Welcome to NCHA

Housing with Care and Support

SMaRT (Support Management and Response Team)

In 2003, NCHA developed their Support Management and Response Team (SMaRT). Since then, this service has transformed the way in which care and support is provided to NCHA’s service users

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.

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

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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.

"It is on my terms and only when I need it. It allows me to live like any other member of the community."

SMaRT uses assistive technology and the remote monitoring of CCTV to provide a safety net for service users and staff. A range of telecare equipment is available to our service users, ensuring that their individual needs are met. This equipment can include devices which identify falls or inactivity, smoke, gas and flood alert systems, external door controls and visitor monitoring. Audio Visual messaging can also be available to prompt or remind service users of appointments or medication times.

Every HWCS project and service users has been provided with a handset which links directly to the SMaRT Team, 24-hours a day and at the touch of a button. When this button is pressed, the support worker at SMaRT is able to identify where the call is coming from, allowing a coherent and appropriate response.

For more information on the telecare system used by SMaRT, click here. This will redirect you to the Tunstall website.

"It’s 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."

Our SMaRT Service was the winner of the

CERETAS IT Innovator of the Year Award 2007.

For more details about this award

click here or on the icon below.