North Kent College officially opened its pioneering Assisted Living Technology Suites recently, unveiling cutting-edge facilities that will play a key role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Held at the College’s Tonbridge campus on Wednesday 30 April, the launch event brought together figures from across education, health and social care, including senior representatives from the local NHS Trusts.
Installed at its Tonbridge and Dartford campuses, each suite is equipped with state-of-the-art smart technology that supports people with conditions such as dementia.
The technology will allow carers and family members to monitor their loved ones more closely, supporting individuals towards greater independence and enabling them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
Each space also comes with a PARO Seal, a lifelike seal with multiple interactive sensors that is used in dementia care to combat cognitive decline and lift moods.
The spaces will be used to train both Health & Social Care students at the College and NHS employees on the use of this new digital technology, so they can take their experience into the workplace.
North Kent College learners gain invaluable experience through work placements supported by Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Students are currently undertaking work experience at King’s College NHS Trust, and from September, the College will be expanding its partnerships further to include additional NHS providers to ensure even more learners benefit from high-quality, real-world healthcare placements.
Mark Andrews, Deputy Executive Principal – Strategy & Curriculum at North Kent College, said: “This opening marks the culmination of a great collaborative effort between technology businesses, the care sector, and the three College groups in Kent and Medway, to push the boundaries of our curriculum. For me the technology is exciting, but the real difference it makes is in enabling people to live simpler, safer and more independent lives. These suites will help us develop a care workforce equipped with the game-changing skills they need, not only to succeed, but to have a really meaningful impact on our communities.”
Stacie Collings, Assistant Principal (Curriculum) for North Kent College, said: “We’re incredibly proud to officially open our Assisted Living Technology Suites, which mark a major step forward in how we prepare learners for real-world care settings. These spaces bring together innovation, compassion, and practical learning to ensure our students - and the wider workforce - are equipped to meet the future needs of the Health and Social Care sector. It’s been a privilege to welcome guests from across education and healthcare to see firsthand the impact this technology will have on both training and care delivery.”
As well as showcasing the Assisted Living Technology Suites, guests also explored some of the other innovative facilities available to students at the College, including a simulated hospital ward and care home environment.
They also had the opportunity to test out the College’s VR headsets, which provide powerful learning experiences across multiple curriculum areas. Visitors were able to step into the role of a carer supporting someone with dementia, gaining insight into the condition’s disorienting effects through a 360° immersive simulation.
The assisted living suites have been installed across three different college groups in Kent: North Kent College, East Kent Colleges Group and MidKent College.
This initiative, funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), forms part of a wider Kent-wide collaboration responding to the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). The suites have been developed in partnership with Automated Spaces and aim to meet the growing demand for a digitally skilled care workforce.
The project came about after the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) identified a need to upskill the Health and Social Care workforce in digital skills and to use technology to develop and deliver more effective services.
It has been made possible by a grant from the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), with the rooms being created by Automated Spaces, who design and implement a range of independent living technologies.
The assisted technology suites can be found at North Kent College’s Tonbridge and Dartford campuses and have initially been created to highlight the positive outcomes that can be provided across three specific scenarios:
- Person living at home with Dementia
- Residential Care Setting
- Sheltered Housing
North Kent College offers a range of Health and Social Care courses with a strong emphasis on practical experience gained through work placements.
To find out more visit the Health and Social Care subject page on the North Kent College website.