Customised Award in Dementia Companionship
We have developed the only customised award in Dementia Companionship which is certificated and quality assured by Qualification Scotland, an internationally recognised awarding body.
The award seeks to demonstrate excellence in the provision of Companionship to individuals with a diagnosis of dementia. It is designed for those aspiring to advance their practice and career.
The aim of the award is to equip candidates with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to work as a Dementia Companion, a role which requires a person-centred, outcomes-based approach to practice, working in partnership with the person with dementia, their family and other carers.
The award offers the opportunity to acquire the specialist skills to enable an individual to confidently provide high quality Dementia Companion services. It offers the opportunity to develop communication and interpersonal skills, improve competencies, confidence and performance. The award supports the development of both core and meta skills. The role of a Dementia Companion takes as its foundation a person-centred approach to working and as such some of the skills acquired will be skills which are transferrable to working across other areas in the health and social care sectors.
The award enables candidates to advance their knowledge using theoretical underpinnings and practical application to support practice. It provides taught knowledge-based units that can support and be reflected in assessed practice, building awareness and understanding of the overarching and intrinsic links between all the elements that encompass a meaningful Companion relationship.
The units enable a candidate to develop the evaluative, analytical and reflective abilities that are required to work effectively as a Dementia Companion. The units also enable a candidate to develop a range of interpersonal and practical skills that they can employ in different working relationships and situations and to develop the ability to be able to adapt these skills as required to meet the changing and sometimes challenging needs and circumstances of the person with dementia and their family.
Why train with us?
We are the only Company in Scotland providing Dementia Companion services that can offer a Customised Award in Dementia Companionship approved by Qualifications Scotland. The award is owned and delivered by Mackenzie Companions and quality assured and certificated by Qualifications Scotland. This unique award offers a combination of workplace and off the job learning and we work with our candidates to facilitate the transition from training into practice, providing tailored support and mentoring for learners.
Options for training
For candidates undertaking the Customised Award we offer a blended approach to training. There will be an opportunity for both directed and self-directed learning. Some learning can be delivered online, but most will be face to face in the training room or workplace.
For candidates wishing to improve their practice in certain areas but not wishing to undertake the entire Customised Award, individual units in the award can be studied on a standalone basis. Training can also be provided by way of a customised overview of any or all of the individual units.
What you will learn
The knowledge base, evaluative, analytical and reflective abilities and the interpersonal and practical skills needed to work effectively as a Dementia Companion.
How to integrate the theoretical knowledge and experiential learning acquired into developing robust workplace practices.
The Customised Award is comprised of 8 individual Units
Learning Styles
Taking a Person-Centred Approach
Standards and Values
Promoting Quality of Life Through Dementia Skilled Practice– PDA
Working with Family Members and Other Service Providers
Promoting Relationships and Networks Through Dementia Skilled Practice – PDA
Working With a Person Who is Severely Sight Impaired or has a Sight Impairment
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy
Pathway to practice
In order to attain the Customised Award in Dementia Companionship the units require to be taken in order, starting with Unit 1 and ending with Unit 8. All units must be completed. All units are quality assured by Qualifications Scotland.
Assessment
Assessment will be ongoing throughout the learning delivery within each unit and will utilise both informal and formal methods. At the end of each unit, you will be required to submit evidence of your learning to an internal assessor. This is externally quality assured by Qualifications Scotland.
To receive certification learners are required to demonstrate application of the knowledge acquired on the training.
Customised Award Certificate
After assessment you will be awarded with your certificate in Dementia Companionship.