Community Complex Care and Dementia

Provides assessment and treatment of complex mental health problems and dementia in older adult population. Most of the work involves supporting people in their own homes, memory clinics, residential/nursing homes, working closely with the individuals, families/carers and other agencies such as Adult Social Care, GPs and District Nurses. The team works with people over the age of 65 with a complex physical health history and an established functional mental health issue. In addition the team provides support to people under the age of 65 who have been referred with a cognitive problem which requires assessment through the memory assessment service, and people over the age of 65 with a diagnosis of dementia who require support and treatment to maintain their quality of life either at home or in a care home setting.

Key learning opportunities/skills development

• Diagnoses of dementia and classifications.
  
• Holistic assessment of needs, including the assessment of risk and identification of relevant care pathway.
  
• Assessment of cognitive functioning.
  
• Assessment and treatment of functional illnesses in older age.
  
• Physical health care in older age.
  
• CPA process and caseload management.
  
• Therapeutic relationship building.
  
• Planning and implementation of care, including the management of risk.
  
• Clinical decision making.
  
• Communication and MDT working.
  
• Medication management.
  
• Record keeping.