The Training Cascade™ & Family Programmes

Observable Skills.
Auditable Practice.
Continuous Improvement.

A structured pathway from foundational competency to system-wide clinical leadership — for staff at every level and families seeking to become active care partners.

Staff Programmes Family Programmes

Professional Staff Programmes

I. Staff Track

The Training Cascade™ is a four-level certification pathway that builds observable, auditable clinical skills from entry-level care to system-wide leadership. Each level builds on the one before it.

Level I

Professional Care Partner Certification

40 hours initial + 60 days supervised floor practice + 12 hours annual renewal
Mandatory for all direct care staff. No prior dementia-specific certification required.

Aims & Objectives: Equip direct care staff with core clinical competencies of the ThriveConnect™ system, including the eight-step Connect-First Protocol™, GEMS® ability staging, and the Dining With Dignity™ model. Upon completion, staff will possess observable, auditable skills that can be assessed on the floor.

Level II

Dementia Practice Leadership Certification

Level I completion + 24 additional hours of leadership and training delivery modules
Must hold Level I Certification for a minimum of 6 months.

Aims & Objectives: Train senior staff to become clinical coaches who can facilitate monthly micro-trainings, conduct quarterly skill observations, and lead family education modules. Level II practitioners serve as the floor-level accountability layer of the system.

Level III

Clinical Care Leadership Certification

Level II completion + 24 additional hours of advanced clinical oversight training
Must hold Level II Certification and a current Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) certification.

Aims & Objectives: Designed for Memory Care Directors to master complex behavioral leadership, system-wide quality auditing, and facilitation of Care Alignment Conferences™. Level III certifies the community's clinical standard-bearer — the individual responsible for system-wide accountability.

Family Empowerment Programmes

II. Family Track

Families are not visitors. They are the most consistent presence in a resident's life. These programmes transform that presence from passive to clinical — equipping families with skills that directly improve care outcomes.

Family Programme I

Family Executor™ Certification

12 hours total, over three progressive modules. Full Module A certification typically achieved by Day 60 of residency.
Available to all family members. Requires completion of the Family ThriveProfile™ interview.

Aims & Objectives: Transform family members from passive visitors into trained care partners capable of leading Montessori-based activities and performing clinical-grade behavioral observations. Certified Family Executors™ become an active, documented layer of the care system.

Module A — Transition Executor™

Connect-First Protocol™ and Hand-in-Hand™ techniques for families entering the care partnership during early residency.

Module B — Sustaining Executor™

Advanced behavioral de-escalation and activity leadership for ongoing, confident care partnership.

Module C — Legacy Executor™

End-of-life presence and legacy project creation — supporting the resident's final chapter with dignity and purpose.

Family Programme II

The Family Connection Circle™ — 12-Month Curriculum

12 months — one 90-minute session per month. Completion qualifies families for Family Ambassador™ status.
Open to all active family members. Rolling enrollment throughout the year.

Aims & Objectives: Provide a comprehensive, jargon-free education on the science of dementia, communication strategies, and emotional coping mechanisms for families. Over 12 months, families build a deep understanding of the ThriveConnect™ system and their role within it. Completion of all 12 modules qualifies families for Family Ambassador™ status.

Begin Your Certification Journey

Whether you are a care staff member entering Level I, or a family member ready for Module A, the pathway is clear. Start here.

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