The East Kent College (EKC) Group has officially launched its innovative Assistive Technology Suites, with a goal of equipping health and social care professionals, along with students, with the skills they need to become technologically proficient.

The EKC Group is a family of six community-based colleges and nine training centres across East Kent. Its mission is to play a leading role for East Kent in developing the economic and social prosperity of the diverse communities it serves.

Located across the EKC Group’s Colleges in Broadstairs, Canterbury, and Folkestone, the fully equipped Assistive Technology Suites showcase innovative technologies, empowering care professionals to engage in real-life scenarios, ensuring they are always prepared for a range of care situations.

Local employers and stakeholders were invited to a launch event at EKC Canterbury College where the state-of-the-art equipment inside one of the suites was showcased.

Some of the technology, which aims to assist those with health conditions like dementia, includes home security systems like automatic door locks, motorised blinds/ curtains, and smart software. The assistive equipment aims to provide gentle nudges to those living independently when they may need it, while also offering family members peace of mind that their loved ones are safe and well.

EKC Group worked in partnership with other colleges in Kent to develop learning environments equipped with assistive technologies as part of the UK Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund. This initiative addresses the skills gaps across the county.

In light of this, the EKC Group is striving to foster a supportive environment for employees in the sector, guiding them toward fulfilling careers that are strongly supported by the latest technology.

Lindsey Biggs, Chief Innovation and Skills Officer at East Kent Colleges Group, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to have launched our Assistive Technology Suites. These game-changing learning environments are going to equip the health and social care workforce and our students with the skills of the future in the health and social care sector.

“We’ve worked in partnership with the other Kent colleges to develop these learning environments as part of a Local Skills Improvement Fund initiative which addresses the skills gaps across the county. As part of the project, we’ve had incredible support from a wide range of stakeholders from within the sector, who’ve guided the design of our brand-new curriculum, ensuring that we are teaching students the skills they need to continue to grow and flourish.

“The suite of new courses in Assistive Technology and Digital Skills have also been designed to help employers to bridge their existing skills gaps through enabling the current workforce to become technologically proficient but also committed to delivering compassionate care in an increasingly digital world.”

The blended learning courses on offer with EKC Group combine online study with sessions at the on-site facilities. Students will be able to immerse themselves in the assistive technology and develop new skills.

Industry leaders in the health and care sector can also make use of the rooms to empower their employees with robust training and development in the newest technology.

Recent findings from the Local Government Association reveal that investing in earlier preventative support in social care would improve people’s lives and save £3.17 for every pound spent.