A specially-designed smartphone app has become a vital tool of the trade for workers with the caring touch.

South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Home Care Service operates seven days a week, 365 days a year to help people remain as independent as they can possibly be in their own home.

Home Care Service manager Deborah Mackle explained: “The rollout of an app represents a quantum leap in terms of how home care is managed and coordinated.

“Daily schedules were traditionally drawn up and distributed to some 1000 home care staff on paper.

“The smartphone app now sets out personalised schedules at our workers’ fingertips and they can be updated instantly and as required.”

Kelly Cunningham, a home carer, says the app has been hugely helpful in her day-to-day work.

Kelly said: “We may be meeting a service user for the first time but that person won’t find themselves repeating their story or background.

“The most up-to-date information is at our fingertips. We are using technology but it helps us to continue to ensure our approach very person-centred.”

Home carers are a vital part of integrated working across health and social care.

The service, for example, plays a key part in the Integrated Community Support Team in South Lanarkshire.

Val de Souza, director of health and social care for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The rollout of this app is reflective of our commitment to making continuous improvement in service delivery.”