This means that my training style and the learning and development solutions I deliver are vibrant, engaging, dynamic and appeal to all learning styles.
Tailor-made Solutions
Of course, one size doesn’t fit all. That is why – in addition to the course titles available on this website – bespoke, flexible and tailor-made training can be designed and delivered to meet the specific needs of your organisation and staff.
Investing in learning is vital if organisations are to survive and develop in this ever-changing world. Delivering training can no longer be a box-ticking exercise, it needs to be focussed on solutions and creating results.
I am happy to discuss your requirements and undertake a Learning Needs Analysis with your organisation and staff, to ensure that the learning and development solutions that I deliver achieve the results that you desire.
Making a Difference
Through my work in charities and care organisations, I strongly believe that we can all make a difference and can change lives and communities for the better.
Mahatma Ghandi once said:
“Be the change you want to see in the world”
Therefore, the learning and development solutions I deliver encourage learners to take responsibility for their personal effectiveness, communication and how they work with others (both colleagues and those they support).
This means that learners are encouraged to empower themselves and the people they serve (customers, service-users and colleagues), promoting dignity, diversity and respect.
Dementia Care Training
I discovered my passion for connecting with older people and people with dementia as a child. Whilst visiting care homes as a trainer, facilitator, consultant and coach, I’ve had the honour of having residents with dementia walk in and join my sessions, curious about what is happening.
I’ve also had the privilege of meeting with people with advanced dementia and achieving what Naomi Feil called ‘the breakthrough moment” – truly reaching the other person in shared humanity.
I don’t see my role as “just” a dementia trainer. I know dementia care staff do one of the most difficult and important roles possible. I hope that when learners attend my dementia care training, they leave feel validated for the amazing work they do and inspired to provide the highest quality dementia care possible.
This is because I feel that the health and wellbeing of staff is crucial to them working with colleagues and the people that their support.
Person-centred care requires us to put ourselves in the position of the other person and seeing the world from their eyes. It needs us to focus on the strengths of the person and enable them to take as much control of their own lives as possible.
Effective person-centred care also requires compassion and passion – compassion for the person and a passion to make a real difference and create change in the world for those we care for.
I believe that learning and development (whether delivered through training, facilitation, consultancy or coaching) has the potential to enable individuals to see situations from a different perspective and to focus on solutions and possibility rather than problems challenges. When pondering the dilemmas facing those I work with, whether (the challenges faced by individuals working in charity sector organisations during times of upheaval, or discovering new ways of working with those with dementia, disabilities and other long-term conditions in the health and social care sector tasked with improving standards of care I am always reminded of the words of Thomas Dewar:
“Minds are like parachutes – they can only function when open.”
Hearing the Voices of Experts By Experience
Over recent years I’ve worked with groups of people with disabilities (including learning disabilities), carers, people with dementia and others – supporting them to tell their personal stories during training, speaking at conferences etc.
Wherever possible (and practical), I ensure that these voices are heard either in person or using video and other media as part of each course.
I remain committed to the philosophy of “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”
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