Using Technology to Reduce Stress

DESCRIPTION
Explore how digital solutions like OVcare’s care planning system can significantly reduce stress in children’s care homes. This article delves into the latest statistics on workplace stress, identifies key stressors in the social care sector, and highlights the benefits of adopting technology to enhance staff well-being and improve care quality.
When
July 2024
Who
Paula Martinez
July marks Stress Awareness Month, a crucial period dedicated to emphasizing the importance of mental health and well-being. In this context, we explore how innovative digital tools, such as OVcare's digital care planning system, can mitigate stress among caregivers in children's care homes.

Recent data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicates that in 2022/23, approximately 875,000 workers in the UK experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety. Professions within public service sectors, notably health and social care, exhibit higher stress levels compared to other fields.

Common stressors in the workplace include overwhelming workloads, tight deadlines, excessive responsibilities, and insufficient managerial support. These issues are especially prevalent in social care settings, where providers often grapple with limited budgets, staffing shortages, and extended working hours to ensure high-quality care.

Given the heightened focus on staff wellness during Stress Awareness Month, addressing these stressors through sustainable technological solutions becomes imperative.

Digital care technologies can significantly reduce administrative burdens, potentially saving up to three days per month. By streamlining tasks, these tools allow caregivers more time to focus on direct care, enhancing communication and teamwork, and ultimately reducing stress levels.

The well-being of staff is crucial, particularly in high-stress environments. Technology can play a pivotal role in this area. OVcare’s digital care planning system, for instance, offers real-time digital planning, recording, and monitoring of children's care. This system allows staff to document care activities immediately, reducing the need for time-consuming manual transcriptions. It also minimizes errors through advanced features like speech-to-text and icon-driven tools, ensuring data accuracy and accessibility.

Centralized digital records eliminate the risk of information loss, providing authorized staff with instant access to essential data, enhancing the overall efficiency of care delivery.

As digital transformation continues to evolve, it is essential for children’s care homes to embrace these technologies. Doing so will empower caregivers to utilize their time more effectively, improving both their productivity and the quality of care provided to children.

Embracing digital solutions is a proactive step towards reducing workplace stress and fostering a healthier, more supportive work environment. This shift will enable us to reach new levels of well-being for both caregivers and children in care homes.

For more information on how OVcare can help alleviate stress for staff in children's care homes, please contact us for further details.