Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) is highlighting the importance of online accessibility within the care industry.
To mark ‘Accessibility to Me’ Awareness Week (13 – 17 November), a week dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusion, QCS is reminding service users that Recite Me accessibility and language tools within its software ensure that they can access policies and content in a format that meets their communication needs.
Over the past year, QCS has seen over 280,000 customers using the Recite Me toolbar within its system. Seventy per cent of these used the Screen Reader feature, where content is read out loud for the user, and 26 per cent of users enabled the translation feature.
Being able to offer an inclusive experience is essential for QCS’s users, who, in critical and stressful circumstances, need to access information clearly and concisely, meaning they are able to do the right thing when it comes to providing care.
Lindsay Rees, head of social care content at QCS, said: “Here at QCS, accessibility is extremely important to us. We are committed to ensuring all health and social care providers can access key information instantly, in a way that best meets their individual needs. It is critical that people can access to read and understand the policies and procedures which underpin the care they provide. An example of this would be medication management or fire safety, where failure to follow best practice, policy and procedure could cause significant harm or even death. The ability to have the content read in the native language of a staff member, in a format more suitable for their needs, supports people to gain a deeper understanding of the policy and procedure, be more able to apply this in practice, and be empowered to provide the best care possible.”
