Hundreds upskilled in tech for better social care outcomes

Assistive technology (A-Tech) is a device or system that helps maintain or improve a person’s ability to do things in everyday life, keeping them safe to live independently in their own homes for longer.

Examples of the technology at work include communication devices, wearable technology, smart home devices and mobility aids.

The Commission for Digital Assistive Technology Skills in Social Care project was funded by Kent County Council’s Helping Hands Fund and Medway Council.

The funding helped maximise the impact of six new Assistive Technology Hubs, supported by the Local Skills Improvement Fund and designed and delivered by East Kent Colleges Group, with the hubs based at East Kent, Mid and North Kent College sites. They give students better, more hands-on training, changing how students learn about assistive technology which will ultimately benefit the people in Kent they care for in the future.

Assistive technology specialist Kyndi has been at the centre of the project. As well as providing and installing equipment, they have trained over 300 students, at participating colleges.

A report commissioned from Policy Connect, a cross‑party think tank, led to the establishment of a commission comprising representatives from Kent and Medway, from different political parties, as well as the public and private sectors, education, and health. The commission was tasked with identifying best practice and ensuring the benefits of assistive technology were maximised.

The findings were published in the report, ‘ATech Skills for Adult Social Care: Building the Care Workforce to Put People in Control of Their Lives’, which was presented at the Palace of Westminster by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive and Accessible Technology.

The report highlighted best practice in training students, care workers and care businesses to use assistive technology which has been shared nationally.

The new Assistive Technology hubs are also open to the public and to care sector businesses, allowing them to learn more about assistive technology and understand how it could be used to support their own needs and services.

To date, 72 employers have been introduced to new assistive technologies for their businesses, and a total of 886 learners have completed specialist training.

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Diane Morton, said: “We’re investing in assistive technology training so our social care staff can keep up with rapid technological advances and deliver the most up‑to‑date, effective support for people who want to live independently at home.

“Working with East Kent Colleges Group and Medway Council, we’ve created six new Assistive Technology training rooms across Kent, giving students and staff hands‑on experience with the tools that are shaping the future of care. We’re also continuing to expand our award‑winning Technology Enhanced Lives service.

“Through our partnership with Medway Council and Kent Further Education, we’re helping build a more digitally skilled care workforce. As part of this, we’re trialling new innovations like Feebris, which helps identify early signs of health issues in care home residents. With NHS England funding, the pilot is already supporting more than 680 people and shows how modern technology can raise the quality and safety of care.”

“I’m delighted with this project and the difference it is already making. None of this would have been possible without the dedication, creativity and hard work of the staff and partners who brought it to life. Their commitment to improving care and embracing innovation is helping us deliver safer, smarter and more personalised support for people across Kent.”

Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Public Health, said: “Assistive technology is central to social care and is absolutely key to improving care in the future, so improving access to training is absolutely vital.  I’m really proud of the progress being made through this partnership, and I’d like to thank everyone that’s been involved in it so far. This work is going to make a crucial difference to people across Kent and Medway, improving their quality of life and giving everyone involved a better future.”

Senior Policy and Research Manager for ATech at Policy Connect, Clive Gilbert, said: “The Kent and Medway assistive technology demonstration suites formed the central case study in Policy Connect's ATech Skills for Social Carereport, which I was proud to author. This case study shows the huge value of formal collaboration between local authority social care teams and the local skills system, and as such provides a model for areas across the UK. The report, launched in Parliament with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive and Accessible Technology, recommends government action to spread the good practice we have highlighted, and we look forward to continued engagement with policy makers to drive impact from this report."

Chief Innovation and Skills Officer, East Kent Colleges Group, Lindsey Biggs, said: “It’s fantastic to see our Assistive Technology suites playing such a crucial role in upskilling people across the county. These game‑changing learning environments are equipping both our students and the health and social care workforce with the future‑focused skills the sector needs. We’re excited to see how they continue to support and strengthen the industry.”