Reflections on my first year of DCM training

Over the past year, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to step into a new role as a Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) trainer. In this blog, I want to take a moment to reflect on the process of becoming a trainer, what I’ve learned from teaching DCM, and why I’m excited about where it’s heading.

What is Dementia Care Mapping?

DCM is an observational tool, developed over 30 years ago at the University of Bradford, designed to improve care for people living with dementia. It supports staff to see care from the perspective of the person, focusing on their experiences, mood, and engagement. In the Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, we offer training that equips participants to use DCM in practice.

The Apprenticeship Process

One of the unique aspects of becoming a DCM trainer is the apprenticeship model, which is a formal process to ensure trainers are confident, competent, and well-supported before leading courses.

After first completing the DCM courses (Basic and Advanced) myself and gaining experience as a mapper, I began the apprenticeship journey. This involved co-delivering three training courses alongside a licensed lead trainer. On each course, I took on more responsibility, delivering different sections, developing my facilitation skills, and receiving feedback and guidance along the way.

It was a rigorous but incredibly supportive process. It wasn’t just about ticking boxes; it was about learning the rhythm of the course, understanding how people engage with it, and figuring out how to bring my own voice to the delivery. I really appreciated having the space to ask questions, try things out, and grow into the role. And once I’d been signed off on each section, I officially became a licensed trainer.

Reflections from teaching DCM

Teaching DCM has been a real privilege. People come to the course because they care deeply about improving dementia care — and I like to think that they leave with new ways of thinking, a better understanding of person-centred care, and a practical tool they can take back to their service.

The training itself could be described as ‘full-on’, but in the best possible way. It is interactive and focuses on real world application. It requires skilled facilitation, a good sense of pacing, and an openness to whatever people bring to the discussions. I’ve really enjoyed delivering the courses online, via video calls — it’s given me the opportunity to connect with people from all over the UK, and even internationally. Every course is different because every group brings new questions, experiences, and perspectives. That’s what makes it so interesting. 

I’ve found that this mix and diversity brings a real richness to the learning and often sparks conversations that might not be possible otherwise.

The online format has also meant that I’ve been able to co-deliver with different trainers, both from within the Centre, and externally, which has added even more variety and depth to each course, helped me see different styles of teaching, and develop my own approach over time. 

The DCM Conference

The shared passion and commitment that I’ve seen during courses is something that was also evident at the first ever DCM conference, which, for me, was one of the highlights of the year. The event brought together dementia care professionals from across the UK to discuss DCM’s past, present, and future.

For me, it was a lovely opportunity to meet in person with other trainers and mappers that I had previously worked with online. The day included discussions on a range of topics — from how to effectively implement DCM™, to its application in different care settings, and its use as an evaluation and research tool. There was a real sense of energy and shared purpose, and as a team we left with a wealth of ideas and actions to further develop DCM.

Final reflections

Entering the world of DCM has been a genuinely inspiring experience. As both a practical tool and a guiding ethos, I believe DCM is a real asset — not just to the university, but to the wider landscape of dementia care. With continued demand for training, and exciting work underway to develop DCM for use in other settings, the future of DCM feels really bright.

It is incredibly rewarding to contribute to something that has been making a difference for over 30 years and continues to grow and reach new people. For me, DCM is more than just a tool, it is a community of people committed to person-centred care and continuous improvement, and I’m proud to be part of it.