NES Mobile Skills Unit delivers first simulation training session for care home staff

NES Mobile Skills Unit delivers first simulation training session for care home staff

Staff and carers at an Aberdeen care home are the first to experience simulation training aboard the NES Mobile Skills Unit (MSU). Carers, senior carers and team leaders all took part in three days of intensive training.

The collaborative efforts of NHS Grampian, Rubislaw Park Care Home, Aberdeen University, the NHS Scotland Academy and NES Clinical Skills Managed Education Network (CSMEN) contributed to this care home first.

Senior Educators Ashley Meldrum and Karen Johnstone from the NHS Scotland Academy/NES CSMEN team organised the training event. Ashley delivered the sessions which included:

• signs of deterioration and the Restore Tool
• simulated scenarios
• communication skills – Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, Decision (SBARD)
• venepuncture and blood sugar monitoring
• cannulation subcutaneous (s/c) injections and intramuscular (IM) injections
• wound care and dressings
• CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), BASICS airway manoeuvres and choking

Ashley said:

“This has been an exciting development for us – to teach new skills, refresh practice and share knowledge while helping to meet the service need in social care and support the local community.”

Gayle Duthie, Rubislaw Park Care Home Manager, added:

“We recognised the need for further staff development in clinical skills. It is important that our residents receive care from a highly skilled and motivated workforce. The skills sessions covered many topics relevant to care home nursing. Supporting skills development and training helps us retain staff and enhances the lives and wellbeing of our residents.”

Care home staff and carers gave positive feedback on the training they received:

“Excellent, informative and immersive training session. Refreshing skills and learning most recent gold standard in practice. Fun and relaxing environment, encouraging informal discussion between professionals. Multidisciplinary working, fantastic to have SAS participation.”

“Fabulous immersive training, allowing me to experience sensory deprivation and tremor, giving a more empathetic understanding to my daily working practice.”

“Understand more how to work with residents with different issues.”

“It has updated my skills on Venepuncture, Catheterisation, First Aid, CPR and choking.”

Lynn Hardie, NES CSMEN added:

“Our Mobile Skills Unit provides a safe learning environment with state-of-the-art simulation equipment. It supports the delivery of clinical skills training and education to all healthcare practitioners, the emergency services and members of the public.”

CSMEN has a 12-year track record of successful delivery of award-winning state-of-the-art simulation-based education the length and breadth Scotland.

Rubislaw Park Care Home team was one of three finalists for the Training, Learning & Staff Development Award in Scottish Care’s National Care Home Awards 2024.

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