Adopting the right technology to transform social care

Ahead of the next week’s Wednesday’s session (1 March) - Telecares: Technology and Healthy Ageing at Home - at the Housing LIN’s Summit, Jeremy Porteus discusses the latest report to be released from the County Councils Network (CCN) and Tunstall Healthcare, and what it means for housing providers.

We are seeing more of our network becoming interested in embedding technology-based services to generate innovative housing solutions. I hope that ‘Adopting the right technology to transform social care’, released in February 2023 by Tunstall Healthcare and the CCN, will offer much-needed support to our members when it comes to how we think about the role of technology in codesigning and delivering a range of smarter housing with care choices for our ageing population.

Delivering quality care to citizens

According to the report and other research, technology can support us in improving existing housing stock and housing-related care and support services. But to fully reap the benefits, it’s becoming apparent that we should work more closely with local authorities and practitioners across the health and care landscape to ensure our housing with care is fit for a digital future.

Commissioning is key if practitioners are to successfully integrate technology into housing with care services. By working together we’ll see ideas being exchanged on innovative practice, making it easier for our network to be able to hear about and clearly articulate the exact solutions that will support the care needs and aspirations of older people and those with disabilities.

Keeping people safe and independent for longer to improve quality of life through prevention has long been an aim of the housing with care sector. Technology can be a principal driver in improving the capacity of our members to achieve this; for example, by preventing accidents at home, making responses more efficient when they do occur, and providing residents, their family and carers ‘peace of mind’.

The practical steps to consider

It’s important that we don’t underestimate the time it can take to embed change and technology into our services. With the digital switchover looming, professionals across the housing with care spectrum must lead from the top and encourage colleagues to understand the benefits of technology and the service transformation it can achieve.

By working collaboratively, we’ll see the housing landscape begin to transform with greater capacity to deliver services that are hinged on technology solutions and data led practice. Collaboration can also ensure that support is delivered by technology providers to limit the time that needs to be spent by practitioners on embedding these ‘smart’ solutions.

It’s also important to remember that it’s not all about financial benefits. And as the findings from the TAPPI Inquiry highlighted, by integrating technology we hope that our members will reap the benefits of improved quality of life of their residents and tenants, and a happier workforce. There are so many benefits - often left untapped - for housing with care services when it comes to integrating technology. I hope this report will encourage more providers to consider taking the steps to invest.

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You can access the Adopting the right technology to transform social care report here. 

For more information on Tunstall Healthcare and the technology solutions available to housing providers, please visit www.tunstall.co.uk.

We are publishing this blog ahead of Wednesday morning’s session at our virtual Summit – A Festival of Ideas. To hear speakers from Tunstall Healthcare, the CNN, NHS England, the TSA and the TAPPI project, register now! 

And fianlly, you can found out more about TAPPI and the Housing LIN’s ‘Going Digital’ webpages here.