It is important to get investment in software right. Investment implies a return. So what do you need to consider to increase return on investment through the effective deployment of a Learning Management System (LMS)?
Helicopter Moment
Attempt to take a step back and holistically review the care plans and idiosyncrasies of the individuals in your care. Get in your imaginary helicopter and float above your organsiation. Take the opportunity to review your staff team and the level of support and tools they may need to work towards elevated levels of competency and compliance. Who do we care for? Who is employed by the care organisation. What are their needs? What are we trying to achieve? Completing this level of training needs analysis as often as possible would benefit on your entire organisation.
Fit For Purpose
Working off your training needs analysis predefine your desired outcome. What do you want to achieve by investing in new software? Even if those desires are wild and potentially unachievable a specific list of criteria will help you to navigate the range of suppliers and narrow the field effectively. Rather than going to market to get “eLearning”, create a list of wishes for the new system and see which suppliers meet your criteria or which suppliers are willing to work with you to build your field of dreams. Be specific; ‘The training system needs to be able to translate safeguarding training for my Filipino colleagues’. ‘I need to reduce meds errors by X volume’, or ‘we need to reduce the risk of falls by X over the next 3 months’. What features will I need to get a return on investment? https://www.redcrier.com/ebox-features-focus/
Security
Working in social care in the United Kingdom increases the security risk of using digital tools. But that should not put you off, it should be a driver to make you more diligent in your research for any new digital solution. What data is being stored. What is the level of exposure for the individuals we care for and the exposure levels for my team. Where are the system servers? What processes does the supplier follow to offer damage limitation? It is unlikely this is your area of expertise, but it is your responsibility, so make the supplier do the heavy lifting for you. Do not avoid the conversation, get the supplier to prove their worth.
Reliability
It is true that software is fallible, however in 2024 mobile connections and cloud storage reduce the risk of prolonged down time. However, when investing in new software, you should consider the reliability of both the system and the supplier. How long has the supplier been operational? How many clients do they have? Can you have a conversation with some of the pre-existing clients to get feedback from your peers?
Usability
One of the main objections we have heard over the years would be “my staff won’t cope with that new software”. This is a bit of a myth, in terms of the volume of software we are all dependent on for daily life. Most people interact with a form of social media or use contactless payments / digital banking. But user experience is especially important when asking a team to adopt a new process. Rember that different people will approach software in diverse ways. Ask the (shortlisted) suppliers to provide a few trial log ins and bring along some internal ‘champions’ for the ride from the start.
Deployment
The deployment is make or break. You could spend months researching, shortlisting, and testing. If you miss the opportunity to deploy effectively, you will watch all the investment and resources dissipate. So, dig deep, the end is in sight, final push to the same exacting standards as your research and lead up. Again, a team of champions can talk on the same level as their colleagues, reducing the fear of something new. By being in the trenches through the deployment the champions can catch challenges that someone slightly removed may not see. Don’t presume this phase will be without obstacles and elements that you could not have predicted. But the right supplier will be there to help.
Interoperability
With so many solutions available it is important that you do not create a digital island, excommunicating you from the rest of health and social care. The NHS digital guidelines suggest the opposite and the way forward is to streamline the systems across health and social care. Moving forwards, how the different systems integrate will be vital for the wellbeing of individuals in both health and social care. Learn more about the importance of connected care here.
Ongoing Support
The investment and deployment are complete. This is an ongoing process, so what’s next? The supplier should be supporting you along the journey. What will that support look like? Will it be free or chargeable, will you need an additional ongoing budget to maintain the system? Will you be reliant on a ticketing system or will the support be free flowing? Understanding the support mechanism from the beginning could have a significant impact on the adoption and longevity of the system. If you would like to discuss eBox LMS or any of the solutions from the wider PCS range, then contact us today.
