Understand and implement a person centred approach to the care and support of individuals with dementia — OCN London Apprenticeship Assessment Qualification Health & Social Care Revision

    This element focuses on embedding a person-centred approach in dementia care, ensuring that the individual's unique identity, preferences, and life history

    Topic Synopsis

    This element focuses on embedding a person-centred approach in dementia care, ensuring that the individual's unique identity, preferences, and life history direct all aspects of their support. Learners must demonstrate how to actively involve the person with dementia in decisions about their care, adapting communication and approaches to maintain their autonomy and dignity. It also covers the essential role of family carers and wider support networks in creating collaborative, holistic care plans.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Understand and implement a person centred approach to the care and support of individuals with dementia

    OCN LONDON
    vocational

    This element focuses on embedding a person-centred approach in dementia care, ensuring that the individual's unique identity, preferences, and life history direct all aspects of their support. Learners must demonstrate how to actively involve the person with dementia in decisions about their care, adapting communication and approaches to maintain their autonomy and dignity. It also covers the essential role of family carers and wider support networks in creating collaborative, holistic care plans.

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    Learning Outcomes
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    Assessment Guidance
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    Key Skills
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    Key Terms
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    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    OCNLR Level 2 Certificate in Dementia Care

    Topic Overview

    The OCNLR Level 2 Certificate in Dementia Care provides a foundational understanding of dementia, its causes, and the impact it has on individuals and their families. This qualification is essential for those working or aspiring to work in health and social care settings, as dementia is a growing concern with an estimated 850,000 people living with the condition in the UK. The course covers person-centred care, communication strategies, and legal frameworks, ensuring students can support individuals with dementia effectively and compassionately.

    Dementia is not a single disease but a syndrome caused by various brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Students will explore the different types of dementia, their symptoms, and how they progress. The curriculum emphasises the importance of understanding the person behind the diagnosis, focusing on their history, preferences, and abilities. This person-centred approach is central to delivering high-quality care that promotes dignity, independence, and well-being.

    This certificate fits into the broader Health & Social Care curriculum by linking to topics like safeguarding, communication, and equality. It prepares students for roles such as care assistants, support workers, or healthcare assistants in residential homes, hospitals, or community settings. By completing this qualification, students gain the knowledge to improve the lives of those with dementia and contribute to a more dementia-friendly society.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →Person-centred care: Tailoring support to the individual's unique needs, preferences, and life history, rather than focusing solely on the diagnosis.
    • →Types of dementia: Alzheimer's disease (most common), vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, each with distinct symptoms and progression.
    • →Communication strategies: Using simple language, non-verbal cues, and validation therapy to reduce confusion and distress in individuals with dementia.
    • →Legal and ethical frameworks: The Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and the importance of consent and best interests decisions.
    • →Impact on families: Recognising the emotional, physical, and financial strain on carers, and the need for support services like respite care and dementia cafes.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Understand the importance of a person centred approach to dementia care and support, Be able to involve the individual with dementia in planning and implementing their care and support using a person centred approach, Be able to involve carers and others in the care and support of individuals with dementia

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating a clear understanding that person-centred care in dementia means seeing the individual as a whole person, not defined by their diagnosis.
    • Assess evidence of the learner adapting their communication style (e.g., using simplified language, visual aids, or reminiscence tools) to enable the individual to express their preferences.
    • Look for documented examples where the learner has facilitated the individual's involvement in care planning, such as using 'This is Me' documents or life story work.
    • Credit should be given when the learner identifies and involves relevant carers, family members or advocates, and accurately records their contributions in care plans.
    • Award marks for demonstrating a clear process of regularly reviewing the care plan with the individual and their support network, showing it is a living document.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Always anchor your responses in the individual's life story—explain how you used knowledge of their past to shape current care decisions.
    • 💡Provide concrete examples of adapted communication; simply stating 'I communicated well' is insufficient—describe the specific adjustments made and why.
    • 💡When involving carers, be explicit about how you obtained their consent and respected confidentiality boundaries, while still gathering valuable input.
    • 💡For assessment evidence, ensure you include both the individual's expressed wishes and your professional observations, with clear justification for any measures taken in the person’s best interest.
    • 💡Use specific examples from case studies to illustrate person-centred care. For instance, describe how adapting a daily routine to a resident's previous occupation (e.g., a former gardener enjoying watering plants) can improve their well-being.
    • 💡Link legal frameworks to practical scenarios. When discussing the Mental Capacity Act, explain how a capacity assessment would be conducted for a person with dementia refusing medication, and what steps ensure their best interests.
    • 💡Avoid vague statements like 'be kind' or 'treat them with respect'. Instead, demonstrate understanding by detailing specific communication techniques, such as using open-ended questions or maintaining eye contact.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Assuming that individuals with dementia cannot make any decisions, leading to a task-focused approach rather than collaborative care.
    • Failing to use appropriate communication tools (e.g., pictures, objects, gestures) to ascertain the views of someone with advanced dementia.
    • Providing generic care without linking it to the individual's personal history, likes, dislikes, and routines.
    • Excluding family carers from care planning because of a focus only on professional assessment, missing out crucial personal insights.
    • Believing that person-centred care is a one-off activity rather than an ongoing dialogue that adapts as the person's needs change.
    • Misconception: Dementia is a normal part of ageing. Correction: While age is a risk factor, dementia is not inevitable. Many older people maintain cognitive health, and dementia is caused by specific brain diseases.
    • Misconception: People with dementia cannot learn new things. Correction: Although short-term memory may be affected, individuals can still learn through repetition, routine, and sensory cues. Activities like music therapy or reminiscence can stimulate new connections.
    • Misconception: Aggression is a symptom of dementia. Correction: Aggression often results from unmet needs, pain, or frustration due to poor communication. Identifying triggers and using calming techniques can reduce such behaviours.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •Basic understanding of health and social care principles, such as dignity, respect, and confidentiality.
    • •Familiarity with communication skills in care settings, including active listening and non-verbal cues.
    • •Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults, as dementia care often involves protecting individuals from abuse or neglect.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Understand the importance of a person centred approach to dementia care and support, Be able to involve the individual with dementia in planning and implementing their care and support using a person centred approach, Be able to involve carers and others in the care and support of individuals with dementia

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