Surrey County Council social workers are trialling an application developed for the new BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet that has yet to be launched on the UK market.
Council staff will be testing the latest technology that will give them more time to care for the elderly rather than doing paperwork.
The application gives social workers secure mobile access to care records and allows them to complete assessments and update personal details while they are making home visits.
The BlackBerry® PlayBook™ is due to launch in the UK on 16 June.
Public sector software company Northgate approached the county council to test the application in a two-month trial, which is expected to start in July.
Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Michael Gosling said: “The new app for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet should help save time and money by reducing the burden of paperwork, allowing social workers to focus on caring for the elderly.
“Surrey is breaking new ground by testing this new technology in the social work field and it is yet another example of the county council’s willingness to embrace new ideas to improve people’s care as part of our overall aim of becoming a world class authority.”
Paul Brocklehurst, Surrey’s head of information technology and management, said: “We’re proud to be chosen for this trial. For us, the key is to give social workers easy-to-use mobile technology that allows them to work flexibly, more efficiently and securely.”
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