04/03/2023
Do you know or care for someone living with Dementia, our scheme can help.
Dementia Safeguarding Scheme celebrates its 8th year!
The force’s Dementia Safeguarding Scheme is now into its 8th year after being establish by Temporary Inspector Stuart King back in 2015! The scheme has helped thousands of people and their families living with dementia across our force area and protected people from coming to harm.
Temporary Inspector Stuart King has been passionate in helping other forces to adopt the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme- this has now resulted in numerous forces in England, Wales and Scotland adopting our scheme to help the communities they police.
Temp’ Inspector King has ran the scheme in addition to his core role, often in his own time off-duty. He is assisted by our enquiry office staff who process the applications and post out the NFC devices.
The Dementia Safeguarding Scheme has always been funded externally and our most recent purchase of over 2,000 NFC devices was thanks to donations from Bristol Water | Bristol | Facebook and Wessex Water - For You. For Life. who we’ve been working in partnership for a number of years.
The Dementia Safeguarding Scheme has 4 strands:
Providing free GPS tracking devices
NFC assistance devices (wristbands, Lanyards with Glow-in-the-dark cads, hangtags) which contain vital interactive information about the wearer which can be utilised to help them (by the public as well as services) if in need of assistance. We have provided thousands of the NFC devices for free, you can request them now by clicking this link and completing the on-line form; https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/forms/dss
The Herbert Protocol/ Dementia Safeguarding Form which is completed on-line and records vital information (photos, medication, former addresses etc) which can be accessed immediately by Officers if a person is reported missing and gives the Officers the best opportunity in finding a missing person.
The ‘Avon and Somerset Dementia Forum’ support group. You can join this group on facebook by clicking here; Avon and Somerset Dementia Forum | Facebook
We were delighted in late 2022 to be recognised by Bristol Dementia Action Alliance charity for our work as a force. In addition to that award we have also been recognised by the Alzheimer’s Society and shortlisted for their national awards in April 2023 in the final 3 for the ‘Dementia Hero Award for Friendly Business’ (Large) and for Temp’ Inspector Stuart King to be nominated for ‘Dementia Hero Award for Research and Innovation’. We will keep you updated on the results!
Our very best wishes to Stuart and good luck in April!
Tony is also a finalist (for the outstanding achievement award)