Workshop: Health Care Professionals

This workshop aims to provide health care professionals with the knowledge and skills to be able to use the principles and techniques of improvisation when being with and communicating with the individuals in their care who live with dementia and cognitive impairment.

This workshop aims to:

• Introduce participants to applied improvisation.

• Look at why improvisation techniques within dementia care are important.

• Explore the guidelines of improvisation.

• Use practical training that enables participants to use the guidelines of

• improvisation within their role as a carer of those living with dementia and

• cognitive impairment.

• Explore how improvisation supports the Enriched Model of Dementia, Kitwood’s

• Flower of social and psychological human needs and Positive person work.

• Look at examples of when not to use the guidelines of improvisation.

On successful completion of this workshop, participants should be able to

demonstrate a solid understanding of using improvisation techniques within

dementia care.

Participants should be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of what applied improvisation is.

• An understanding of why improvisation is important within dementia care.

• An understanding of the guidelines of improvisation.

• Be able to confidently start using improvisation techniques within their role as a carer.

• A basic understanding of how improvisation supports the Enriched model of

• dementia, Kitwood’s flower and Positive person work.

• An understanding of when not to use the guidelines of improvisation.

This workshop is a short but intensive two hour training program for around 10 - 15 participants.

As with all practical workshops, you should expect to use a variety of different learning methods.

Learning methods:

Theory work (PowerPoint presentation)

Small group work

Large group work

Open discussions

Note taking

Use of media (Videos)

Workshop participants are required to undertake:

• One Theory session.

• One Introduction Activity.

• Two improvisation activities.

Please see our workshop information booklet for more details on each session.

There are no formal assessments after completion of this workshop.

Participants should however be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the subject through large group discussions during the workshop.

• Demonstrate understanding of the subject through practical activities during the workshop.

This will ensure that participants are able to use the skills that they have learnt during this workshop within their role as a carer of an individual that lives with dementia and cognitive impairment .

This workshop is aimed at both health care professionals and non-health care

professionals who either care for or interact with on a regular basis with individuals

that live with dementia and cognitive impairment.

Minimum entry requirements:

• No professional qualifications are needed to take part in this workshop.

• To be a carer of and/or interact regularly with an individual who lives with dementia and cognitive impairment.

Our workshops can vary in cost depending on a number of different factors:

• Number or workshop participants.

• Location of workshop.

There will also be a small charge for:

• Materials (Workshop handbooks).

• Travel expenses (To and from location).

• Arts/crafts and stationary used.

Please fill in our workshop application form on our website to get a personalised quote for your workshop(s).

We want to ensure that money is no obstacle for those who want to attend our workshop, so please do contact us for more information.

We only accept workshop applications where there is a minimum of ten participants.

Therefore we do not accept workshop applications from individuals at this moment in time.

Health Care professionals:

Workshop applications should be made via your employer or manager.

Non-Health care professionals or friends/relatives:

Workshop applications should be made via your employer/manager or through the charity/support group that you are currently involved with or who is supporting you.

After taking part in the workshop you should be able to use the skills and techniques learnt during this workshop within your role as a carer of those living with dementia and cognitive impairment.