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Workforce development and service innovation opportunities

Keren Down, DirectorThe Foundation for Assistive Technology – FAST

‘Assistive technology – any product or service designed to enable independence for disabled and older people’ (Source: User group consultation, King’s Fund 2001)

FAST Workforce Development reports www.fastuk.org:

• Assistive Technology – Workforce Development, June 2007

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Service innovation opportunities

The vision for technology-enabled services – innovative technologies

Telecare and telehealth networks using miniaturised wireless sensors worn on the body or installed in the home to provide intelligent, unobtrusive and continuous activity monitoring. Work focused on integration of the wireless sensor technologies, automated support systems, and the development of the software architecture.

SAPHE project, Imperial College with industrial partners Philips, BT, Cardionetics and Docobo (Technology Strategy Board Collaborative R&D Fund) March 2006-May 2009

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Service innovation opportunities

The vision for technology-enabled services – innovative technologies

The Ambient Kitchen uses standard kitchen units with built-in radio-frequency identification (RFID) readers, cameras are integrated into the walls, a wireless network of accelerometers is attached to kitchen objects, RFID tags are attached to storage jars and the flooring is pressure sensitive. Projectors and speakers display visual and auditory cues. The technologies provide assistance if someone with dementia forgets how to perform a particular task.

Ambient Kitchen, Newcastle University (funding from CELS and Newcastle University) February 2007-December 2008 ©

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Service innovation opportunities

Scaling up technology-enabled services – opening up access

• Local high street stores, penetration of local information networks

• Accessible, affordable service packages – range of service levels

• Clarity on service quality differentiators by brand (BT/ NHS/ Gateshead Housing/ Age Concern/ EDF, etc), kitemarking, regulation compliance, accountability, etc

High Street

Specialist service

Catalogue /online

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Service innovation opportunities

Scaling up technology-enabled services – opening up access

• Linked to mainstream services and consumer offering but well integrated with statutory NHS and social care services – seamless transitions

• Package can be extended as needs arise

• Responsive day to day as well as in emergency

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Service innovation opportunities

Scaling up technology-enabled services – workforce

• No current nationally accredited education and qualification framework in this area

• Few training courses (mostly in house or locally accredited)

• Lack of clarity on competences required are resulting in problems recruiting, training and commissioning using quality standards

• Training courses at high risk of failure due to lack of student flow. Lack of recognised standards results in ineligibility for funding for students.

• Poor adoption of innovative technologies, inappropriate recommendation of technology and failure to develop innovative service models that exploit new technologies

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Service innovation opportunities

Requirements – clarity and regulation of workforce standards

• Market differentiator for new business, reducing the risk for private business, 3rd sector and social enterprise to develop innovative models

• Supporting education provision, reducing the risk of developing courses and providing student/ cash flow

• Supporting decision making by commissioners, enabling a common criteria for tenders and supporting a diverse market ecosystem while managing risk and value for money

• Providing access to practitioner champions for innovative technology developers

• Providing clarity on standards for consumers to inform choice and increase access to a range of providers

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Service innovation opportunities

New ways of working – new business opportunities – new services

• Installation for complex sensor networks located throughout the house is a massive step change from pendant alarms and stand alone devices.

• Assessment is the key to lean, effective systems matched to the needs and capabilities of each individual client and their family network.

• Clients and their care network need to be supported to build confidence in new technologies.

• Communication and network integration between clients’ home/mobile systems and NHS/ social care/ local services and peer networks will require remote support.