2. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
K’s Story before Assistive Technology
K lived on her own in her own flat.
K went to day services 4 days a week from
Meaning that K had support from am where she would be supported with;
Having a shower
Making K’s lunch
Cleaning her bathroom
Making her bed.
In the evening k would need full support with
Cooking her evening meal
Cleaning her kitchen
Loading her dishwasher
Support staff would also do K’s washing and dry her clothes.

3. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
K’s Story before Assistive Technology
K also needed support with her continence and occasionally the waking night support staff would change her bed for her.
K had Wednesday’s and the weekends at home where she would have staff with her for the entire time.
Staff would support K to go shopping on a Wednesday
Staff would write the list and essentially complete the shop with K who would almost be like an observer.
K also has a fiancé who visits on a Saturday and staff would need to be present so that they could prepare lunch etc which did not really give K any privacy.
Outside of Day Service Support, K would have support staff with her for the majority of the time she spent in her own home.

4. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
The Challenges
Working with Adult Services, Occupational Therapists, we were challenged to reduce or remove the amount of waking night support K had by utilising Assistive Technology (AT)
The staffing challenge –
At first the staff were not very keen on the idea of K not having awake night support as they felt that she was being abandoned – and a vulnerable adult was being left alone
What would happen if K needed support during the evening?
What would happen if K was out with family past the time that the evening staff finished their shift?
What would happen in an emergency?
This is only happening to keep costs down!
After some focussed engagement with staff they told us that in fact they felt that it was possible they may have been over- supporting K and that if K could successfully use AT it would lead to her living more independently, and developing a life beyond services; which is the ethos that underpins TQtwentyone' culture

5. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
The Action
After K had been assessed by Care manager’s and OT’s to be a good candidate for Assistive Technology. K had door sensors, window sensors, and a pendant installed in her home along with a lifeline (connects through the telephone to a call centre)
K had a 3 month evaluation period during which she continued to have the same amount of support, but during the hours of 9.30pm and 7.30am if she needed support she would be able to press her pendant and the responsive night worker would attend
K had to be supported to get used to the pendant as she would have to speak to someone at a call centre in order for them to contact the responsive night worker to attend. Staff encouraged K to speak to the call centre on a regular basis throughout the 3 months so she became used to the process and would then expect someone to arrive
Staff also had to learn to step back from supporting K and allow her to go through this process which initially was very difficult as they were all used to supporting K with most aspects of her life

6. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
The improved outcomes for K
As a result of the Assistive Technology K no longer has a waking night support and has become increasingly independent as she no longer needs as many 1:1 hours
K changes her own bed
K showers herself every morning
K makes her own lunch for Day services
K washes and dries her own clothes
K writes her own shopping list
K polishes and dusts her own flat
K loads, unloads and puts on her Dishwasher
K makes her own hot drinks
K still needs some support with Cooking
K can spend time with her fiancé on her own
K is very proud to be an independent lady as a result of the Assistive Technology
K is developing new skills all the time and is currently using technology to take her own medication, something that in the past she needed support with. This story really enforces that given the chance, the right support and technology, the people we support can increase their independence, learn new skills and make a change to historic support patterns.

7. Improving outcomes through Assistive Technology
The learning for staff across TQtwentyone
Stories like K’s are linked across the Division in our Quality and Safety reports from localities, these are shared and enable staff to challenge their own ability to let go
The Assistive Technology work stream sits as a rolling agenda item on Q&SC and management meetings, we have an AT Group headed up by John Begbour, Locality Manager Mid & North Hants, who links this work across all localities with representation from AT Champions and also has regular involvement from Commissioners and AT Providers
This work clearly links into our Divisional Vision to deliver a Life Beyond Services
Although there are clearly some cost benefits and efficiencies the main driver for this work is around actively reducing the reliance on paid support for the individuals we work with