| Short descriptor of good practice |
| The Back to Education initiative is a partnership project between the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit and North Tipperary Vocational Education Commission (VEC). Tutors and raw materials are provided by the VEC and all of the classes (except for woodwork) take place in the Community Nursing Unit. Course choices available to older people in the Unit include cookery, beauty and grooming, woodwork, literacy skills and technology awareness. Group work and one-to-one expressive art classes are also offered. The overall aim of the project is to engage the older people in the Community Nursing Unit in a range of flexible learning opportunities. |
| Type of setting where good practice is delivered |
| Tutors and raw materials are provided by the VEC and all of the classes (except for woodwork) take place in the Community Nursing Unit. The impact of the project can be seen by taking the example of the woodwork class. On Tuesday afternoons, twelve older people attend the local college where the tutor is assisted by three Transition Year students who also visit the Community Nursing Unit and are known to the residents. Participants have each made something functional, decorative and religious. The classes are informal, inter-generational and productive. The sense of achievement, creativity, renewal, participation and belonging is priceless. Working with wood has been an invigorating experience for the residents. |
| Time Frame for delivery of good practice |
| Course choices available to older people in the Unit include cookery, beauty and grooming, woodwork, literacy skills and technology awareness. Group work and one-to-one expressive art classes are also offered. Activities are organized on a weekly basis and it’s relatively easy to prepare the setting and the modules for education. |
| Type of learner the best practice is supporting |
| The project identifies the potential for life-long learning among older people at all levels of ability. Accessibility and inclusiveness are core values of the project and it aims to recognize and accommodate, diversity in relation to the preferences of older people. The project is also based on local consultation and partnership, and includes an emphasis on quality assurance. |
| Resources used as part of good practice |
| https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/further-education-and-training/back-to-education-initiative/#030e16 Tutors and raw materials are provided by the VEC. This project includes equity as a core element of best practice. The development of opportunities for life-long learning among older people. Particularly those with a disability, challenges the perception of older people solely in terms of their care needs in the setting of a Community Nursing Unit. The elements of choice and contact with other groups can be viewed as empowering. |
| Aims and objectives of good practice |
| The overall aim of the project is to engage the older people in the Community Nursing Unit in a range of flexible learning opportunities. |
| Evidence as to why this was considered good practice |
| The main lesson from the project is that older people, in whatever setting, should have opportunities for life-long learning and education. Training and education opportunities should be appropriate and can be designed to suit the interests and needs of older people. An inter-generational dimension adds an extra quality to training and education. Involvement of older people in the decision-making process and regular consultation is required. Partnership is a key element in ensuring the success of projects in this field. |
| 3 Key learning Principles that were used in this good practice to support senior learners |
| 1. Person-centered learning 2. Empowerment through choice 3. Inter-generational learning |
| Any additional learning that we can take from this good practice example |
| The project has had the following outcomes: • positive and flexible learning experiences for older people in a Community Nursing Unit • personal development for older people • choice and autonomy for older people • promotion of positive attitudes to older people in the wider community • improved quality of life and well-being for residents |
| Any Additional Information |
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