South Gloucestershire Council’s Assistive Technology (AT) service, led by occupational therapists and technicians, successfully transformed adult social care by integrating personalised, cost-effective tech solutions, enabling independent living, and embedding technology into mainstream care planning and practice.
Introduction
In the context of an ageing population, the increasing demand for adult social care is a driver for change for South Gloucestershire Council, with the capability to deliver care and support solely by direct contact becoming unsustainable. With widespread cultural change, bespoke and commercial technologies are becoming cheaper and more versatile and critical to how society operates.
The council recognised that technology has the potential to be used to effectively meet care and support needs at all stages of life, providing for people personalised solutions that may optimise health and wellbeing at home and beyond. The council understood that technology has a pivotal role as preventative and cost saving measure that may be applied or integrated at every stage of a person’s care and support journey.
The approach
In 2020 a 12-month project was funded by Adult Social Care to evidence the hypothesis that Assistive Technology (AT) may promote not only effective personalised outcomes but also significant cost savings. The project’s principal ambition: to change the culture of Adult Social Care by enabling people and Social Care practitioners to adopt technology solutions that meet assessed needs.
An Occupational Therapist (OT) with housing and telecare expertise was tasked to lead the service development with 12-month funding to employ two new and bespoke roles: an OT with a special interest in technology; an Assistive Technology Technician role, bringing relevant technology, telecommunication, electrical and engineering skills as well as the aptitude to work directly with people.
Upon successful recruitment the project’s immediate aims were to:
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Connect residents to the help they need and provide tools and guidance to enable people to adopt assistive technology solutions themselves.
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Increase the use of assistive technology within Adult Social Care to prevent and delay the need for long term care, including for commissioned services.
The AT team:
- Established an adaptation assessment hub in a house and showcased a range of technologies and their application.
- Guided Adult Social Care colleagues to make appropriate referrals to the service, encouraging them to discuss assessments so that the potential of a suitable technology solution could be enabled.
- Developed specialist resources and e-Learning and face to face training to enable the culture change required. In doing so this gained the trust and understanding of colleagues who also recognised that they were not expected to be experts in technology and its application, installation and maintenance.
The AT Technician made each installation and provided the education and support needed for older and disabled persons and their carers to adopt the technology. This was at no cost to the individual.
Jason's story
Jason* is in his mid 50's and has degenerative neurological condition. Jason lives alone and has carers four times a day. Jason approached the council for a review of his care and support; as a wheelchair user he felt vulnerable being unable to easily answer his front door, and this worry was affecting his sleep, his health condition and wellbeing. He was considering a move to more supportive accommodation.
A social worker worked with Jason to understand what matters to him and discussed Jason’s ambition to feel safe and secure while having the freedom to live on his own with the Assistive Technology Team.
A home security system and environmental controls were discussed with Jason, and commercial products were personalised to his needs and use. Jason was taught how to use the equipment and he can now see, hear and speak to anyone at his front door, and choose who to let in.
Jason continues to feel safe and reassured by the technology and connected to his community. His health and wellbeing have improved and he no longer feels he must move home. He has peace of mind, and control.
*Name has been changed to protect the individual's identity.
The outcome
The Team’s approach was immediately successful: referrals were enabling ambitious, new and different care and support options. Personalised solutions were being realised for individuals and their carers’. The cost saving target set for the team were quickly reached and exceeded. The team reduced pressure on local health services by enabling more people to stay in their homes and avoid unnecessary care admissions.
An audit of quantitative and qualitative data and key performance indicators evidenced the team’s effectiveness as a standalone solution and/or a solution integrated with more traditional care provision to reduce the cost of care packages. There was a significant return on investment. On this basis, the council decided to retain the service beyond the 12-month project, and support further development.
The team has evolved quickly over the four years, and currently employs three Occupational Therapists with special interest in technology as well as three AT technicians who all have technology-based trade skills. The service specification has expanded to provide assessment, support and the prescription of technologies to support to adults with sensory impairments.
The culture has fundamentally changed in South Gloucestershire Council with the AT team working routinely alongside colleagues, enabling the use of technologies to be integrated into care planning, social care commissioned care and support. The key to this success is that the team provide:
- Consultation, advice, and guidance on Care Act assessments so that technology is considered as part of care planning.
- Bespoke installations are facilitated by suitably skilled Technology Technicians who ‘stick to people like glue’: this ensures the prescribed technology is adopted and effective for the disabled person and carer alike.
- An evolving technology hub/showhouse, showcasing ‘barrier-free living’ through the integration of traditional adaptations and technologies. The house offers assessment facilities for moving and handing, Care Act and DFG funded adaptations, and technology.
- Innovative training and an ongoing creative multimedia campaign to promote technology as a person-centred approach across all stakeholders
Since inception, the service has delivered on annual cost saving targets of up to £2 million and personalised outcomes that promote health and wellbeing.
Contact
Catherine Young: [email protected]