A group of local authorities have implemented an app to support people with learning disabilities as part of their social care services.
They begun to roll out the AutonoMe at Home app – developed by virtual support provider AutonoMe – last month as part of the Social Care Digital Innovation Accelerator (SCDIA) programme, backed by the Local Government Association and NHS Digital.
Barking and Dagenham Council has been the lead council in the project, working with Telford and Wrekin, Haringey, West Sussex, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. Each of them has contributed to the funding and development, and the roll out has been co-ordinated by CC2i, which organises co-funding and collaboration between councils.
The AutonoMe at Home version of the app has initially been provided to a cohort of 50 people with learning disabilities, providing one-to-one support with instructional content to help them develop skills for independent living.
The next phase will involve them using AutonoMe at Work to help them become employable through instructional material co-produced with the six councils.
Health and life skills
The aim of the SCDIA project is to provide outcome focused support for people with learning disabilities, helping them to manage their health and develop life skills.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, there are 1.5 million people living with a learning disability in the UK.
Stephan Liebrecht, operational direct, adults care and support at Barking and Dagenham Council, said: : “The provision of outcomes focused support that helps those with learning disabilities to secure employment and/or manage their health and wellbeing and reintegrate back into social settings post Covid-19 – in a cost-effective way – will be a key challenge nationally.”
