Ten years on from its publication as Scotland’s first national dementia workforce development framework, the 2021 Promoting Excellence Framework reflects progress made on the actions, priorities and commitments of the dementia strategies and national activity on dementia. It sets out the knowledge and skills needed for new ways of working for all health and social care staff to support people with dementia, their families and carers to maximise their rights, choices, and health and wellbeing at all stages of their own dementia journey.
The Promoting Excellence framework:
- applies to all health and social care staff who have contact with, and provide support, care, treatment and services for, people living with dementia, their families and carers;
- is future-focused, meaning it is not just a description of what we do now — it is also what we aspire to do in the future to support the changes outlined in Scotland’s national dementia strategies.
This 2021 version incorporates progress made since 2011, such as:
- new research on preventing dementia, new ways to support people across their dementia journey (including the Scottish Government’s national commitment on post-diagnostic support effective since 2013), and what works best for people with dementia, their families and carers;
- new laws, including the Carer’s Rights (Scotland) Act; and
- new human rights-based Standards for Health and Social Care.
NES Chief Executive, Karen Reid said:
“I am delighted to see the publication of the new 2021 Promoting Excellence Framework. The 2021 framework will support those working in health and social care to build their knowledge and skills to support people with dementia, their families and carers to maximise their rights, choices and health and wellbeing at all stages of their dementia journey. I look forward to working with our partners in the next stages of implementation.”
Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, added:
“It is wonderful to see the publication of the most recent Promoting Excellence Framework. The 10 years that have passed since the first publication of the Framework have witnessed some incredible achievements, not least the introduction of the Dementia Champions and Dementia Specialist Improvement Leads programmes. Given the context of the last year, the necessity for this Framework has never been clearer. It has always been underpinned by what people with dementia and carers have said are most important to them and, moving out of a pandemic, it is vital their views are reflected in how our health and social care workforce grow and learn.”
SSSC Chief Executive, Lorraine Gray said:
“I welcome the new 2021 Promoting Excellence Framework, that it is underpinned by human rights principles and has been informed by the views and experiences of people living with dementia, their families and carers in partnership with workers across health and social care.
‘We know our workforce are passionate about increasing their knowledge and skills to ensure people living with dementia, their families and carers can live lives centred on what matters to them. The framework underpins our partnership work with new and emerging dementia learning communities, and I look forward to the next phase of this valuable and valued collaboration.”