BACKGROUND
Lighthouse Project has been providing services for drug users, recovering drug users and their families since 1967. The organisation now operates a number of projects and services throughout Merseyside which offer support to drug users and those affected by drug misuse in a variety of environments. Clients are assisted in first stabilising, then reducing their drug use, with the aim that ultimately they become and remain drug free. Also provided are support services to other people affected by drug use, such as carers, family members and friends of drug users.
In 2005 it became obvious that the organisation was becoming increasingly dependent on IT systems which prompted a detailed review of ICT. The review established a critical need for prescription and client data from Head Office being available throughout 27 operational sites and revealed difficulties with communication speed and reliability hampering efficiency.
The review went further: recommending a thin client solution be designed to work with Lighthouse Project applications and implemented to allow staff working in multiple locations across Merseyside to access application software such as prescribing systems and enable effective communications within a functional, secure, resilient and scalable IT environment.
APPROACH
Following successful tender submission, SICL was commissioned to design the solution and lead a Proof of Concept test benchmarking potential thin client technologies in conjunction with Lighthouse Project applications to ensure best possible speed and reliability. The proof of concept tests concluded that Citrix was the best choice for Lighthouse Project following which the project implementation was completed by SICL Technical Engineers managed by PRINCE2 Project Managers.
SOLUTION
A Citrix solution based on a Dell PowerEdge Server platform was installed at Head Office, complete with a new Cisco LAN/WAN secure network designed to support the central applications over Citrix and provide a high availability platform for remote site users. Remote sites were installed in stages to ensure User Acceptance Testing and training was completed in manageable phases ensuring project acceptance and success.
RESULT
Lighthouse Project and SICL working in partnership have achieved a new infrastructure suitable to the needs of the organisation which is also a scalable platform for future technologies
“We worked with SICL from the concept design stage right through to successful implementation of an IT platform which is much more suitable for the needs of our staff and provides the reliability necessary for our service users.”
Ruth Richardson
ICT Manager
Lighthouse Project