Jointly funded by Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board, the project which is the first of its kind in the UK, could pave the way for similar initiatives elsewhere in the country.
Two expert Admiral Nurses supported and developed by national charity Dementia UK are delivering bespoke training directly to care home staff, helping them to build confidence and expertise.
Admiral Nurses were named by the family of Joseph Levy, who founded Dementia UK. Joseph had vascular dementia and was known as ‘Admiral Joe’ because of his love of sailing.
Admiral Nurses usually work directly with families but in Surrey’s groundbreaking project, they are working with care homes, from frontline care workers to support staff, to enhance the support they already offer to people with dementia.
Ten Surrey care homes have received training from the nurses since the project launched last autumn, with a further 12 homes, whose applications have been accepted, due to start receiving visits later this year and in 2026.
The initiative, which uses funding earmarked for workforce innovation, is already showing promising results. Care homes involved in the project are now making placement decisions faster, cutting waiting times for admissions by three days on average which is nearly 19%.
There’s also been a drop in the number of residents with dementia not securing a place, with a 32% reduction in declined placements so far.
Under the scheme, Admiral Nurses Christine and Natalie assess the support given by each home over the course of several visits. They then tailor their advice, training and role-modelling to help staff build their understanding. By enhancing existing skills, staff are able to improve the support they offer, whether they’re directly providing care or working in roles like catering or housekeeping.
Depending on the size of each home and staffing rotas, more than 20 visits can be required to deliver the full programme at each site, with around 70% of staff reached.
Participating care homes are encouraged to choose dementia champions among their staff who will be able to make sure the learning is sustained and further cascaded after the nurses have completed their visits. It’s also hoped that these homes will take part in a local forum to share best practice with other Surrey-based care providers.
Around one in two people are believed to be affected by dementia, either through developing the condition themselves or through someone they know. For the last two years dementia has been the leading cause of death in the UK.
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, was one of the main causes of death in Surrey in 2023, representing about one in every 7 people who died.
While dementia can affect adults at any life stage, the likelihood increases with age and Surrey is getting older.
By 2030, more than 22% of the county’s population is expected to be over 65.2 and by that same year, the overall number of people living with dementia in the county is forecast to have climbed to more than 22,000.
Sinead Mooney, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “We want everyone who needs support to receive compassionate, informed care – whether they’re living in their own home or in one of the many residential homes in Surrey.
“With the number of dementia cases rising each year, I’m pleased that this joint initiative is helping care home staff feel more confident when dealing with people who have an advanced form of the condition. Together, we’re offering additional support to those who look after some of our most vulnerable residents, meaning more people are getting the care they need, more quickly.”
Caroline Scates, Director of Nursing Services at Dementia UK, added: “Dementia is a complex condition that affects each person differently, so it’s vital that care home staff feel equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide the best care for their residents.
“We are pleased to be working alongside Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board to deliver bespoke training to care homes in the area through our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses.
“It’s brilliant to see the positive impact Admiral Nurses Natalie and Christine have already had in care homes across Surrey. We hope to be able to expand the number of similar services to help support the one million people and their families who are estimated to be living with dementia in the UK today.”
