1. A pioneering technique in the way carers
are trained has been revealed at the RMBI;
one which it feels should be adopted by the
whole of the care sector.
On 18 June, Royal Masonic Benevolent
Institution (RMBI) care home, Prince Michael
of Kent Court in Watford, invited a series of
journalists (BBC, Reuters, Radio 4) to take
part in the care home provider’s innovative
training programme, Experiential Learning.
The initiative, which has been developed at
the RMBI, puts carers in the shoes of their
residents as part of their training, to allow
them to experience first-hand, what it could
be like to be a resident in a care home.
During the session, journalists were given
the opportunity to experience some of the
daily challenges felt by some 400,000+
older people who live in a care home across
the UK, supervised by RMBI expert trainers
at Prince Michael of Kent Court.
As part of the training session, journalists
were given the opportunity to take part,
alongside carers, in a variety of scenarios
from a positive and negative viewpoint
including:
• Being pushed in a wheelchair with
artificially impaired vision Being
supported to eat a meal by a carer
• Having their face and neck washed by
a carer
• Being left on their own in an empty
room whilst unable to move from their
chair or bed
• Wearing a wet incontinence pad for an
extended period of time
For a number of years, the RMBI has taken
a person centred approach in its care
homes, which includes how care is provided
and how staff engage with and support
residents.
“In 2014, we reviewed our recruitment and
induction programmes for new care staff.
We wanted to ensure that we were recruiting
individuals not solely upon their technical
skills or abilities, but on the basis of their
values and attitudes to care,” said Louise
Bateman, Director of HR at the RMBI.
“We realised it was important for our
carers to have an empathic approach
and be able to ‘step into the shoes of
residents.’ We talked to recently joined
carers as well as managers to develop our
thinking and from this, we re-designed the
induction programme that now includes
this experiential learning, so that we could
improve the quality of our service and
provide residents with a deeper level of
person centred care,” Louise added.
The initiative has been in place since
October 2014 in all RMBI care homes for
all new care staff from nurses to activity
coordinators, carers and shift leaders.
Plans to build and expand upon the training
are also well underway, which will include
additional scenarios such as brushing
someone’s teeth.
Nina Stephens, Senior Carer and Trainer
at Prince Michael of Kent Court, who led
the session, said: “This new way of training
carers has already improved the lives of the
people in our homes. Having this training
will allow RMBI care staff to have a greater
insight into some of the challenges faced
by our residents. We feel that Experiential
Learning should be adopted by the whole
care sector, as part of the drive to raise care
standards to the highest level.”
Representatives from the RMBI including
Jane Baldwin, Learning and Development
Officer (Care Trainer of the Year, The Great
British Care Awards 2015) alongside Home
Manager, Elizabeth Corbett were also
present during the session.
For more information about any of the
RMBI’s care services please visit: http://
www.rmbi.org.uk/
For further information please contact:
Maricel Foronda – Marketing and
Communications Officer
mforonda@rmbi.org.uk
0207 596 2405
About The RMBI
We care for older Freemasons and their
families as well as some people in the
community. Caring has been our way of life
since 1842 and we provide a home for over
1,000 people across England and Wales –
while supporting many more.
Whether people need residential or nursing
care, specialist dementia support or day
services, we care for them professionally
and kindly. We treat people as individuals
– and we work together with everyone to
design a care plan that meets their needs
and allows them to experience wellbeing
and meaningfulness.
Those members of the Masonic community
who choose an RMBI Home have the
security of knowing that they have a home
for life, even if their financial circumstances
– as long as we can still support their needs.
The RMBI is one of four central Masonic
Charities that support Freemasons and their
families through donations from the Masonic
community. You can find out more about
the support, advice and funding available
at: The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, Royal
Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, Masonic
Samaritan Fund, Freemasonry Cares.
12 I www.caretalk.co.uk
Experiential Learning puts RMBI at
the forefront of the care industry
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