Rossie is a Scottish charity that aims to protect and improve the wellbeing of young people aged 10-18 in its care. It is a multi-disciplinary organisation that provides services in care, education, specialist interventions and throughcare, 365 days a year. The charity and its facilities are located in Angus, midway between Aberdeen and Dundee. It provides a place of safety and care for young people who have faced distressing and difficult circumstances, who require support to help rebuild their lives.
In 2008, the charity invested in its facilities and underwent building work. This overall project included a staff safety and critical alarm system. Manufacturer’s support ended for this system recently and difficulties in keeping it running reliably prompted the organisation to push forward with their plan to replace it. Therefore, Rossie required a similar solution that needed to be better than, or at the very least as good as, this incumbent system – whilst also supporting staff with their communication needs as they perform their daily tasks effectively and safely around Rossie’s facilities.
Some key requirements included the ability for the system to continue to offer mobile
After extensive search, the Rossie management team concluded that an Ascom IP DECT system was the best technology for the charity’s requirements. The next step was to find a supplier that could provide a complete turnkey solution to supply, install, maintain and integrate this technology within a live environment. Fortunately, after a rigorous tender process, ANT Telecom was awarded the contract.
Martin Brown, Service Manager, Business and Facilities, Rossie explains the challenge and says, “We needed a modern, robust, and adaptable solution that integrated seamlessly with our campus infrastructure, while ensuring minimal disruption to our daily activities.”
“As an organisation our location is unique. We have 150 acres of extensive grounds and woodlands, as well as secure residential and school buildings . Our Secure Accommodation is divided into five houses, each accommodating up to six young people per house. It is a place of safety and security for vulnerable young people where each young person is supported in all aspects of their time here by a team of experienced workers. This means it’s essential for our staff to have the means to be able communicate with one another to ensure their own safety and well-being, and the children's safety and wellbeing, if and when an incident occurs.”
“We decided to install the Ascom IP DECT system because it was capable of raising alarms silently and effectively with accurate location tracking, to enhance staff safety during any incidents. Additionally, ANT Telecom assured us it could integrate the system with our existing telephone system, ensuring smooth communication throughout the organisation. The timeliness of this installation played a challenging factor too. Since Rossie operates 365 days a year, it could not afford any down time for an installation to take place. This meant that ANT Telecom had to work during the charity's operating hours to ensure the system was installed as seamlessly as possible.”
Martin added, “Many of the young people with us have had difficult backgrounds. We have to carefully coordinate movements because if certain young people mix, it could lead to incidents. Therefore, communication is vital here, not just for the smooth running of daily routines; but also to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. For example, if a young person becomes challenging towards a member of staff, the staff member needs to have the appropriate supporting technology in place to be able to set an alarm to ensure that they can be easily located, and have the situation tended to and de-escalated as quickly as possible .
“Another example could be when two young people don’t get along. This can lead to confrontations, so we need the ability to communicate so that we can understand exactly what is happening at all times, where it’s happening and which kind of staff are needed to deal with the situation. At times it is vital to set off silent alarms, to keep staff and children safe too.”
“Once we decided to install a new IP DECT system, we immediately set about finding a partner to install the technology. It wasn’t long before ANT Telecom stood out in the evaluation process. They came across as professional, had great attention to detail, and had the ability to customise solutions specifically for our needs. Their reputation for going the extra mile and their commitment to client satisfaction made them the clear choice. Other clients we spoke to said they’d been with ANT Telecom for over 20 years. Their glowing references gave us confidence to commit to trusting ANT Telecom to deliver our unique solution.”
The IP DECT system that we chose was well-suited to Rossie’s existing infrastructure. It offered significant adaptability for the campus layout. Rossie bought 150 Ascom D83 DECT handsets with protective features for their staff. The project management and implementation process for this new technology installation was well-structured, methodical, collaborative and completely professional.
To meet Rossie’s needs, ANT Telecom implemented the system, and provided a site-wide
Further integrations included connecting the DECT system to Rossie’s bed call system, to support with managing any incidents that might occur within residents’ bedrooms. In this instance, ANT Telecom developed a process to prevent alarm fatigue, ensuring responders received only one message even if the bed call button was pressed multiple times, which also conserved handset battery life.
Martin adds, “ANT Telecom worked closely with the team here at Rossie to design a solution that aligned with our operational priorities. The new system featured customisable alert tones, modern handsets with coloured screens, and sophisticated alarm configurations, enabling staff to respond appropriately to the wide range of scenarios we deal with here on a daily basis.”
“Installation was conducted incrementally, starting with low-risk areas and gradually expanding to high-security housing, ensuring minimal disruption to daily activities. Overall, the installation process was completed in half the time expected.”
Training was also a critical component of the rollout, with ANT Telecom providing comprehensive support to ensure that all staff were confident in using the system pre and post-implementation.
Martin says, “We invest heavily in our staff's training and development here at Rossie, so it was important to us that ANT could help support our team to understand the technology and maximise their knowledge of the equipment in case of an emergency. Throughout the process, ANT Telecom’s engineers were highly knowledgeable and communicative. They ensured that we appreciated and understood what was happening at every stage of the project. Post-installation, they’ve been great too. We had regular follow-up calls and were able to make any adjustments to ensure the system stayed aligned with our needs.”
ANT Telecom has also designed a bespoke testing feature on the IP DECT handsets. This allows staff to verify the alarm safety features at the start of each shift too, all of which provides confidence to Rossie’s team that the organisation has their best interests at hand.
These tailored features have made a significant impact on Rossie’s daily operations. The alarm system’s location accuracy ensures that responders can act swiftly during incidents, while the custom tones have created a more relaxed environment for Rossie’s young residents. “Our staff feels assured by the system. They understand how it works and appreciate its reliability. Any minor glitches, mainly due to our unique site layout, were quickly addressed too,” said Martin.
The successful implementation of this system not only meets Rossie’s current needs but also provides a robust foundation for future advancements, ensuring that the campus remains a secure and harmonious environment for all. Martin concluded, “We are delighted with the work ANT Telecom has done for us. From the off, they demonstrated the right approach and a depth of professionalism and knowledge throughout the tender response. Initially, they were endorsed by existing customers to have a level of care that goes above and beyond. After working with them, they have proved to be the right company to deliver this type of project.”
If you are looking for a DECT communication or staff safety solution, speak to ANT Telecom about designing a system tailored to your environment.