Specialist dementia nurses are working with Surrey care homes in a pioneering scheme to boost staff skills and improve access for people with more complex needs.
Jointly funded by Surrey County Council and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board, the project – 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 build confidence and expertise. Participating care homes are becoming beacons of best practice for dementia care in Surrey, raising standards across the sector.
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 – nearly 19 per cent. There’s also been a drop in the number of residents with dementia not securing a place, with a 32 per cent reduction in declined placements so far. That means more people are getting the care they need, when they need it.
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 per cent 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. The initiative could become a blueprint for other parts of the country.
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.1
While dementia can affect adults at any life stage, the likelihood increases with age – and Surrey is getting older. By 2030, more than 22 per cent of our 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 22,000.3
Dementia affects people in different ways, sometimes including changes in mood, communication, or behaviour. These symptoms can be distressing for both the person with the condition and those around them. With the sort of training provided by the Surrey programme, care workers become more confident and are even better equipped to ensure residents receive the support they need.
Reflecting on the warm welcome they’ve received, and the enthusiasm of care home staff, Admiral Nurses Natalie and Christine highlighted how their work builds on existing strengths within each team. “We’ve been genuinely impressed by the passion and dedication of the staff,” said Christine. “Our role isn’t to replace what they already do so well, but to offer extra tools and confidence so they feel even more empowered to support people living with dementia in the best possible way.”
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.”
Tabitha, a manager from Oakleigh Care Home, in Godstone, which has taken part in the project, said: “It’s been a pleasure having the Admiral Nurse project work with our home and our workforce.
“It’s been great to develop colleagues’ knowledge and understanding about enhanced dementia and support them to understand how to offer better care for those with complex needs. We are passionate about learning and growing as a home to ensure we can meet the needs of more people that need us.”
To find dementia support in your area, use your postcode to search for the condition on Connect to Support Surrey, or visit the Surrey County Council website.
People needing further advice or support on living with dementia can visit www.dementiauk.org, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email [email protected]. The Helpline is staffed by dementia-specialist Admiral Nurses.
1 The Surrey Context: People and Place | Surrey-i
