More choice, more voice: How residents shape their care at Hill House Residential Home
By Will Baker, Assistive Technologist
At Hill House, the phrase ‘nothing about us without us’ is more than a slogan. For us, it is a commitment to putting people at the centre of decisions that affect their lives.
In the past, hiring new support staff followed a familiar routine. People supported were often present during interviews, but their role was limited. While this was a step in the right direction, Sam did not have a genuine say in who would be supporting her day to day.
How assistive technology is helping residents choose who supports them
That began to change when Hill House introduced a new approach to recruitment. They prioritised involving the people they support in both shortlisting and interviewing candidates. This approach is one of the reasons Sam and her father, Graham, chose Hill House. Another reason was the presence of our dedicated, on‑site Assistive Technology (AT) team. As a team, we have a clear belief that technology should support independence, choice and participation.
With the help of her dad and our wraparound support as the AT team, we worked with Sam to programme her Liberator Accent 800. This is her electronic communicator and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Graham refers to the device as Sam’s ‘Talker’. Together, we programmed the Talker with the exact questions used in support worker interviews. Sam’s customisations turned it into a powerful tool. It gave her the literal and physical voice she needed to command the room and lead conversations with confidence.
Today, Sam plays an active role in reviewing applications. She chooses candidates for interview and asks the interview questions herself. Using her Talker, she sets the pace of the conversation and directs the interview. Candidates respond directly to Sam, giving her the chance to see how they communicate with her. She can see whether they are patient, attentive, and comfortable engaging with her communication style. Candidates are answering to the person whose life their work will impact the most.
Sam shares honest feedback about each candidate, helping us ensure that the right people work at Hill House. The wonderful Pippa, an administrator, supports her throughout the process. The recruitment team was so impressed by their assessments that they made Sam and Pippa joint ‘Employee of the Month’ for Hill House in April.
For us, Sam’s story shows how assistive technology can have a real impact when it is shaped around the person using it. Sam did not just get a new way to speak. She reclaimed the right to be an architect of her own support system. Through the creative use of her device and the support of the AT team, she has moved from being a resident who is supported to a leader who chooses those who support her.
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