Westgate Healthcare recognised with Outstanding Dementia Training Award

The Outstanding Dementia Training Award recognises organisations that invest in workforce development, raise standards and embed dementia-informed practice across their services. Moreover, it celebrates providers that go beyond compliance-led training by developing their teams’ knowledge, skills and confidence. This helps them deliver safe, compassionate and person-led support for people living with dementia.

Putting people at the heart of dementia care

Westgate Healthcare’s approach to dementia care is centred on getting to know the person behind the diagnosis. By understanding each resident’s life experiences, routines, preferences and interests, its teams tailor care in a way that supports comfort, dignity and purpose. This includes dementia-friendly environments, meaningful activities and family involvement. In addition, ongoing team development is a key part.

Investing in dementia training

The recognition reflects Westgate Healthcare’s ongoing investment in dementia care and training across its group. For example, bringing specialist experiential training in-house. This helps colleagues develop a deeper understanding of the lived experience of dementia and how this informs everyday care.

Most recently, Westgate Healthcare became one of only three UK care providers authorised to deliver Training 2 Care’s DIET (or Dining Immersive Experiential Training) programme. The training now forms part of the Westgate Healthcare’s three-day induction, alongside immersive dementia training. Consequently, this helps embed dementia awareness and person-led care from the beginning of each colleague’s journey.

Building confidence across our homes

As a family-owned care provider with nine homes across the South East of England, the award highlights the work involved in embedding consistent, dementia-informed practice across multiple services and care teams.

Tara Teubner, Director at Westgate Healthcare said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the Outstanding Dementia Training Award from Training 2 Care UK. It is wonderful recognition of the hard work and commitment of our teams across Westgate Healthcare, and a fantastic achievement for everyone involved.

“Dementia care is about far more than simply meeting standards. It’s about understanding each person as an individual, recognising their unique needs and helping them feel safe, valued and supported every day.

“Maria Fagen, our Learning & Development Manager, has played a key role in our progress, with her dedication to developing the standard of dementia care across Westgate Healthcare and supporting our wider teams in their enthusiasm for learning. This award reflects the passion and commitment of Maria and our colleagues, and the way they embrace new opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills and put their learning into practice. Together, this is helping us to provide the very best care and support for people living with dementia.”

Watch the video below to hear from Maria Fagen, our Learning & Development Manager, as she talks to Training 2 Care about her role and the dementia training work behind this award.

The Outstanding Dementia Training Award is a wonderful recognition of the passion and commitment of colleagues across Westgate Healthcare. By continuing to invest in learning and development, we can support our teams to provide thoughtful, person-led care that helps every resident living with dementia feel understood, valued and at home.

It is this commitment to our residents, our colleagues and the communities we are part of that reflects what it means to be Passionate About People.