Draft: skills and knowledge sets to support the embedding of electronic assistive technologies in social care services

Electronic Assistive Technologies (EATs) affect most of our lives. For social care staff, service users and their carers this effect is clear through people’s increased use of the Internet, smart mobile devices and interactive TV. It is also evident in the increasing use of EATs specifically designed to promote people’s well-being and independence. This document provides new skills and knowledge sets for social care staff so that during the course of their work they are better able to a) understand the role of EAT and the services that use EATs (including social alarms, telecare and telehealth services); and b) raise awareness of EAT and support service users (and carers) with this addition to traditional service options. The aim of these skills and knowledge sets is to provide specific, standardised knowledge and clearly identified skills to help workers and employers who support individuals to undertake their role. The skills and knowledge sets will be useful for continuing professional development (CPD), individual learning and qualification development. This document is applicable to workers who support people’s well-being and independence in communities through assistive technologies. The term ‘social care staff’ will be used throughout this document for ease of reading and examples of typical job types can be found in appendix 1. This primarily addresses the knowledge and skills required by the social care, early years and children and young people’s workforce, but is also transferable to contingent parts of the workforce (e.g. health and housing). Therefore it is important to note that this document will also be applicable to those working in related roles outside of social care, and those who are involved in managing or commissioning EAT related services.