A group of health care assistants who work in residential care homes in south Sefton have completed training to improve the quality of service they offer to residents in their roles.

The two day training course, designed by NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in partnership with Edge Hill University, is specifically aimed at health care assistants. The training is part of the Care Home Innovation Program (CHIP) developed and led by the CCG in south Sefton.

It is delivered locally at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre and the content of the programme focuses on practical knowledge and skills, covering topics such as; pressure area care, infection control, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar monitoring, understanding dementia and medicines management.

Dr Peter Chamberlain, GP and lead for strategy and innovation at NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “The training is something that we have worked on with Edge Hill to design and it is a very practical course. The feedback so far has been extremely positive and this will only enhance the quality of care for the residents at our care homes in south Sefton. The training will really add to our CHIP program by giving residents the high level of care they need at the place they feel most comfortable.”

Dr Anita Flynn, associate head of nurse education: research, innovation and enterprise at Edge Hill University, said: “The training, developed in close partnership with NHS South Sefton CCG to meet staff specific needs, have proven to be a great success. The delivery team, from the Department of Nurse Education here in the Faculty of Health and Social Care at Edge Hill, have found the attendees enthusiastic and motivated to learn. Attendees have actively participated in all skills, asked relevant and insightful questions and openly shared their experiences with each other.

“The feedback we’ve received from health care assistants on the course is that the training worked so well as it has been tailored to their roles, using examples or situations they might find themselves in. They also valued the opportunity to take part in the workshops outside of their workplace, which allowed them the focus they needed.

The care homes where staff have engaged in the programme have already noted increased confidence, knowledge and support afforded to residents who require more in the way of clinical observations such as blood pressure measurement.

The two day training, designed by Colette Page and Pippa Rose, practice nurse leads at the CCG, is currently offered to all health care assistants in care homes across south Sefton.