- Online support packages are tailored to individual’s needs and can be adapted based on targets being met
- Service could be rolled out to wide range of groups including care leavers and those struggling at school
ACTION
A group of councils are working with a technology firm to design, develop and implement a digital support tool for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities.
The project is being led by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) which last year successfully applied for funding from the Social Care Digital Innovation Accelerator (SCDIA) scheme so that it could be rolled out across a further five councils (see box).
It involves dozens of people of working age, including young adults, across the six authorities being given access to a bespoke learning service delivered through a system developed by virtual support provider AutonoMe with a focus on supporting employability.
Stephan Liebrecht, operational director, adults care and support, at LBBD says the motivation for developing the project was to help people gain employability skills.
“It’s about preparing people with what they require to enter employment and training,” explains Liebrecht, whose brief includes responsibility for children with disabilities.
The 2020/21 SCDIA scheme had a focus on tackling the effects of Covid-19, and the LBBD AutonoMe project is focusing on employability because of the anticipated rise in joblessness post the pandemic – just six per cent of adults with a learning disability known to councils in England were in paid work before the pandemic.
Liebrecht explains that the scheme is targeted at working aged people 18 and above “but there’s no reason why this wouldn’t be an ideal application for adolescents”.
This is because the AutonoMe platform is accessed through a person’s own mobile phone, a medium young people feel comfortable with.
He says: “It is not easy to get young people into that space, but this is something that can make learning and personal development attractive.”
Learners access the AutonoMe system via an app that includes content tailored to their individual education and support needs. Social workers identify the person’s learning needs and inform the AutonoMe team so that appropriate content is then uploaded to the learner’s account to access in what Liebrecht describes as a “triangulation system”.
Content could include online tools and information, audio lessons and video guides. Some content will be specific to the needs of an individual, while other content could be put together and shared with all learners, such as a video demonstrating how to put an entry into an online calendar.
Examples of content include how to prepare food, travel on public transport and navigate the Covid-19 social distancing and hygiene rules.
“Some people may need support to structure their day-to-day activities,” explains Liebrecht. “What is holding some people back to get a job and sustain employment can be simple things like help with understanding what to wear. AutonoMe can help with things like this.”
A “feedback loop” enables council staff to monitor that a person is meeting their learning targets so that any problems can be identified and content adapted to address this.
“AutonoMe is a highly flexible platform that enables us to tailor the programme to the needs and requirements of the individual, content and learning targets,” explains Liebrecht.
“It doesn’t overwhelm a person with content that’s not suitable and provides regular feedback so we can identify where amendments are needed.
“We get regular updates on achievements and have a close handle on what’s going on and individual progress reports will be seen by the team manager.”
AutonoMe can be used by people across a spectrum of needs – from those with profound disabilities who need the support of a carer through to those with mild to moderate learning disabilities. As the LBBD project is focused on developing employability skills, it is focused more on the latter group.
In addition, Liebrecht says the AutonoMe platform could be used to support the education of children with disabilities, care leavers and “young people about to leave school that need additional support”.
IMPACT
Liebrecht, who is a social worker and system engineer, says he believes digital technology is a powerful tool to help connect people.
“It has huge potential,” he says. “We are developing a digital strategy across the whole age group and services.”
He believes AutonoMe will play a part in that but is likely to be funded differently because “we do not have the resources to do it on an ongoing basis”.
“My expectation is to make it a standard part of the service and learner’s support plan but paid for through their direct payments,” he says.
The SCDIA pilot programme ended in March with outcomes set to be published later in the year.
THE SOCIAL CARE DIGITAL INNOVATION ACCELERATOR
The SCDIA is a digital innovation programme funded by the Local Government Association and NHS Digital to help local government and their care partners deliver key health and social care services.
The LBBD and AutonoMe project was one of three selected for NHS Digital match funding to support medium- and longer-term challenges in the response to Covid-19.
In addition to LBBD, AutonoMe is working with Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, Haringey London Borough Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, West Sussex County Council on the project to help people with learning disabilities live more independently.
It has a dual focus on supporting people to enhance their employability and better manage their mental health and wellbeing in light of Covid-19.
Read more in CYP Now's Digital Innovation in Social Care Special Report
