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[Audio] My name is Kristan Grant, creator of the Virtual Guardian App. I have a background in social care, supporting adults with autism as a support worker for over 7 years and then working in finance and development. I am currently employed by Disability Stockport, where most of the pilot work for Virtual Guardian has taken place with Stockport Council also backing the project and the Disability Stockport Autism Ambassador providing continuous feedback to help shape the current version. VG was born from a passion to empower independence for individuals to support themselves and the goal is to create a recognised brand that is offered as a virtual support aid or to compliment support services..

[Audio] Who would use the App? Individuals with any support need – The App promotes independence. This could be managing finances, accessing timetable information and upcoming event details or following steps towards a goal or target that is as individual as the person. Staff – The VG App allows access (Once approved) to multiple profiles, meaning that staff could use the App to report daily paperwork, incidents and view medication information (Just a few of the many features). Parents/ social workers/ Managers/ Commissioners – Access can be approved to view progression, records and also analytic, easy read data charts to aid placement and funding decision making..

[Audio] Not going to go into too much detail about the features but I thought it would be useful to see where the value comes from and how the features can empower independence..

[Audio] Staff reporting and paperwork is digitally stored and can be input on a mobile or pc. Remote access can save time and money..

[Audio] Just wanted to show the pathway and where VG would fit..

[Audio] Overall aim is to empower independence & generate long term savings in the billion £ industry..

[Audio] VG supports Traditional support services need for change/ modernisation. Covid- 19 has highlighted the need to change and adapt services to provide continuity and increased independence. Staff recruitment, retention & pressure challenges add to the difficulties to deliver personalised, consistent support services. The App has also been developed in response to the lack of outcomes and transparency in social care support services to inform care levels and funding decisions. I have come across this issue many times in my career as commissioners have requested evidence to support funding decisions and services have been unable to provide this. Also a digitised, remote service solution would increase effectiveness, saving time and paper!.

[Audio] To quote Ronseal, the App does what it says on the tin and has been designed to be straight forward, uncomplicated and simple to use support aid. There is complimentary support and advice on the VG website and youtube channel including user guides. A subscription is priced at £ 14.99 per month – less than one standard hour of support..

[Audio] As independence increases, savings are made on commissioning unnecessary support hours. Social workers and commissioners benefit from standardised reporting and paperwork presented to make funding decisions Virtual Guardian supports the goal to see the greatest and fastest improvement to the health, wealth and wellbeing of the 2.8 million people in the towns and cities of Greater Manchester..

[Audio] The first subscription of VG A support provider assessed an individual to require 'light touch' support for 15 hours per-day. Involving support to prepare meals, prompts, support to take medication, reduce loneliness and isolation and support to maintain a clean, safe and tidy home. Commissioning VG, the individual has been allocated 14 hours per-week 1:1 human support. VG will empower the individual to independently prepare meals, provide medication prompts and use step-by-step guides to complete cleaning routines and safety checks. Loneliness is reduced as VG provides targets to follow to complete meaningful tasks independently throughout the day and work towards achieving goals. The case highlights the benefit to the individual gaining skills to live independently in their home with the use of VG digital support. The benefit to the local authority (In the above case – Stockport) is a saving of over 90 hours commissioned support per-week..

[Audio] Stockport Council = 1 subscriber Disability Stockport = Autism ambassador approved VG is ready for pilot to collect feedback and case study evidence to show value..

[Audio] Feedback has been continuously collected through support workers, managers and potential future users..

[Audio] VG is looking for nominations to contribute towards the pilot of VG to see the benefits or please pass on contact details of who a pilot can be arranged with..

Social Value. Text Box.

[Audio] Worth a mention if anyone has heard of Brian in hand – a digital self management support programme that supports decision making strategies and managing anxiety. Brain in Hand has recently propelled into the market, highlighting the room in the market for tech and innovation. Although the main feature is similar Whilst the main user feature of BIH and VG are similar; VG offers support to achieve ongoing goals and independence, whereas BIH offers daily coping strategies to provide reassurance and overcome anxieties. Uniquely, VG offers insight/ transparency into the care of the subscriber to staff/ parents/ commissioners and social workers, generating savings through remote access and aiding funding decision making. VG's inbuilt digital daily paperwork is an environmental benefit. Comparing the cost to the subscriber/funder, VG is significantly lower (VG: £ 14.99pm; BIH: £ 99pm). Both innovations disrupt the social care market and follow the same pathway. BIH recent success has highlighted market openness for digital products and a demand for technology to compliment human support..