SWITCH

The Swindon & Wiltshire Innovative Technology Care Hub (SWITCH) is a collaboration between New College Swindon and Wiltshire College to enhance and upskill health and social care staff across Swindon, Wiltshire and beyond.

SWITCH will accelerate skills development in health, care and life science through immersive technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, where learners ‘learn by doing’ rather than by simply watching. Embedding reality technology allows us to offer unparalleled simulation activities across a broad provision for job roles within hospitals, care homes and beyond. We have learning hubs within both New College Swindon and Wiltshire College and University Centre.

Benefits for Learners

A selection of courses that build upon mandatory training and provide essential knowledge and clinical skills
The opportunity to learn in a fun and interactive way
Immersive technology and environments that enable you to experience risk-free scenarios, allowing for mistakes and repetition without endangering a live patient
Lecturers with expertise and current industry experience
A greater understanding of conditions such as diabetes and other long term conditions.

Benefits for Employers

Access to industry-leading technology not available to you elsewhere
A safe, efficient and cost-effective way to bridge the skills gaps within the sector
Flexible delivery with the option to create bespoke training for your organisation or health setting
Programme leaders who are currently work on the front line, which means they are well placed to understand the urgent training needs within the sector.

Bespoke Training

We can come to your setting with our equipment and run scenarios to assess and develop best practice. For example, one of our trainers can arrange with a manager to utilise a spare room or shared space for us to set up a scenario with AV recording equipment and an advanced manikin. In doing so, we can simulate scenarios such as seizure, heart attack, resuscitation, anaphylaxis or stroke. We can then press the emergency bell and see what the staff do in real time. In addition, we can use the recording to debrief the staff and analyse their responses in a constructive way to improve the quality of care.

Our ‘family’ of manikins include a baby, children and adults which enable us to use the appropriate age or group of patients to meet your needs. For example, we can have a parent in the bed and an upset child next to them to see how the soft skills such as compassion and empathy are used to support the care provided.

Long Term Condition Courses

Awareness of Dementia Level 3 Award
Awareness of End of Life Care Level 2 Award
Principles of End of Life Care Level 2 Certificate
Principles of End of Life Care Level 3 Certificate
Domestic Abuse Level 2 Certificate
Stroke Awareness Level 2 Award
Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities Level 3 Award
Understanding Nutrition and Health Level 2 Certificate
Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes Level 3 Certificate

Mandatory and Emergency Courses

Basic Life Support and Management of Anaphylaxis Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Basic Life Support and Safe Use of an Automatic External Defibrillator Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Health and Safety in Health and Social Care Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Infection Prevention and Control Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Moving People Safely Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Level 2 Award – Qual Safe
Understanding the Safe Handling of Medication Level 2 Certificate
Dignity and Safeguarding Level 2 Certificate
Principles of Safe Handling and Admin of Medication Level 2
Emergency First Aid at Work (Efaw) Level 3 Award – Qual Safe
First Aid at Work (Faw) Level 3 Award – Qual Safe
Paediatric First Aid Level 3 Award – Qual Safe
Emergency First Aid at Work Level 3 Award and Emergency Paediatric First Aid Level 3 Award (Rqf) – Qual Safe

Clinical Skills

Catheterisation Training (Level: Intermediate)
Enteral Feeding (NG and PEG) (Level: Intermediate)
Epilepsy Awareness and Seizure Management (Level: Intermediate)
Management of the Deteriorating Patient (Level: Beginner)
Nurse Led Swallow Training (Level: Advanced)
PEG Management Training (Level: Intermediate)
PICC Management Training (Level: Advanced)
Sepsis Awareness (Level: Beginner)
Syringe Driver Training (Level: Advanced)
Undertaking ECGs (Level: Beginner)
Venepuncture Training (Level: Intermediate)
Verification of Death Training (Level: Advanced)
Wound Care and Aseptic Non Touch Technique (ANTT) Training (Level: Beginner)

Full-time Health and Social Care Courses

Health and Social Care FdSc
Professional Development in Health and Social Care BSc (Hons)

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Equipment

We offer unparalleled simulation activities, including:

Augmented Reality (AR) where digital information is integrated into real-world environments, creating an engaging and interactive digital experience overlaid onto real-world objects, where learners ‘learn by doing’, rather than by merely watching.
Virtual Reality (VR) allows students a safe environment to understand processes and react to patients in real time. It also allows for reflection and improvement to encourage best practice.
A professional standard simulation suite environment, that is as real as possible with equipment, furniture and patients, will enable practice of the fine motor skills and soft skill interaction needed within the industry to deliver high quality care. Our simulation suites of wards, maternity delivery suite, side room and consulting room widen the scope for scenario based learning and interaction.
The use of state-of-the-art manikins that mimic human anatomy and physiology, allowing for the teaching of clinical skills in a simulated professional healthcare setting. Our patient simulators set the standard for high-fidelity realism, allowing learners to develop critical thinking, communication and clinical skills without risk to real patients.