Blueprint Launched - Unlocking Proactive & Preventative Care Services
Turning insight into action What is the #EverydayTEC campaign?
A look back at ITEC 2025
‘Care to Connect’ - reflections on the inaugural APPG report
May/June 2025
The voice of Technology Enabled Care
Alyson Scurfield TSA Chief Executive
Strength in collaboration was my big take-away from ITEC 2025.
Seeing hundreds of TEC suppliers, commissioners and service providers in the same room, sharing experiences and building joint initiatives filled me with so much inspiration. We are stronger together as a sector, and that’s a golden thread for May’s issue of TEC Voice.
TSA’s own partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) continues to grow, as together, we launch our longawaited Blueprint for Proactive and Preventative Care Services. I’m so proud of just how pragmatic and hands-on this Blueprint is, with a step by step guide, services overview and financial model, all free to use for local authorities. Read more on pages 3-5.
The Local Government Association (LGA) is another valued partner to TSA, and we are doing vital work with them around the digital switchover, supporting local authorities and other TEC service providers as they transition. I gave evidence to the Digital Communities All Party Parliamentary
Group and the resulting report, Care to Connect: Public Switched Telephone Network Migration is an essential read. Find out about it on page 13.
Quality standards are essential to a safe, smooth digital switchover - something highlighted in the APPG report - and this is also an issue being driven by the Government right now. Just before ITEC 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a market engagement exercise to shape new standards and guidance for care technology. They’re seeking input from a range of stakeholders, including our TEC sector. Find out how you can engage at this link
Collaboration is key to building widespread awareness of TEC: we all need to use a common language and common imagery that everyone understands. Our brand new #EverydayTEC campaign does just that, proving copyright-free communication assets and messaging for anyone to use, free of charge. Read about this campaign on page 6.
And finally, the ultimate collaborative event is taking place on 3 July in Manchester. We’re bringing together hundreds of our members and stakeholders to co-create a strategic vision and key priorities for our wonderful sector, going forward. If you’d like to join, turn to page 14 to find out how.
I hope you enjoy this issue!
TSA and ADASS launch blueprint to unlock the power of proactive and preventative care services
After eight months of hard work, I’m thrilled to announce that TSA and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have launched a practical guide to planning, implementing and scaling proactive and preventative care services.
We know how tough it is for local authorities to move beyond pilots and scale up digital care services that prevent ill-health and boost independence and wellbeing, long term.
Since September 2024, we’ve spoken to more than 100 people working in and drawing on social care. They include individuals with lived experience, social workers, occupational therapists, local authority TEC commissioners, TEC suppliers and directors of adult social services.
The feedback we have heard, loud and clear, is that a lack of evidence, guidance and best practice is hindering local authorities’ ability to make the argument for preventative services using TEC.
Building on examples of successful investment in proactive and preventative care services by UK councils, the blueprint provides a step-by-step guide, a services overview and financial models that other local authorities can adopt.
Looking to the future, TSA will set out ways it can support local authorities through the stages of the blueprint and the commission will seek to further develop best practice in areas such as coproduction, quality and standards, training, and managing cultural change.
Find out more on the next page, or at this link
Alyson Scurfield, Chief Executive, TSA
Melanie
Williams, ADASS President, Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Nottinghamshire County Council and Co-chair of
the commission
The narrative on adult social care is often focused on the scarcity of funding and increasing levels and complexity of need. What’s not spoken about enough is innovation and opportunities to do things differently to enable people to live the lives they want to lead.
The ADASS and TSA Commission is a great example of how councils, TEC providers and people with lived experience can work together to develop a practical approach to support DASSs to make the argument for introducing proactive and preventative services at a local level.
I hope that colleagues will be able to leverage investment in this space, after all, in our 2024 Autumn Survey, only 25% of Directors stated that they had evidence of positive return on investment where benefits are measured as financial savings for assistive technology
This blueprint outlines how proactive and preventative care services form a vital part of new hybrid models of care
(including telecare and digital communications), indicating that councils need more support in evidencing the business case for digital and tech.
Of course, every council will start in a different place on the journey. One of the ambitions of the blueprint is to enable colleagues across the country to continuously improve their approach to proactive and preventative care, whether they are at the start of that journey or significantly further down the road. I look forward to hearing how, in the coming months, councils are utilising the blueprint to drive this agenda forward to improve outcomes for people. I hope that we can continue this momentum through a second commission, which
Debra Edwards, Lived Experience Adviser
I’m keen to ensure has co-production embedded from start to finish of the process.
The blueprint will also be published at an opportune time, with the Casey Commission on adult social care in its infancy, a multi-year Spending Review on the horizon and the NHS 10 Year Plan due to be published. However, we don’t need to wait for permission to move this agenda forward, there’s a lot that can be done here and now.
I believe the ADASS TSA Commission must push for truly coproduced proactive and preventative care services. Individuals like me are not just recipients of care; we must be active partners in a system that supports us to live the lives we want.
As a former midwife I would treat every birth as that woman’s own unique experience, involving them at each stage. This must be the approach with proactive and preventative care services, too. My voice and choice have to be part of the whole process, not just a single discreet step. Make me part of this and I will feel confident, in control, in touch, safe and well.
For me, proactive and preventative care services should be about so much more than just safety. How will they help me to connect with my grandchildren? How will they enable me to be part of my church community and volunteer at my local foodbank?
The answer is much more than just telecare. We can’t just offer reactive technology, based on fixed parameters or a solution that only looks at one part of someone’s life. We have to create a model of care that mixes technologies with human support, relationships and conversations.
I’m excited about the opportunities this Blueprint offers councils as we work towards a future of care and support that is proactive and preventative. But don’t forget the third ‘p’ - ‘person-centred’. Co-production must be the driving force that transforms the delivery of care in a way that respects the autonomy, choice, and dignity of every person.
Download a short summary of the Blueprint, along with the full version, the Services Overview and Financial Model here
What is the #EverydayTEC campaign?
In 2024, Dr Sarah Alden published a study looking at what people want from technology enabled care (TEC). A key finding was the lack of a common understanding and awareness of TEC.
One reason, identified in the research, is our sector’s focus on equipment and kit. TEC messaging, imagery and language often centres on technology, not people.
As the national advisory body for TEC, we want to change this and shout from the rooftops about how TEC helps people to lead gloriously ordinary, everyday lives, full of meaning and purpose.
This campaign is designed to do exactly that. Launched at ITEC 2025, we’re arming services and suppliers with creative assets and consistent messaging that show the benefits of TEC to people, families and carers.
These assets are available for anyone to download and can be used in social media, websites, presentations and more to grow understanding and awareness of TEC.
We also want our campaign resources to be used to communicate the power of TEC to systems and governments including council commissioners, NHS staff and policy makers.
We have created a suite of #EverydayTEC assets, all free-to-use. They are all available in a range of editable templates and formats, and they are all copyright-free. The toolkit is available now on our website.
What is contained within the toolkit?
We have included various visual assets and informative documents for you to utilise on your own websites, on social media and in any other ongoing projects. Where possible, we have included both editable (.ai format, editable in Adobe Illustrator and various other vector graphics programmes) and non-editable (.png) formats for you to use.
Included in the pack are:
An A2 poster template
A large format poster template
A roller banner template
Various images and templates for use on social media, including carousel images
An ‘About This Campaign & Language Guide’ documentto aid with use of the toolkit
We will also soon be hosting a webinar to talk through how you can make the most of these assets – watch this space!
We will also soon be hosting a webinar to talk through how you can make the most of these assets – watch this space!
The toolkit is available now on our website. Click here to download
Stories are important. Language shapes people’s attitudes and behaviours and that’s why we want to provide messaging that changes the narrative around TEC.
A look back at ITEC 2025
The 2025 TSA International Technology Enabled Care (ITEC) Conference, held at the ICC in Birmingham, brought together over 2,000 delegates - including individuals with lived experience, innovators, and sector leaders - to explore the future of technology-enabled care (TEC) and how to translate insight into meaningful action.
The buzz and the anticipation from the moment the doors opened on day one was clear. A key focus of the conference was the concept of #EveryDayTEC, prompting the sector to reflect on how technology can support people with the everyday help we need, to enjoy the lives we want . Central to this discussion was a collaborative effort, including work by Dr Sarah Alden, to create a toolkit aimed at challenging outdated language and perceptions around TEC, helping reframe how support is understood and delivered.
Another significant moment was the launch of From Ambition to Actio n, from TSA and PA Consulting underpinned by the first Adult Social Care Senior Leaders TEC survey. This survey, with
responses from nearly one-third of UK councils, provided vital insights into how local authorities’ attitudes and priorities around TEC have evolved. The findings offer a clearer picture of the progress being made and highlight opportunities for future growth and transformation.
At the heart of the conversation at ITEC were the workforce challenges faced across the sector. Discussions focused on supporting staff through the digital transition, empowering them to adopt innovative approaches, and ensuring effective implementation of new solutions. Delegates were presented with a range of strategies and success stories to help address these challenges and build resilience within the workforce.
And lets not forget the glamorous Gala Dinner of course! The ITEC Awards highlighted and championed those within our sector who have gone above and beyond this past year to showcase exceptional innovations, transformative solutions, and dynamic partnerships that have already had successful results. A huge congratulations to all who were shortlisted, and to those who won awards! Offering invaluable insights into the strategies, tools, and mindsets that led to these remarkable triumphs, providing attendees with practical takeaways for fostering innovation and transformation in their own organisations.
Finally, the conference also explored the delicate balance between learning from others and setting new trends. Innovation was framed not as novelty for its own sake, but as the thoughtful adaptation
of proven approaches to meet local needs. Coproduction remained central to this vision, with the TSA & ADASS Commission Blueprint highlighting it as essential for delivering proactive, preventative care that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the people it serves.
A huge thank you to everyone who made ITEC 2025 the biggest and best yet. Save the date for next year’s conference on 16 & 17 March, 2026!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 ITEC AWARD WINNERS:
Innovation at Scale Award
Alcove Group
Up-and-Coming TEC Innovation Award
TEC Cymru with Cardiff Council and Caerphilly County Borough Council
Workforce Development and Culture Award Careium
Partnerships Award
Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, on behalf of the Digital Office Shared ARC Programme
Strategic Leader Award
Monty Alexander, Yokeru
Operational Leader Award
Natalie Evans, Community Integrated Care Service Transformation Award
Llesiant Delta Wellbeing
VIEW MORE FROM THE CONFERENCE ON THE ITEC WEBSITE
Sponsored by:
Turning insight into action - reflections on the 2025 ITEC conference
By Oliver Peppiatt, PA Consulting
Every exhibitor I spoke to at ITEC 2025 is open to discussions with commissioners and service managers. Now we must challenge them, ourselves, and each other to think about how our already excellent services and solutions could do even more to transform lives.
We must take advantage of the appetite to collaborate.
The 2025 TSA International Technology Enabled Care (ITEC) conference convened people with lived experience, industry leaders and innovators to share inspiring insight.
Many of these contributors graced the PA Consulting sponsored Innovation stage, and it was clear that innovation isn’t the challenge. Implementing it is. The focus for our sector is turning insight into action.
Given the privilege of providing closing reflections, I listened intently throughout the two days of the conference and was struck by three key balances to strike when turning insight into action to shape a better future for people: the balance between immediate priorities and longer term aspirations, the balance between using data effectively or being burdened by it and the balance between learning from others and blazing the trail.
Balancing immediate priorities and longer-term aspirations
We’ve all had best laid plans derailed by emerging capacity or financial challenges. This is often outside
of our control, but what can we do about it? The first thing is to accept that it’s going to happen. During Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s conference introduction she challenged the sector to always find new ways to be ambitious and creative. This made me reflect that in sport, coaches talk about being comfortable in chaos… I think in TEC we need to be inspired by the unexpected, because we can’t always prevent it. But, if we see these unexpected events as an opportunity to be inspired, we are more likely to think about how the solution to the immediate problem can be part of our longer-term plan, rather than the thing that deprioritises or replaces it. ADASS president Melanie Williams talked about the importance of building trust with people and growing their confidence in technology. This is essential to delivering in the longer term, as is building the investment case to deliver our vision of the future. One area where it’s clear there is both a challenge to tackle and scope for TEC to be a key part of the solution is the support of working age adults, including those in the transition to adulthood, with learning disabilities. It was inspiring to see this front and centre of discussions.
Data and the importance of finding the balance between using it to create insight or being burdened by it
I’m preaching to the choir when I say that the role data plays in TEC services and supporting people is essential and has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. But there is still much more we can do. However, the value doesn’t come from the existence of the data itself but from the insight it generates to enable smarter decisions and faster action.
When imagining our futures at ITEC, there was an increasing focus on integration and how this creates a rich but potentially complex picture. It’s vital that as we go on this journey we consciously consider what we’re trying to discover from data rather than valuing its mere presence, and build a workforce that is increasingly data savvy so that they can interpret the insight it generates and take appropriate action to intervene early. A good starting point is to reflect on whether our services are truly using the data we already hold in the most effective ways to shape care and support. At ITEC, PA, in partnership with Taking Care, launched the Hälo proposition, which seeks to help services do exactly that.
Striking the balance between learning from others and setting the trends.
Innovation isn’t a zero-sum game. You don’t have to be different to be innovative. But equally, the answer isn’t just to do the same as someone else because it worked for them. Bringing ingenuity to life is often about learning from the experience of others but tailoring it to the needs of the people you support. We are all supporting people with different experiences in different contexts and need to co-produce with them. We should be informed by what has worked for others but not constrained by it.
Conference speakers stressed how important it is to start with the problem you are trying to solve and to harness the vibrancy of people with lived experience and make them part of the decision-making process. This reiterates that innovation doesn’t always mean new technology. It can be equally as innovative to transform the way your workforce delivers care and support for people, in fact, the TSA and PA senior
leaders’ survey findings shared at the conference found that 86% of Directors of Adult Social Care see raising awareness of TEC within the workforce as a key priority. Stephen Kinnock MP challenged and empowered the conference attendees and TEC sector to innovate and think differently to deliver the desired outcomes defined by government.
Key to making the most of this autonomy is being intentional with decisions and a clearly defined strategy and direction of travel that balances the lessons learned by others and thinking creatively. Every exhibitor I spoke to at ITEC 2025 is open to discussions with commissioners and service managers. Now we must challenge them, ourselves, and each other to think about how our already excellent services and solutions could do even more to transform lives. We must take advantage of the appetite to collaborate.
So, what does it look like when those three balances come together to turn insight into action? Services will have a clearly defined longer term plan coproduced with people to tackle the challenges they face. It will acknowledge and accept the unpredictable competing priorities that emerge along the way but remain steadfast in the commitment to deliver. It will be built on an empirically proven investment case that helps foster greater workforce understanding and public consciousness of the benefits of TEC. And it will view data as a tool to generate insight and trigger action. Lastly, it will see the continuation of the collaboration so evident at the conference –share ideas, learn lessons and turn insight into action together.
Virgin Media O2 Cardiff Digital Switchover Telecare Trial
Following a highly successful trial in Stockport, Virgin Media O2 is working with Telecare Cardiff and the TSA to run a trial, migrating phone users who also use telecare devices to Digital Voice.
The trial will commence in the first week of May and run for six weeks.
The trial will include hundreds of customers in Cardiff and the surrounding area who received telecare services either through Telecare Cardiff or a separate private provider.
Customers will receive comms from Virgin Media O2 inviting them to call to book a migration appointment. All appointments will be engineer led by specifically trained technicians. If a customer does not respond to the invitation and reminders, no migration will be made at this time, although the customer will still need to be migrated as part of the Digital Switchover programme.
PRE TRIAL TRAINING DAY
As part of the trial preparation, colleagues from Virgin Media O2, Telecare Cardiff and TSA have spent 2 days on site in Cardiff delivering hands-on training to Virgin Media O2 engineers. The training sessions have allowed Virgin Media O2 engineers to learn/refresh their knowledge of telecare equipment
and allowed colleagues from Telecare Cardiff to feel confident & reassured ahead of the trial commencing. It was also a great opportunity to meet face to face and build relationships between all involved.
THE ROLE OF WIDER TEC SERVICES
Virgin Media O2 have identified private telecare providers who have a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with them and have customers in the trial. Under the DSA, they can let them know their customers are impacted on the trial, and they can provide a more coordinated approach.
If you haven’t agreed a DSA with Virgin Media O2, please get in touch as we are working to put these agreements in place across the industry.
In any event, you may want to brief your staff as to the trial as all customers who do migrate will be advised to contact their provider to confirm they have been migrated to Digital Voice.
You may want to consider reaching out to your customers in the Cardiff region to advise them of the trial if they are Virgin Media phone customers; this will help reassure customers that trial communications are genuine.
If you need any further support or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch directly with Virgin Media O2’s digital voice team at IPVoice@virginmediao2.co.uk or contact TSA direct on ALLIP@tsa-voice.org.uk
Care to Connect
TSA recently welcomed the findings of the Digital Communities All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)’s inaugural report, Care to Connect, which highlighted the essential role of organisations like TSA in bridging the gap between policy and frontline delivery.
TSA was credited in the report for its leadership in embedding standards, supporting telecare providers, and coordinating collaboration across a fragmented sector.
The report also noted a standout example of best practice: the Stockport Council trial in partnership with Virgin Media O2 and TSA which it describes as “a particularly good example of collaborative working between different stakeholders in the interest of residents.” This initiative successfully supported telecare users during the Digital Voice switchover, demonstrating how a coordinated, multi-agency approach can ensure the safety and wellbeing of
vulnerable individuals – and you can read more about the next phase of this trial in Cardiff on page 12.
The APPG warned that leaving the switchover in the hands of communications providers alone has created a fragmented and inconsistent landscape. We recognised increased engagement from central government including via the Telecare Action Board (TAB) and the recently released Telecare National Action Plan and we must ensure this level of collaboration continues.
TSA Chief Executive Alyson Scurfield, who was invited to give evidence to the APPG as an expert witness, shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities in navigating the digital switchover. Her contribution underscored the need for sectorwide coordination, a shared set of standards, and resident-first planning.
She said:
“The digital switchover is more than just an infrastructure upgrade - it is a transformation that impacts lives, especially those who depend on telecare for their safety and independence.
Our work with partners like Stockport Council and Virgin Media O2 shows the power of collective action to mitigate risk and protect people.
TSA stands ready to work with government and all stakeholders to deliver a safer, more equitable digital transition for everyone.”
In the report, it also states: “ All telecare service providers and suppliers, including private providers and suppliers, must be certified to TEC Quality’s Quality Standards Framework (QSF) to reach the highest standards on their digital switchover procedures ”. To find out more about becoming QSF certified, visit www.tecquality.org.uk
TSA reiterated the importance of engaging the voluntary and community sectors, promoting person-centred communications, and adopting a coordinated, standards-led approach - all of which are core to our mission.
Read the Care To Connect report here .
Alyson Scurfield, Chief Executive, TSA
‘Insight to Impact’: An event invite to our valued TSA members
When:
This free one-day all-members event will take place on: Thursday 3 July 2025, 09:00 – 15:30
Location:
King’s House Conference Centre, Manchester
Themes We’ll Explore Together:
Help Shape TSA’s 2026–2030 Business Plan:
Your insight will help define the goals, values and focus of TSA’s future strategy. We’ll explore the big themes driving our sector, using your feedback to shape the road ahead.
Analogue to Digital Migration: Updates & Action:
Get the latest on the analogue to digital switch, the national communications campaign, and how local trials are informing the national digital transition programme.
Membership Value & Direction:
At a time of rapid change across health, care and housing, Insight to Impact brings our valued TSA members together to explore the future of technology enabled care - and help shape what comes next.
Through a mix of plenaries, interactive workshops and discussion groups, we’ll tackle the sector’s most pressing priorities, share progress across major TSA programmes, and co-create the foundations for our collective future.
This is designed to be a collaborative, hands-on event, and your insights will directly inform TSA’s 2026–2030 Business Plan. We’re refreshing our vision, values and strategic direction - and your voice is vital.
The Big Question: Where Do We Go Next - Together?
A central focus of the day will be gathering member input into TSA’s next Business Plan. We’ll be:
Sharing early thinking on our 2026–2030 strategic objectives
Exploring what matters most to members in the years ahead
Seeking your views on TSA’s evolving mission, values and areas of focus
From sessions on workforce, standards and digital readiness to lived experience and innovation, we’ll connect the dots between what we’re hearing from the sector—and what we need to do about it, together.
We’ll share what we’ve heard so far through the membership review, unveil new citation benefits, and ask: what does meaningful membership look like in 2025 and beyond?
Proactive & Preventative Care:
Hear how services are evolving to anticipate people’s needs earlier and more effectivelypowered by data, digital tools, and person-led design.
Understanding, Standards & Language:
We’ll dig into how we make TEC clearer and more accessible—across public campaigns, shared language, and quality frameworks.
Lived Experience & Co-Production:
Real stories will bring real-world impact to life. We’ll explore how to keep people’s voices at the centre of innovation and improvement.
Workforce of the Future:
How do we prepare, empower and invest in the people delivering TEC - today and tomorrow?
Innovation, Risk & Investment:
Hear from the Sector Risk and Innovation Group (SRIG) about current workstreams, sector-wide risks, and where the most promising opportunities lie.
Workshops: Go Deep, Get Practical
You can take part in two interactive workshops. These sessions will go beyond updates—offering space for feedback, discussion and shared learning.
Interactive Discussion: Build the Business Plan
The day will include a participatory group session focused squarely on TSA’s Business Plan. With the help of interactive digital feedback tools, we’ll capture your thinking on key priorities, emerging themes and practical next steps.
Plus: Networking & Tabletop Exhibition
Connect with fellow members, browse solution partners, and keep conversations going throughout the day in our exhibition and networking areas.
This is your event. Your voice. Your opportunity to help shape the future of TSA and the TEC sector. Let’s turn insight into impact - together.
If you would like to attend this TSA Member Only event, please register your details via this Eventbrite page
If you have any questions, please contact TSA on 01625 520 320 or via email: events@TSA-Voice.org.uk
