Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve dementia training for adult social care and primary care staff, particularly in relation to recognising early symptoms.

We want all relevant staff to have received appropriate training to provide high quality care to people with dementia, whether in primary or social care. The required training needs are set out in the Dementia training Standards Framework, which is available at the following link:

https://www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/info-hub/dementia-2015-updated-2018/

The framework was commissioned and funded by the Department and developed in collaboration with the sector. It sets out the essential knowledge and skills and expected learning outcomes applicable across the health and care spectrum.

There are a variety of resources available on the NHS England E-learning for Health platform, including a programme on dementia care, designed to enhance the training and education of the health and social care workforce.

The Department launched the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme in September 2024, providing funding for eligible care staff to undertake courses and qualifications, including the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year.