"SMaRT are really nice - it makes me feel safe knowing they can see our CCTV."

In 2003, NCHA developed their Support Management and Response Team (SMaRT). Over the last four years, this service has developed into a fully responsive assistive technology service.

The SMaRT teams’ primary function is to provide direct access to give additional support to our service users, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Service users are supported out of hours by the SMaRT team, who can either offer telephone or face to face support depending on the level of need and risk.

Because the SMaRT team is made up of trained support workers who have access electronically to all service user’s person centred support plans and risk assessments, NCHA are able to ensure that consistent and appropriate support can be delivered at all times, regardless of staff teams on duty and level of crisis.

The SMaRT service also has audio and visual messaging facilities. This system enables service users to set up prompts and reminders via their handset for non intrusive support. Such as:

• Medication reminder
• Alarm calls (for morning call or appointments)
• Health check (daily, weekly or monthly checks that service users are required to acknowledge)
• Courtesy messaging (for standard events, e.g. ’the electrician will be calling this afternoon’)

Video - Smart

"Its great that SMaRT do drop-ins - we have really nice talks and I feel less vulnerable knowing that if I am in the house on my own someone will be there for me if I need them."

SMaRT holds BSI ISO 9001 quality mark and is currently being registered with TSA, the Telecare Services Association.

Our SMaRT service was also the winner of the CERETAS 2007 Innovation of the year award. For more details about this award please click here.