ATEC consultation statement

We aim to introduce Assistive Technology Enabled Care (ATEC) to: 

  • help local people stay independent for longer 
  • improve how care is delivered in the Royal Borough of Greenwich 
  • increase people’s wellbeing  
  • give people using care services and their carers freedom and a sense of safety and confidence  
  • support carers and loved ones 

We plan to use the best of digital care technology with our existing adult social care services and over time, some health services. 

What we're proposing

The Royal Borough of Greenwich, in collaboration with NHS partners, is proposing to introduce an Assistive Technology Enabled Care (ATEC) service.

This aims to use the best technology and integrate it with health and social care. This will help people live more independently by using technology in everyday life. 

The insights we’ve gathered from our work with local people and staff and the resident design group have informed our approach. It has helped make sure the technology and services we introduce are needed and work well to meet the needs of each resident. 

Why we're doing this

We want to introduce a digital care technology offer to enhance the independence and quality of life for our residents.

By integrating technology into care, we aim to:

  • provide early intervention
  • support self-care
  • use technology to help people with everyday living activities
  • help people feel safe and supported in their own homes

By improving people’s independence, we expect to see a reduction of demand for some NHS and social care services over time.

Many people use technology in their lives, especially to keep in touch with loved ones.

Local people should expect us to use the best care technologies to provide the best possible services that enhance people’s safety and wellbeing. But also make best use of the opportunities digital technology that increase personalisation, dignity and independence.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has provided a Telecare service for some years. This will continue to be available to residents who need it.

With technology advances, many councils are now introducing a wider range of technology to eligible residents to support them to live more independently for longer.

We have spoken to several councils who already have ATEC services to make sure we learn from and build on their experiences.

Evidence of the benefits of using technology  

There is evidence from other councils across the country that ATEC can provide more innovative and personalised support to residents and their carers. Both at home and in their communities. 

We have been engaging with people and community groups for the last 18 months. We’ve  formed a resident design group with local people to make sure the service meets the specific needs and goals of the Greenwich community. 

After working with hundreds of people, we now have a plan for this service which has been co-designed with local residents and staff. 

Other councils doing this 

Lots of other councils have made progress exploring and using similar digital care technology initiatives. 

This shows the increased recognition of the benefits that technology can bring to care services to enhance the quality of life and independence of residents. 

We have worked closely with councils to learn from their experience and understand how best to meet our own goals in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. 

Impact for key stakeholder groups

Residents

ATEC can help residents:

  • live their best life independently
  • use technology daily to stay well at home
  • enjoy technology in their lives
  • recommend it to others

Practitioners

It will help make sure practitioners:

  • focus on people first and their strengths
  • are confident in recommending technology as part of care and support
  • are enthusiastic about technology to improve lives
  • offer technology routinely

Families

It can help families to:

  • have peace of mind that their loved one is safe and well
  • use technologies to keep in touch and check-in
  • support the person to use the technology
  • recommend it to others

Partners 

It can help partners to:

  • use ATEC to support their services and teams, to join up care
  • engage with the technology
  • experience benefits of technology enabled care

Impact on residents

The ATEC programme is designed with the well-being of our residents in mind, aiming to:

  • enhance independence and autonomy at home
  • reduce the need for traditional social care interventions
  • provide personalised support through advanced technology solutions

Residents can expect an approach that blends technology with care, ensuring that while digital solutions offer support, they complement rather than replace the invaluable human element of care.

The collaborative design process with our local communities and resident design group has shaped a proposed service model that understands and meets the diverse needs of Royal Greenwich's population.

This approach fosters a sense of ownership among residents but also ensures that the ATEC service reflects our community's unique character and needs.

Staff and residents have helped us design in detail the impact and benefits to local people by co-designing with us a framework for resident outcomes.

Your feedback and questions are valuable to us. You can use this public consultation to shape the future of care in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Types of technology

The Assistive Technology Enabled Care (ATEC) service will provide a range of user-friendly, widely used technologies tailored to meet individual needs and support independent living.

This includes devices such as tablets, smart watches, devices to help people get help if they fall, video doorbells, and motion sensors.

Cost

We are committed to making the ATEC service accessible to all eligible residents.

As we finalise the programme, we will provide specific details regarding any potential costs.

Our goal is to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from benefiting from this service.

Who is eligible 

We will phase the roll out of this service and aim to expand the eligibility criteria over time to include a broader range of residents who could benefit from these technologies.

Initially, the service will prioritise people who:

  • have specific adult social care needs. This includes adults with learning disabilities living in the community or in supported living accommodation and older people who are eligible for social care and living in the community
  • are moderately or severely frail
  • are eligible for Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

How to access the service

We will share how to access the service if elected Members decide we can proceed with the service.

We anticipate a launch date in autumn 2024.

Nearer to Autumn 2024, we expect to provide updates on the application process or how to express interest in the programme. We will make sure you have all the necessary information to take part.

Using technology to enhance, not replace human contact

ATEC is about integrating technology into care in a way that enhances, rather than replaces, the personal touch provided by human carers.

The programme is designed to complement existing care services making sure that technology is a tool to support residents and caregivers.

Our approach prioritises the wellbeing and independence of residents, using technology to create a care environment that is innovative and compassionate.

Who provides the service

The service will be provided by a specialist technology and service provider but will work closely and seamlessly with:

  • council social care teams and other council services
  • NHS teams and services that work with people who are frail or eligible for continuing healthcare funding
  • local care providers
  • other partners involved in health and care provision in Royal Greenwich

For residents, it should feel like a service provided by the Royal Bourough of Greenwich and the local NHS.

We will work in a collaborative and transparent way with any specialist companies to support us.

Is this about saving money?

There is good evidence that personalised technology for everyday living can help people achieve good health and care outcomes.

Being more self-sufficient with the help of technology can help improve wellbeing, give peace of mind and more choice and control.

This can also mean that people need other forms of paid care and support less, or not need them for longer. This helps make council and NHS funding go further.

Support for people who are not experienced with or confident using technology

We are including the requirement to provide upfront training for people when they get the technology and regular check-ins afterwards. There will also be clear instructions for people to take with them in a range of formats and languages.

We've heard though our co-production work with local people that staff and residents see this as a lifelong learning experience where we can continuously support and build skills and confidence.

How we'll make sure people who would benefit are not excluded

We have information about what might prevent people from using technology and accessing the service. This includes worries about cost, good quality connectivity, skills and confidence.

Some of our earliest conversations with local people also highlighted that digital exclusion mirrored other forms of exclusion.

We are building solutions for the problems we can anticipate into our plans. We will also keep track of any issues people may have with the service once it goes live.

Our approach to designing this with local people has been a key part of avoiding risks around exclusion.

We welcome people to get involved in this programme.