Technologise yourself and your service users! 5 apps for the care industry.

Check out our suggestions for apps to get you and your service users doing your best.

We know that not everyone has a smartphone (especially our service users) but for those of us who do, there’s a wealth of apps out there designed for both social care professionals and social services users.

We’ve taken the 5 most useful-sounding and listed them for you – enjoy!

My, Myself and I

In 2012, Staffordshire Council developed My, Myself and I; a life planning iPad app that gamifies (you know, makes a game of) just what the individual wants for home, health, money, safety and life.

Users are able to spin a wheel to access the categories and are then asked a series of questions to clarify what is most important to them. Once they’ve completed it, the app will highlight any danger areas, provide advice on how best to deal with them and signpost them to relevant services.

To see the app tested across a day by a variety of happy users, check out this video.

To learn more, including the methodology, findings of a research appraisal and further info on buying, go to www.mmi-game.co.uk.

Search Jobs

1000s of jobs for Nurses & Care Professionals. No.1 for UK nursing, care & healthcare jobs.

Search Jobs

iBenefits

This app is a (nearly) up-to-date compilation of every benefit and tax credit in the UK benefits system. The developer, IncomeMAX, released it to help people understand what they might be missing out on as well understand why they receive certain payments.

On top of the info, they’ve also compiled lists of helpful services, contact details and the benefits and tax credit rates for 2011/12.

At the time of writing, it’s out for only £0.69 – you can get it here.

Social Worker Companion

Attention social workers! This one is for you. This app is designed for everyone in the social work industry; trainees, practitioners, those in academia and those that train up others.

Through it, you can access the latest news regarding social work, practice references to advise you in many areas, a collection of the major legislations you’ll work under; a map-driven list of local resources (e.g. employment, charities, residential units); and social forums to connect with other social workers to get perspective or blow off a little steam. It’s available here for Android, here for Apple and costs just £2.99!

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Medical Guide To Culture

I think this one might be my favourite.

The Medical Guide To Culture app has compiled useful cultural knowledge for all kinds of cultures, regions and backgrounds to stop you making an embarrassing faux pas or finding yourself paralysed with concern that you might do so.

It covers all kind of areas – from obstetrics to end-of-life expectations – and would be ever so helpful for those who aren’t able to get to know people as they regularly work with a high turn-over of clients. This one is only available on the App Store and you can get it here for $0.99 (at the time of writing, equivalent to £0.62!).

M!ndi

A free ‘personal trainer’ for your phone and your well-being! This one is rather sweet and may be well-received by young adults and the young-at-heart.

M!ndi (pronounced Mindi) is an auto-messaging app that aims to help people throughout their day by encouraging and supporting them to deal with their ‘internal hijackers’.

It’s based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which encourages individuals to practice acceptance and mindfulness and take time to notice themselves.

It also aims to help them accept their reactions and feelings and realise that they themselves are separate from said feelings.

M!ndi can be found at the App Store and is currently free. You can also download worksheets, information and access a list of free books and websites relevant to the area at www.friendswithmindi.com