Dementia

As people live longer, there are more and more people living with dementia in Scotland. However, dementia is not just a condition affecting older people. People in their 40s or 50s or even younger can have dementia. Dementia has a profound impact on the families, friends and the wider networks of people with dementia and they need our support to help them have the best quality of life. Wider communities also have a role in supporting people with dementia stay connected to the life and activities they value. We are all part of communities and our lives will be increasingly affected by dementia personally, in our work settings, and families or communities.

Scotland has been developing and implementing National Dementia Strategies since 2010. The latest dementia strategy was published in February 2024 you can find it here - Dementia Strategy. Key elements to support implementation of the strategies have included the Promoting Excellence framework which was originally published by the Scottish Government in 2011.

The Promoting Excellence Education Framework (Scottish Government, 2011) details the knowledge and skills all health and social services staff should aspire to achieve in relation to the role they play in supporting people with a diagnosis of dementia, and their families, and carers.

This document has now been refreshed, Promoting Excellence 2021, although the purpose and structure has not changed the refreshed document reflects the progress made since 2011. This includes new research on preventing dementia, new laws and human right-based Health and Social Care standards.

The framework is underpinned by a number of Quality of Life Outcome Indicators that were developed around the PANEL principles which were used within the Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and their Carers.  It is also aligned with the Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland

Click here to learn more about the Structure of the Framework including the different levels, Informed, skilled, enhanced and expertise.

Click here to learn more about Supporting your learning.

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This tool has been developed from key social policy documents and standards which are listed at the end of this document. It is designed to facilitate change and improvements in services and practice against the Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland (Scottish Government 2011) and Quality of Life Outcome Indicators set out in Promoting Excellence: A framework for all health and social services staff working with people with dementia, their families and carers (Scottish Government 2011).
 

The tool has 4 primary functions:

1. To support services to implement the Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland
2. To support staff to carry out an evaluation against Promoting Excellence Quality of Life Outcome Indicators and elements of good practice
3. To support action planning in key elements of improving care and support
4. To support the preparation of facilitators to disseminate training based on the Dementia Skilled – Improving Practice learning resource (NES/SSSC 2012)