Domiciliary Care Toolkit App
November 2016
The App is a free resource designed to support domiciliary care workers
and their managers. It can also be used by service users and their carers.
The App is divided into four key content areas. These are important
areas of learning and development that all domiciliary workers should
understand and put into practice to ensure the people they support
(service users) receive the high standard of care they deserve.
These include;
•
Values and Behaviours covering; what are values; what is person centred
practice and interactive exercises to test workers understanding; what is the
difference between respect and dignity, what are the NISCC Standards of
Conduct and Practice for Social Care Workers and scenarios to help explain
what these mean in day to day practice.
•
Safeguarding covering; what adult safeguarding means, what are the types
and signs of abuse; scenarios to explain/test how a worker might know that
abuse is happening? This section also includes information on adult
safeguarding champions, domestic abuse and safeguarding children.
•
Service user health and well-being covering key information to help
workers promote the health and wellbeing of the service users. This includes;
the dos and don’ts for administration of medication, the NISCC Guidance on
Administration of Medication, information on skin care (including pressure
sores), infection control, hand washing, person protective equipment (PPE), safe
food handling and why risk assessments are important and should be adhered
to.
•
Service Areas and Pathways – this is a new section1 which includes
information on dementia, delirium and end of life care. It covers; types of
dementia and delirium; how to support and care for a person with a dementia,
delirium and people at the end of their life. It includes; person centred practice
in dementia; practical tips to maintain independence, guidance on behaviour
1
This is a new section added in 2016 to help raise awareness of these important and complex conditions and to provide guidance
to improve workers day to day practice.
and communication and there are scenarios to help explain what these conditions mean in day
to day practice.
Why develop a mobile App?
Every year workers complete mandatory and workplace training around
the above topics. If they are not immediately putting this learning and
knowledge into practice they may not be able to remember what to do
when a situation arises. The App provides the above information in a
succinct/bite size format. It provides a quick reference tool to help refresh
learning, as and when the worker needs it. This enables the care worker to
consider and reflect on the values and types of behaviour required for
good and safe practise. It reminds the care worker about the NISCC
Standards, about person centred practices and how to support people with
complex conditions such as dementia, delirium and those at the end of
their lives. The App also includes; scenario based exercises from practise
and relevant videos and other information to enhance understanding and
improve service delivery.
Partnership Working
The App has been developed and produced by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISSC)
in partnership with domiciliary care providers; Bryson Care and Extra Care, representatives from
the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, the Safeguarding Board, the Regulation and Quality
Improvement Authority (RQIA), the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the DHSSPS/DoH
and Dementia Together NI/Delivering Social Care Change project.
How to access the App
The app is available to download free onto IOS/Apple Iphones, IPads, Android Smart phones
and tablets from iTunes and Google Play at the following links;

IOS/Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/domiciliary-care-toolkit/id844143321?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.learningpool.domiciliary
If you are unfamiliar with Apps and/or need help to access/find the Apps, please contact Mairead
Harkin, Workforce Development Officer at the NISCC at [email protected]
Tell us what you think?
We want to hear how the App is helping improve your service delivery.
Please use the new feedback section on the App to let us know. You can also
tweet us at #scniscc
To find out more about NISCC and our mobile apps go to
www.niscc.info