Salvation Army goes digital to save time and reduce workload across its care homes

Published in The Care Home Environment, Welp Magazine, Care Sector Hub

The Salvation Army has teamed up with one of the UK’s leading providers of digital technology systems to the care sector to free up more time for staff to spend supporting residents across its care homes.

The renowned charity’s care homes have entered a new era by eliminating paper-based administration in favour of Person Centred Software’s app-based Mobile Care Monitoring system.

The innovative technology, which allows care providers to digitally plan, record and monitor the care of residents, has empowered staff by reducing the time it would take to physically transcribe care notes, so they can better spend it supporting residents.

The icon-driven software allows staff to evidence care via a simple click of a button and while on the go, a welcome addition to the care homes at a time when regional lockdowns and increasing COVID-19 cases are putting further pressure on the sector.

The Salvation Army’s homes have enjoyed swift results following the integration, with more time saved, workloads reduced, errors minimised, and collaboration enhanced.

Nikki Thompson, Assistant Director for Practice and Development at the Salvation Army, said: “One of the key values of the Salvation Army is transparency and our care home managers love the way technology allows them to report and audit the activity in their homes. It enables the wants and needs of an individual to be prioritised at every stage of provision, and you just can’t do that when paper dependent.

“Staff have also found that going digital has reduced their workload and have been able to spend more time with residents instead of having to complete paperwork, which has been invaluable in terms of boosting morale and happiness across the homes.

“The data is also a massive bonus for us. Having all the governance and compliance information in one place is great, everything is there and available to access at all times. The integration is transforming our care homes and we’re so thankful we’ve gone digital!”

Andrew Coles, Head of Product Management from Person Centred Software, said: “The Salvation Army is an outstanding organisation with a reputation for compassion and values of community. We are delighted the charity chose our software and we look forward to seeing it benefit the people under their care.”

Having already had to adapt its Mobile Care Monitoring system to better support staff in care environments during the first wave of the virus, Person Centred Software has added eight new features to help protect the elderly and vulnerable against the likelihood of a second wave.

The COVID-19-specific tools include coronavirus reporting, staff coronavirus auditing, track and trace reporting, and its Relatives Gateway video link, which allows residents and families to communicate in real-time. Person Centred Software’s Care App has been found to save each carer one hour per shift to complete administrative tasks, as opposed to how long it would take using paper, which is crucial at a time when staff absence and agency usage are on the increase.

Andrew concluded: “The agile nature of technology has equipped care environments with the best tools possible to protect their residents against the possibility of a second wave. We hope this isn’t the case, but with daily cases on the rise again, now is the time to go digital. We want to ensure everyone in care has the best chance to fight through this pandemic, and technology is going to play a crucial role in achieving that.”

For more information of the Salvation Army and its care homes, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/older-people/care-homes.