Personalised Technology Consultancy Services
We provide consultancy services on supporting learning disabled people and other vulnerable groups, such as people with dementia, complex health needs, physical disabilities and mental health. These services are available to a range of customers, including:
We’ll create a bespoke consultancy package based on your needs. We’ll have an initial meeting with you to discuss your requirements and the outcomes you hope to achieve. From this meeting, we will put together an outline proposal, including timelines and costings. Once agreed, all parties will be asked to sign our consultancy agreement that will include our pre-agreed schedule of works … then we are good to go!
We’ll work with you to deliver the outcomes that we set out together at the beginning and we’ll meet with you regularly to review progress. We’re flexible in our approach, meaning we can adapt to meet changing requirements. Our aim is that you have a sustainable model that you can use to continue using technology after we have completed our work. And, in order to reach this goal, we’ll support you every step of the way.
Local Authorities
We have worked with a number of Local Authorities, providing a range of bespoke services to meet their needs. This has included:
- Upskilling the workforce by delivering both our general awareness training and bespoke training sessions (face-to-face and virtual) to various audiences including social workers, occupational therapists, community nurses, reablement teams and commissioners.
- Providing our PT assessments and outcomes-focused recommendation reports to a block number of individuals, including learning disabled people and those with complex needs, older people and other vulnerable groups.
- Evidencing outcomes by developing impact measuring tools to meet the specific needs of the customer based on our existing model. The model measures quality of life and efficiency outcomes, taking various perspectives into account including those of the person, the support worker, the service manager and those of family members.
- Consulting on building design to ensure that the right technology and infrastructure is considered and implemented during the design and build and that the building has the ability to flex over time to meet the changing needs of the people living there.
- Acting as PT expert advisors on a monthly Assistive Technology panel to make specific recommendations on cases referred to the panel by the Learning Disability Social Work team.
Support and housing providers
We have provided various consultancy packages to support providers. This has included:
- Upskilling the workforce by delivering both our general awareness training and bespoke training sessions (face-to-face and virtual) to support workers, service managers and directors.
- We have completed our PT assessments for people with a wide range of needs and provided outcomes-focused recommendation reports for each individual and service. In some cases we have also installed the technology and delivered training on how to use it and what needs to be updated in order to embed it into the service eg updating risk assessments, incorporating PT into health and safety checks and support plans etc.
- Evidencing outcomes by developing impact measuring tools to meet the specific needs of the customer based on our existing model. The model measures quality of life and efficiency outcomes, taking various perspectives into account including those of the person, the support worker, the service manager and those of family members.
- We’ve also facilitated bespoke training workshops for a number of housing providers covering what to consider when implementing technology into a new build or renovation.
- Consulting on building design to ensure that the right technology and infrastructure is considered and implemented during the design and build and that the building has the ability to flex over time in order to meet the changing needs of the people living there.
Families and learning disabled people
We also offer assessments, training and advice to you and your families. It may be that technology can support you to be more independent and safe and, in turn, this may provide reassurance and greater independence for the family members who are supporting you.
Assessments are usually completed face-to-face in your home as it is more beneficial if we are able to see the property and get a good feel for your environment, but we can also facilitate assessments online if required. We have completed assessments both in the family home and also for you if you are living in a residential school/college and if you are preparing to move on into your own home. Technology can be a valuable tool in supporting you during transition. It doesn’t have to be a complicated solution to make a real difference.
“To be able to leave the house early in the morning and to know that James has got a) his pattern for the day and b) that he can contact me if anything goes wrong is a huge relief. I can then concentrate fully on my work”
Gilly Aspey, family member.
Below are some examples of the consultancy work we have been commissioned to deliver
Enfield Council
Working with Enfield Council’s learning disability team to deliver a bespoke training package, develop an assistive technology impact measuring tool, and sit on their newly established multidisciplinary Assistive Technology Panel offering specialist advice and recommendations on specific cases referred in to the panel.
“ I was given the remit of introducing assistive technology into our Learning Disability team at the London Borough of Enfield. Although exciting, this felt a big task. We were lucky enough to be able to use the services of Hft. Their support and expertise has been second to none. I feel that the partnership work they offer has been invaluable. They have supported us to implement : an Assistive Technology Panel for staff where they have sat as our experts; an easy read Impact Evaluation for service users and carers; pre-panel workshop and an end of project workshop. They also delivered an introduction to assistive technology training for our staff.
The Hft staff are always ready to help and answer any queries. We could not have done this without their expert guidance and professional but approachable presence. Thank you”
Maxine Slapper, Therapies Service Manager, Integrated Learning Disabilities Service, Enfield Council.
Bristol City Council
Supporting the Housing Development Team to implement assistive technology systems and infrastructure into five new-build specialist and affordable apartments. These new homes will support the independence of individuals with physical disability, learning disability, or autism.
Luton Borough Council
Provided training to approx. 100 people including social workers, support providers and the enablement team. Completed assessments and installations of standalone devices to 60 people with learning disabilities. Developed a bespoke impact measuring tool to measure the outcomes (both quality of life and efficiencies).
Partners in support
Delivering staff training and assessments.
“Hft has been invaluable to us, helping us to establish, and put in place life enhancing assisted technology into our service user’s day to day lives.”
Hazel Nicholas – Regional Director, Partners in Support.
For more information, please contact:
- personalisedtechnology@hft.org.uk
- Emma Nichols, Personalised Technology Manager: 07770 445237