Why improving TECS training is important for housing professionals
By Andy Hart, Head of Delivery and Technical Support at Tunstall Healthcare
Andy Hart, Head of Delivery and Technical Support at Tunstall Healthcare, discusses why educating housing professionals about the benefits and appropriate use of technology is crucial if we are to improve service provision, and how we can improve training and development to better equip housing providers and professionals.
Why technology is underrepresented
Housing, health and care providers are beginning to recognise why we need to urgently invest in preventative solutions and early interventions, including technology.
However, large-scale change involving TECS (technology enabled care services) is complex and can present a number of challenges. Some of the key barriers to successful digital evolution include budget constraints and the cost of implementing new systems, organisational attitudes towards risk, and the relationships that exist between health, housing and social care services.
Improved education and greater training around the implementation and benefits of TECS will help to build partnerships, maximise the use of data, drive cultural change and support housing professionals in their roles.
Housing providers can benefit from advanced understanding of the available technology by integrating systems into their planning and development to ensure caregivers can channel resources effectively.
The education of housing professionals is crucial in enabling a cultural shift so that staff can fully understand the positive outcomes and patient benefits when technology is implemented in caregiving. Ultimately, technology can support housing professionals to deliver effective care that will improve the quality of life of tenants.
A digital future
With the impending changes to our telecoms network, digital is fast becoming the industry standard to ensure the safety of housing services, staff and end users.
Cementing a cultural shift towards technology driven, outcomes-led approaches is required to meet these changes. By harnessing the benefits of training and education, we can raise awareness of the value and potential of technology across the housing landscape, and provide enhanced support to users, carers, professionals and providers.
Training in practice
Tunstall Healthcare works with Lincolnshire Housing Partnership (LHP) to support its customers through TECS. LHP is a £53million social housing provider managing 12,500 homes across the Grimsby and Boston area with over 25,000 customers, and almost 400 staff.
In 2020 the LHP Way culture change programme was introduced to help employees feel valued and engaged, and to further cement the LHP one team ethos. The programme has helped to improve staff recruitment and retainment due to increased job satisfaction, as well as resulting in higher productivity and lower sickness rates.
LHP has also restructured some of its key services to increase efficiency and create a better working environment for colleagues. This followed extensive engagement via working groups to ensure colleagues were involved in the design of the systems, and included over 1,000 hours of training, intranet and weekly team briefs, and gap analysis surveys with bitesize targeted coaching sessions to address any issues.
John O’Hanrahan, Customer Service Centre manager, comments: “TECS is a major part of the way LHP delivers excellent services for all stakeholders. Through technology, we have been able to shape our service to become more agile and maximise the opportunities presented by the digital future for both our tenants and colleagues.”
For more information on educating the future generation of health, housing and social care professionals, please visit www.tunstall.co.uk/training-services.
Find more information on Tunstall’s services through the PfH Telecare & Telehealth framework here.
