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How TAPPI Changed us - Platform Housing Group

Following completion of the second Phase of the TAPPI project, Platform Housing Group, one of the six TAPPI testbeds, tells us in this short Q&A how TAPPI influenced their work, the work of their staff and the everyday life of their residents.

What are the key lessons and insights that you have gained by implementing the TAPPI principles throughout the project? How have these lessons influenced your approach to technology enabled care  (TEC) in housing for older and vulnerable people?

TAPPI proved invaluable for testing and enhancing our understanding of technology and Technology-Enabled Care (TEC), challenging expectations and fostering shared terminology.

It guided Platform's Digital TEC solution and investment programme, enabled individual TEC assessments, emphasised the value of partnerships, established a TEC equipment library, and facilitated a tech/TEC show flat.

The insights gained have directed Platform's journey of discovery, shaping a more informed and expansive approach to implementing TEC solutions for independent living.

Can you share any specific success stories or notable achievements from your experience with the TAPPI project? How have these outcomes improved the lives of your tenants, and the work of your staff?

Our evaluation of TAPPI2 at Harling Court has revealed 40% of customers experienced an increase in feelings of safety, 33% feel more independent, and 37% feel more connected as a direct result of the technology trialled. Some of these improvements are due to improved digital inclusion, with others the result of simple TEC solutions being integrated into daily living.

TAPPI meant we could supply a tipper kettle without delay to a lady who fell and broke both wrists and our TAPPI Workshops have bridged the gap between a customer and his grandchildren in America.

Insight into the digital literacy and TEC awareness of our colleagues has resulted in bespoke training and improved collaborative working between departments to enable better use of technology/TEC.

Based on the learnings and outcomes of the TAPPI project, what recommendations or best practices would you suggest for future initiatives focused on technology enabled care in housing for older and vulnerable people?

We’d make others aware of the time it takes to plan such a project. More lead-in time, to establish internal and external networks and interdependencies and plan co-production work with customers.

Engaging customers from the earliest of stages will help you to learn what is important to them: as mentioned earlier, we often make incorrect assumptions on behalf of others.

On-the-ground engagement will also help you to challenge misconceptions about what tech means: it’s not all computers and robots!

We’d suggest doing engagement with a range of different sites, too: we’ve come to recognise experiences with technology depend hugely on geography, local communities and social opportunities.

What has your experience of co-production with your residents been like throughout the project? And (how) do you intend to continue co-producing with them after the end of the project?

We have always championed customer engagement, but TAPPI really emphasised the learning and insight available to co-produce better solutions and ways of working.

Some of our biggest learning during TAPPI2, taken as a direct result of our discussions with residents, has been that support and reassurance before, during, and after the installation of any form of new technology is essential.

We have tried to be person-centred when choosing technology-enabled solutions and this has influenced our future call alarm installs, as co-production with customers showed that different systems will benefit different sites based on size, and existing digital confidence.

Co-production hasn’t always been easy: expectations of all involved need to be kept realistic, and it’s been humbling to be reminded that the priorities of others don’t always match our own.

Looking towards the future, what plans or recommendations do you have for sustaining and expanding the adoption of the TAPPI principles beyond the project's conclusion? How do you envision scaling up the successful practices and innovations developed during the project?

We will be widening our TEC training to customers across our retirement housing portfolio to continue to challenge tech misconceptions and increase access to digital learning opportunities and equipment.

We will continue to build our relationships with TEC services throughout our localities and build a stock of devices trialled as part of TAPPI2 that can be provided to those in need without delay to be more adaptable to the changing needs of our customers.

Call alarm upgrades in 85 of our sites gives us an opportunity to factor in interoperability with other TEC solutions to ensure person-centred modifications can be tailored to the needs of an individual, with procurement decisions ensuring systems are fit for purpose for users at all levels.

Daniel Rock, TEC Project Officer, Platform Housing Group.

Throughout the second Phase of the TAPPI programme, the 6 testbeds have given us regular updates published in Q&As form: