Using What3words in Care with Right at Home Solent

Published: 15/03/2023

Using What3words in Care

What is What3words?

Whatwords is a mobile app that creates a quick and simple way for people to find exact locations. What3words is actually used by 85% of the UK's Police, Ambulance and Fire Services, and this is because it is so much more accurate than using normal maps (such as Waze/Apple Maps). We are encouraging all of our CareGivers to download the What3word app to their phone; to make travelling to clients that little bit easier. We have been doing What3word training sessions in our recent focus groups; but for those who weren't able to come to those sessions, or who need a refresher, one of our Team Leaders, Kirsten, has put together a tutorial video to help you set up the app. 

How are we using What3words?

We are using What3words to help our CareGivers find our clients' homes in Fareham, Gosport, Southampton & New Forest East, quicker and easier. The United Kingdom has been separated into 3m squared; and then the GPS uses coordinates of the location and generates 3 random words that is then used to find it. We are currently retrieving the What3words for all of our clients homes and uploading them onto our system so they can be used by anyone who might need to find or visit them. We can also then use these three words in cases of an emergency; for example, if there is ever a situation in which we need to call the emergency services for any of our clients, we can pass these words on, to get them help quicker. There have been many instances, particularly with our clients who live in secluded areas (such as Wickham and/or The New Forest East), that the normal map apps (Waze or Apple Maps) struggle to find the exact location, based on the address or postcode provided. However, using the What3words app will enable our team to find our clients' properties much quicker.

Our CareGivers will also be able to 'save' locations, so they can keep their regular and new clients' three words saved to their account, making it even easier for them to find them whenever they need to. Check out the What3words website here - what3words.com/about

Watch the video below which features one our Team Leaders, Kirsten, talking the basics of What3words and how we are using it to help our CareGivers. If any of our CareGivers are reading this Blog and have any questions about What3words, or you'd like some extra training on it, please give the office a call on 01329 233755 or email us at [email protected]