Emily’s innovative approach to training recognised nationally

Helping colleagues spot the often-overlooked signs of delirium through innovative, hands-on training has led to national recognition for our dementia and delirium educator Emily Hitchens.

Emily, who works within our dementia education team, has been recognised at two national awards celebrating excellence, innovation and outstanding practice in dementia care and education.

At the heart of the recognition is Emily's commitment to making learning engaging, accessible and practical for colleagues caring for people living with dementia and delirium.

One of the initiatives praised by judges was ‘Who Done It, Delirium’, an interactive training package created by Emily to help colleagues recognise and identify delirium. The session uses a crime-scene style investigation to immerse participants in realistic scenarios and encourage active learning.

The programme was shortlisted in the ‘Delivering Benefits Through Diagnosis and Screening’ category at the Medipex NHS Innovation Awards, finishing among the top three entries from across the UK.

“I wanted to create something that would help people remember what they had learned and feel confident applying it in practice,” says Emily.

“Delirium can be challenging to recognise, so using an interactive, crime-scene style approach allows colleagues to explore the signs and symptoms in a fun and memorable way.

“Education doesn't have to be sitting in a room looking at presentation slides. When people are involved, asking questions and solving problems together, the learning becomes much more meaningful.”

Emily's work was recognised for a second time when she was shortlisted in the ‘Education and Training Workforce’ category at the national Dementia Care Awards after being nominated by Laura James, our end of life care education lead and occupational therapy associate lecturer.

Following an interview with judges about her work and the team's approach to education, Emily was awarded Highly Commended, reflecting the impact she has made in supporting colleagues to deliver excellent care for patients with dementia and delirium.

“It was a real privilege to represent Somerset and to talk about the work our team does every day,” continues Emily.

“The recognition means a great deal, but it really belongs to the whole team because we are constantly looking for new ways to make learning enjoyable, supportive and relevant.

“We are passionate about helping colleagues feel equipped with the knowledge and confidence they need to support patients with cognitive impairment. Ultimately, better education leads to better experiences for patients and their families.”