Health Ed Trust New Zealand Inc

How do I arrange a cross credit to receive the new dementia unit standards. I have completed the current ACE Dementia Series.

Please print out and complete this form Dementia Cross Credits. Also complete a 2009 Training Agreement and send both forms with ID to the Health Ed Trust office. We will advise you when your new unit standards are recorded on your NZQA record of Learning.

Are there any unit standards in the ACE Dementia Programme?

Students will achieve the four dementia unit standards 23920, 23921,23922,023923 by completing either the new or the old ACE Dementia Programmes.

What are the prerequisites for the Dementia Programme?

There are no prerequisites for the Dementia Programme. Students may complete this programme before completing the other ACE Programmes.

Can Registered/Enrolled Nurses complete the ACE Dementia Programme?

Yes. Many Registered and Enrolled Nurses have already completed this course and found it to be very valuable.

Does the ACE Dementia Programme count towards Professional Development for R/N’s and E/N’s?

The NZ Nursing Council have advised in 2009 that the course only counts for E/N's and it is on the condition that the Nurse writes a “reflective statement” on how the programme has affected his/her practice. An R/N needs to work at Level 7. Please refer to the new Professional Development programme for R/N's and E/N's.

What are the unit standards that the ARRC Contract states that care staff in Specialised Dementia Units must have?

Either from the old qualification:
5012 Lift & position people safely
5019 Assist an older person to meet their physical needs
5020 Support an older person to maintain their rights and responsibilities
17029 Assist a person who is affected by dementia to meet daily living activities

The four new Dementia unit standards in the new National Certificate also meet the ARRC contract requirements. These are listed below.

From 2009 the new unit standards for the ARRC Contract will be:

23920 Demonstrate knowledge of dementia, person-centred care and communication for a person living with dementia

23921 Provide person-centred care when supporting a person living with dementia

23922 Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of dementia and how to manage them, for those caring for a person living with dementia

23923 Demonstrate knowledge of support for people living with dementia when their behaviour presents challenges

What timeframe do these unit standards need to be achieved in?

Extract from the ARRC Contract clause E4.5
“New Caregivers who are assigned to work in the Unit:

Staff employed before 1 July 2009 need to commence work within 6 months and pass those unit standards by 30 June 2010
New staff after 1 July 2009 must commence study within 6 months of starting and pass those unit standards within 12 months.

Where are these unit standards located in the ACE Programme?

All are in the ACE Dementia Programme

Health Ed Trust NZ Inc.
54a Wordsworth Street,
Sydenham,
Christchurch 8023

Phone (03) 379 8519
Fax (03) 366 8519
Email: Health Ed Trust