Day in the life of Telecare outreach worker Donna
The Oban Times is running a series of articles championing the work carried out by Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles locality.
Each article features a specific service provided by the HSCP and focuses on the staff who provide that service and the role they play in making a positive difference for the people living in Oban and surrounding areas.
This week we look at the work of the Telecare outreach worker Donna McLean.
DONNA is one of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s Telecare Outreach workers based at Lorn and Islands hospital. She has 13 years’ experience in Telecare.
Donna deals with a broad range of Technology Enabled Care (TEC) remote
I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing people can live independently” Donna McLean
monitoring equipment, which includes sensors and alarms to enable people to continue living independently in their own homes while minimising risks to their health and wellbeing. This includes coordinating the installation and testing of remote monitoring TEC equipment with support from partner services.
On a daily basis, she manages more than 300 service users. Each morning her priority is following up alerts from the out-of-hours call centre and ensuring relevant action has been taken to make sure service users’ needs and safety is not being compromised.
She works very closely with a wide range of HSCP staff and other agencies processing external, internal and self referrals for the service. Donna is directly responsible for clients’ assessments for people living in Oban, Lorn, the Isles and North Mid Argyll.
Donna said: ‘There are many different types of Telecare sensors and alarms. They have different functions and they work together to provide support and protection. The starting point is a telephone line, usually a landline, and a power supply.
‘A growing number of TEC services operate on mobile phones too.
‘There is also a perception that telecare is for older people when this is not the case at all. Technology Enabled Care packages are really for anybody who feels vulnerable and can benefit from the unobtrusive equipment. Some of the service’s users include domestic violence cases, young people leaving care, people at risk of falls and people diagnosed with long-term conditions.
‘Technology Enabled Care devices and sensors give carers peace of mind if an older person, disabled person or someone living with a long-term condition is at risk in their own environment. They know that their loved ones can summon help in an emergency when left alone at home.
‘The service gives the cared for and carers much more confidence. It’s reassuring for them to know that at the touch of a button friends, family or emergency services can be alerted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
‘I get a great deal of job satisfaction knowing that people can live independently and safer when TEC equipment has been installed in their homes. It is particularly overwhelming when I hear of clients’ or patients’ lives been saved by TEC devices and sensors.
‘I also have a particular interest in people living with dementia and the wide range of assisted living TEC equipment available from GPS, smoke detectors, personal alarms, chair and bed sensors to keep them safer in and around their own homes.
‘With the equipment available it makes a really big difference to keeping people safer for as long as possible in their own homes.’
Donna has a considerable amount of administrative duties, which include making sure client records are accurate. She also has responsibility for several databases that provide alerts on client assessments, equipment testing, stock monitoring and installations. Having specifically designed software makes it possible for the service to run smoothly.
Donna loves working and living in Oban because it is such a close-knit community and the people are really special to her. She enjoys the inspiring scenery, great places to eat, festivals, shows, culture and local community events.