Agenda item

The Committee will receive an update on Technology Enabled Care (TEC) which is the use of technology to support and enhance health and social care outcomes.

The Chairman welcomed Helen Mullinger (Commissioning Manager) who was in attendance to give an update on Technology Enabled Care (TEC), which is the use of technology to support and enhance health and social care outcomes.  It was noted that the committee had received a presentation in September 2023 and asked for a report in 2024 on how the priorities of the strategy are being delivered to meet the needs of Wiltshire residents.

Summarising the more detailed presentation included in the agenda pack, the following was highlighted:

·            The TEC may include pendants and wearable devices linked to a monitoring centre, sensors fixed in the home to monitor movement and changes and health monitoring at home;

·            There had been a huge growth in technology and devices could now be used to enhance people’s independence including apps on phones and tablets, smart home systems and environmental controls, devices connected to the internet and standalone devices;

·            The Council’s vision was to use technology to enable people to fulfil their potential, be actively involved and included in their communities, make informed decisions, have control over their lives and be valued and included within society.  There would be more engagement with carers and there were currently a host of pilot initiatives running;

·            There were four core objectives which included the target that by 2028 60% of packages funded by the Council would be enabled by technology;

·            There had been much progress to date including a recommission of the telecare which would commence from 1 April 2025.  With the new TEC pilots they were able to look at users changes in movement in home, change to home temperatures and they were looking to build a service to expand the use of the technology that is on offer to help support and make a difference to our residents;

·            The Council had joined Swindon Borough Council in a TEC project with Swindon leading the project to secure a TEC partner and they would be working with practitioners and care providers to review 42 individuals in Wiltshire with overnight or 24/7 support needs;

·            There was a strong appetite to innovate and to embed a wider range of solutions into the care and support provision, especially for adults with learning disabilities and/or dementia with a shift to a proactive TEC offer to prevent incidents and crisis’s escalating;

·            There were a number of priority outcomes including improving the quality of care, promoting independence, reducing admissions to hospital and care homes and achieving greater efficiency.  However this was not a way to make cost savings – there were huge benefits to residents wellbeing and sense of independence, with the Council hopefully being able to provide less intrusive packages of care to them; and

·            In delivering the priorities the Council would raise awareness and information sharing, develop clear pathways for TEC, grow the TEC offer, use a test and learn approach whilst utilising pilot opportunities and provide support to stakeholders. 

The Committee asked the following questions which included but were not limited to:

·            It was stated that the target is to have 60% of care provided enabled by technology – what is the current population this relates to and is this a challenging target?  It was noted that the 60% related to those receiving social care funded care.  There were currently 7000 residents in the demographic, and they were supporting 60% of those.  2000 residents were already in receipt of some form of TEC and as part of the implementation plan, they were currently going out to tender for a TEC partner to help them maximise what is available for the community.  It was felt to be a challenging target and there may well be a cost involved and they may have to secure additional funding to support this.  There was a lot of focus on what they would concentrate on and this was part of the implementation plan.

·            What about those residents who don’t have contact with adult social care services or do not have access to devices such as smart phones or tablets etc?  It was noted that the service would continue to support all those residents who have eligible needs for the Council’s care services and of course there were a number that funded their own care.  They would of course provide advice and information for residents and carers where they could for those who did not have eligible needs.

·            Of the 7000 eligible residents there is still a large number not currently supported by TEC what is happening with those?  It was noted that the plan was to hopefully better the 60% target in the strategy but that it would have to be done in stages to ensure that there is funding to support it.  This would not replace face to face care and the aim was to improve quality of life not to reduce the cost of care. 

·            What was the budget for this activity? £630,000 per annum? had been allocated from the Better Care Fund and it was hoped that the service identify savings to enable them to continue to develop the service and roll out the TEC to more residents and buy the necessary equipment required.  In the same way as any other service based on assessment of need, if an individual has eligible needs and if this need is to have a smart phone with a relevant app on it then they may to purchase this or for another person this could be a sensor on a door mat depending on their eligible need.  The service would meet the relevant need.

·            What are the plans to integrate the technology with partners and those who are intimidated by technology?  It was noted that integrating systems was challenging as it related to commercial companies with their own platform so it was a challenge to insist on a single interface, however as commissioners they service would want to make it as easy as possible for its users and would work with colleagues in software to see what could be achieved.

·            What training/information was in place to ensure staff are aware of all TEC options so that they can most effectively complete the Care Act Assessments – would it be/was it already easy for staff to see a “catalogue” of TEC options?  It was noted that not all staff themselves are comfortable with new technology and there would have to be a culture change to embrace this, but encouragement would be given for staff and colleagues to be aware of and to consider alternatives and there would be TEC champions within the operational teams to help support this.

·            When would the priority outcomes be available as measurable data to be reviewed? It was noted that there was a Commissioning Monitoring Group with colleagues from health and there was monitoring from the Better Care Fund to look at the impact as it progressed.  Once they had gone through the tendering exercise they would expect to see further improvements and would be happy to share the data with the Committee at that time.

·            Had the 18-month joint project with Swindon for technology for independence already started?  It was noted that his project had already started.

The Chairman asked if the details of the scheduled engagement events for the Swindon project could be shared with the Committee. 

Resolved:

That the Health Select Committee:

1.          Be informed of the engagement events for the Swindon project.

2a.   Delegates to the Chair and Vice Chair to receive a briefing in 6 months in relation to the data for the outcomes listed as priorities (on page 38 of the agenda) to indicate progress/direction of travel.

2b.   Receive a full update on the delivery of priorities in 12 months.  This may be amended depending on the outcome of the 6 month briefing at 2a. above.  

3a.   Delegates to the Chair and Vice Chair to receive a briefing in 6 months on the implementation plan for TEC Care (including an update on the number supported with TEC care with regards to the 60% target of funding packages).

3b.   Receive a full update on the implementation plan for TEC Care in 12 months.  This may be amended depending on the outcome of the 6 month briefing at 3a. above.

4.          Delegates to the Chair and Vice Chair to receive a briefing on the delivery of the Technology for independence project with Swindon, 12-months into the 18-months project. This update should include performance measures and feedback from customers.

5.          Receives a short report once the pilot for Technology for independence is completed (18 months) presenting evaluation of the pilot, outcomes, feedback from customers, and the proposed way forward. Further information may be requested for this update report based on the briefing to Chair and Vice Chair requested 12-months into the pilot.