The future of ‘Technology Enhanced Care’ training

The latest technological advancements in the delivery of care training were previewed at an exclusive event, held at Scottish Borders Campus recently. In advance of the official December launch, as part of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SoSEP) project in the south of Scotland, a select group of key partners and stakeholders were given the opportunity to see in action the very latest in health care training technology, which will enable both current and future health care workers to develop essential key skills.

The Technology Enhanced Care Hub (BTECH) is part of the ambitious SoSEP project, which is a collaboration between Borders College, Dumfries and Galloway College and the NHS and Care sector to address the skills shortage in the care sector, as well as ensuring the upskilling of current staff from Stranraer to Eyemouth, using latest technologies within the sector.

The SoSEP initiative has enabled curriculum delivery to develop in line with current and future digital expectations, and to harness the innovations that are available to educators providing health & social care.

The group were given a tour of two recently refurbished classrooms which represent the essence of integrated care delivery – a mock home and an acute ward area. The project has enabled the enhancement of each of these facilities with the most up-to-date equipment, including a Nursing Anne Simulator, a Tissue Viability MAP Sensor, Resus Anne QCPR Torso and digital cameras to observe and record practice.

Guests were given a 15 minute demonstrations of three different scenarios, supported by NHS Borders employed students and SB Cares staff. They showed how the new facilities operate and how they can be used for teaching purposes within the College.

Each area has been equipped to provide a digitally enhanced interactive learning environment that will propel the health and social care curriculum into the 21^st century. The Borders College Technology Enhanced Care Hub (BTECH) will enable the College to train the health and social care workforce in line with local and national expectations for now and in the future.

The College have also developed relevant digital teaching and learning materials to enable remote learning. This has huge significance in enabling wider access for learners in such a rural area.

Assistant Principal Jayne Gracie commented:

“This SoSEP initiative has been great in terms of enabling us to develop our curriculum here at Borders College. We have created a complete digitally enhanced interactive learning environment that covers not just new practical skills development around the use of technology-enabled care, helping to support individuals both in acute settings and a home environment but, also to upskill staff and students in the delivery of on line learning. BTECH has provided us with a modern learning platform that we can further develop in the future.”

The development for the Acute and Community Care qualification has been funded by SoSEP and provides the College with the opportunity to expand their curriculum delivery to SCQF level 8. The College have also worked in close collaboration with NHS Borders in developing this curriculum, and have recruited senior staff from NHS Borders from the Acute setting to help deliver the course.

Borders College Principal Angela Cox commented:

“Today is a result of partnership working at its best. Our collaborative approach to developing this provision supports our continued focus on delivering excellence and ensuring people in the Borders have access to the best learning opportunities that results in sustainable employment.”

The new equipment is already in use, with the current cohort of students being the first group to benefit from the new clinical skills lab and the new simulated home care environment.