Assistive technology, including telecare and telehealth

Assistive technology (AT), telecare and telehealth are increasingly part of the range of solutions practitioners offer to maintain independence and quality of life at home. Work is ongoing to strengthen the evidence base for AT, telecare and telehealth and there are indications that an important factor in successful delivery of telecare and telehealth is a workforce with the confidence and skills to engage with available technology. Developing the social care workforce is the remit of Skills for Care and work to date has included the development of AT-related learning for the new Qualifications and Credit Framework. It is clear, however, that given the potential scope of workforce involvement, more information is needed about existing and future learning and development needs.

Workforce development for assistive technology, telecare and telehealth: what is the current landscape? (November 2011, 14pp) sets out the findings from a rapid scoping exercise which aimed to consolidate information on current UK policy in this area, map current practice in workforce development in England and inform the future direction of work in this area.

Item 2.6 of the implementation plan for the sector-wide workforce development strategy, Capable, Confident, Skilled states Skills for Care's intention to work with health and other interests on developing workforces' competence in this area.