Technology Enabled Care (TEC)/Assistive Technology

TEC/Assistive Technology refers to any device/app/system that is used to increase, maintain or improve a person's independence or reduce the risk to their wellbeing.

It can be as simple as a pendant alarm system connected to a call center, a daily reminder to take medication or as complex as sensors and apps that send an alert if someone is unwell or not following their usual routine. There are TEC devices that can assist people with memory problems or other cognitive difficulties, or aid someone with mobility or physical difficulties. ​

TEC can support people to carry out everyday tasks and activities, enhance their safety, support social participation, and monitor progress.

Used effectively, assistive technology can:

1. Promote independence;
2. Improve confidence;
3. Help manage risks around the home and in the community;
4. Support a person to remain living at home;
5. Help with memory and recall;
6. Support a person to carry out key tasks, such as making a cup of tea
7. Provide reassurance to carers and family members;
8. Deliver value for money - average package for assessment, equipment and years monitoring;
9. Reduce health inequalities;
10. Fast tracks hospital discharges;
11. Enable the least restrictive approach;
12. Provide fire safety - sensors and connected fire alarms to response centre;
13. Save the need for funded care;
14. Reduce social isolation;
15. Safeguard vulnerable people - e.g. bogus call monitors;
16. Connect with services;
17. Detect changes in patterns of behaviour before a life event happens, and hopefully mitigate that risk by early intervention support vulnerable people to live independently in Reading.

Technology Enabled Care (TEC) / Assistive Technology can be provided:

1. As part of a Reablement service; or
2. To support hospital discharges;
3. Alongside services to meet ongoing care and support needs;
4. Falls prevention or response;
5. Enable a person to remain in their home for longer;
6. Enable a carer to support a person;
7. Maintaining independence;
8. Preventing hospital admission;
9. Promote a person’s safety;
10. Improve a person’s confidence and reduce their anxiety;
11. Reduce search and rescue incidents;
12. Prevent a long lie;
13. As part of a safeguarding plan to protect someone with care and support needs.

It is available to people who live in:

1. Their own home;
2. Rented accommodation (including Local Authority accommodation);
3. Supported living;
4. Extra Care;
5. Shared lives placements;
6. Bail hostels.

Care Homes: If a person lives in residential or nursing home TEC should be provided by the Care Home to ensure they meet their CQC Duties. See Care Quality Commission, Regulation 15: Premises and equipment.

See RBC/West of Berkshire Care Home Equipment - in process of being updated.

TEC is a cost-effective approach to client centred care that maximises service users' independence and can reduce risks to residents within the care home, supporting safer care. This service can be supplied as monitored and unmonitored TEC and will need to connect to the Care Homes own inhouse monitoring service.

It is normally the responsibility of the provider to assess and arrange and strongly recommended that the provider will make best use of TEC.

Website and leaflet (general public) - Reading Borough Council Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Team

Intranet link (RBC staff) Technology Enabled Care Guidance

Learning Pool induction Course: DACHS Induction Resources

NRS

TSA

RBC Tec Videos​

These video links provide insights into how TEC is used to support people to stay well in their own homes​:

• ​Resident in her 80s sharing how she didn’t feel safe in her own home and didn’t want to ask for help. RBC contacted her after she had a fall;​
• ​Resident uses Alexa to remind her when to take her insulin and to access leisure activities to support her wellbeing by listen to her favourite music – Chris De Burgh Lady in Red!

Advice to public: you may be eligible for help with TEC form the council under the Care Act 2014 following an assessment please contact
Call Centre on 0118 937 3747
or
e-mail CSAAdvice.Signposting@reading.gov.uk.

RBC pricing policy for TEC/Assistive Technology is currently under review. TEC devices are on loan. The cost of TEC assessment is free of charge. The cost of Monitored TEC to a person is dependent on eligibility under the Care Act 2014.  

See: ASCS Care and Support Charging and Financial Assessment Framework.

If the person has an existing (or developing) Care and Support Plan any Technology Enabled Care (TEC)/Assistive Technology that is provided to meet on-going needs must be recorded in the plan.

It needs to be recorded all the way through.

For further information, see Practice guidance:

Practice Guide: Completing Care and Support Plans and Reviews.

Conversations Count.

DACHS Practice Guidance Note: Strength Based Approach.

Technology Enabled Care/Assistive Technology should not be provided until an appropriate and proportionate assessment of need has been carried out. This might be under a Conversation 2 or 3 plan (see section 5 for guidance)

Community equipment and assistive technology can be provided under the Care Act 2014 under the following criteria:

Prevention ​

• Preventing need for addition care or putting a hold on the Care Act assessment to see if other solutions such as TEC, minor adaptations or equipment will prevent the need for formal care or manage significant risk due to care and support needs.​

Reablement ​

• As part of a reablement/ rehabilitation programme e.g. CRT or on discharge from hospital .

Long term care needs​

• As part of a long-term care and support plan where people meet the eligibility criteria. ​

Not eligible ​

• When a person is assessed as having low level needs or identifies a need which is in relation to one outcome of the Care Act, they may be signposted to the relevant support service, this can include requests for “pendant only”.

Each case is considered on a case-by-case basis and risks considered.

Management oversite:

All new TEC referrals which include monitoring must be agreed by a Team Manager in a Conversation 2 or 3.

Standalone TEC available on the NRS catalogue does not require management sign oversite.

Standalone TEC specialists must be agreed by POT in a Conversation 2 or 3.

Any social care practitioner can assess the need for assistive technology and Telecare as part of a needs assessment if they are confident to do so.

• RBC Prescriber can request for a TEC trusted Assessor from NRS on IRIS;
• RBC Prescriber can contact the TEC Specialist Advisor on 0345 6461863 or e-mail pathfinder@berkshire.nrs-uk.net weekdays, 8am-12pm for advice on finding the right TEC solution before ordering.

RBC TEC Assessor is available for advice and support to prescribers dealing people with more complex needs, contact
Billie Reynolds (Billie.Reynolds@reading.gov.uk)
Tel: 0797 718 1438
or
Tec@reading.gov.uk.

RBC TEC team carry out 5 Customer experience survey per month.

TEC customer satisfaction survey of cases closed to ASC as a result of TEC.  

TEC is reviewed as part of the annual review under the Care Act or when reassesses.

All equipment on loan from NRS is the responsibility of NRS to service and repair under the BCES Contract.

To check on a TEC order or log a repair, contact: 0344 8936960 (Option 3), tec@berkshire.nrs-uk.net.

A TEC collection request can be made on IRIS if the person moves to a care home, out of area or passes away. 

Note: If a review has determined that assistive technology or Telecare equipment is no longer required these arrangements should only be made when any alternative provision to meet needs is in place.