An unusual shoot

For Kent County Council, ensuring consistency in the quality of our dementia care is a strategic priority. With this in mind, I wanted to commission staff training that would aid the delivery of person-centered care. I was also aware of the difficulties around securing change, so I was open to an approach that would be fun and engaging, challenge the status quo and encourage sustainable bottom-up shifts in practice and culture.

I turned to Ladder to the Moon, which applies innovative forms of creativity and artistic practice in social care settings to support improved quality of life for older people and their communities. With a programme that focused on two of our services, they delivered workforce development that combined creative events with staff coaching.

The positive experience of this shared creative encounter has also brought out more confidence in the staff

Staff teams received training sessions alongside ‘The Wellbeing Studio’, a creative experience in which Ladder to the Moon created a classic movie. Staff and care home residents were enrolled as the producers, make-up artists, clapperboard operators and as movie stars (for those who welcomed this role). The whole ‘shoot’ was filmed and edited into a DVD for everyone to enjoy afterwards with family and friends. Throughout, Ladder to the Moon practitioners modelled creative principles of being in the moment, improvising and offering choice: the result was that residents often responded by taking part in ways staff were not used to seeing.

At the residential care home Hawkinge House, our social coordinator Helen Murray commented on one resident: “George’s sister says she hadn’t seen him interact like that [during the shoot] before. He’s changed completely, he’s really come out of himself since the programme started. He’s interacting more with the other residents and carers. He’s really enjoying life more now, he’s joining in anything, whereas before he didn’t want to.”

Excited by such a breakthrough, the staff gained a fresh perspective and a sense of possibility for their everyday practice. Maria, a team leader at Hawkinge House, said: “It was a lovely atmosphere that day, it was electric, it was magical and that will stay with me for ever. It makes you realise that they are people. The illness is a horrible mask: given the opportunity, their personality comes out.” The home has reported that members of staff are approaching residents differently, not just completing their tasks but interacting more frequently and warmly with residents.

The positive experience of this shared creative encounter has also brought out more confidence in the staff, supporting them to think more creatively and try new things. At Hawkinge House the staff have set up a memory corner, providing objects for staff to offer to residents to spark spontaneous conversations and deepen their understanding of residents’as individuals.

There was a similar result at our Gravesham respite care service. Manager Trish Isted commented: “There are more ideas being contributed… people feel their ideas are wanted now.” The team recreated a pub atmosphere for Fathers’ Day, with the chef providing pie and ale, and a Wizard of Oz creative event is now planned.

There were some challenges in ensuring sustained commitment to the programme, which was so different from the training we normally run. We saw we needed leadership in each home to be very involved, to drive the change on the floor and support staff to make the changes they want to see. Ladder to the Moon is now delivering a shorter, one-day experience for staff who were not part of the main programme, to support change across the services. We are also working with them in one of our extra care settings, and on an intergenerational dance project linked to the Dementia Friendly Communities campaign.

For me as a commissioner, Ladder to the Moon has offered not only an arts experience but also a way of embedding creativity into our services. Overall this has caused positive shifts in individuals, staff and the homes as whole communities.

Emma Hanson is Head of Strategic Commissioning at Kent County Council.
www.laddertothemoon.co.uk
@CreatingQuality