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Technology Enabled Care

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Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS)

The Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS) team provides expert guidance, training and advice to residents, professionals and partner organisations across Cambridgeshire. Where appropriate, we can loan a wide range of assistive technology designed to enhance safety, maintain independence and promote wellbeing at home.

Our service also supports families and unpaid carers, offering reassurance and practical advice to help them feel confident that their loved ones are safe, supported and able to live well at home.

People thrive when they are supported to remain independent within their own communities. By introducing the right technology at the right time, we aim to prevent needs from escalating and ensure individuals receive timely, proportionate support.

Our service commitment

Through a strong prevention and early intervention approach, we aim to:

  • prevent, reduce and delay the need for long‑term or formal care by enabling people to remain safe and independent for longer
  • support unpaid carers with practical tools, tailored advice and technology‑based solutions that ease pressure and provide reassurance
  • strengthen community resilience by making proven, accessible technology available to help people stay connected, confident and in control

Our goal is simple: to support people to live safely, independently and with dignity – enabled by the right technology at the right time.

Services we provide

TECS offers discreet fall detection technology which works alongside a community alarm pendant. These devices use sensors to monitor changes such as impact, height variation and sudden acceleration. They can automatically raise an alert if a potential fall is detected - even if you are unable to press your pendant.

This allows a faster response to falls and helps people feel more confident and secure as they go about their daily lives.

Specialist equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing can help you to stay safe, connected and independent at home.

These technologies provide clear alerts for important sounds. This includes the doorbell, telephone or smoke alarm. They use visual prompts, vibration or amplified audio.

Vibrating pillow pads can also increase night time safety. These can alert you if an alarm goes off while you are asleep. Additional equipment, such as TV listeners and personal listening devices, can improve communication and day‑to‑day quality of life. 

Managing medication can be challenging, particularly if you have multiple prescriptions. Simple tools such as mobile phone reminders or smart speaker alerts can often be effective, fitting easily into daily routines.

If you need further support, automated pill dispensers give timely prompts. They release the correct dose at the right time and use audible alarms or visual cues to gain your attention.

These solutions promote safer, more independent medication management and can provide reassurance to both individuals and carers.

If you have memory difficulties or cognitive conditions such as dementia, keeping track of daily routines can become more difficult. Gentle, well‑timed prompts can make a big difference.

Visual displays, spoken reminders, vibrating watches and talking alarm clocks can support everyday tasks such as taking medication, attending appointments and following daily routines. Some systems also allow carers or family members to set personalised reminders, helping individuals remain organised and confident.

Certain types of seizures can be detected electronically with specialist technology. These detectors monitor patterns such as repetitive movement, sound or changes in heart rate. They are often used overnight, positioned under the mattress or worn as a discreet device.

If the device notices activity which might suggest a seizure, an alert can be sent to a pager or smart device. This allows help to arrive sooner, and can provide reassurance to both the individual and unpaid carers.

Technology can help create a safer, more supportive home environment. Bed and chair sensors can alert a carer if you get up unexpectedly, helping to reduce falls or wandering risks. Door, room and movement sensors provide early warnings and reassurance for families.

Safety outside the home is just as important. GPS trackers can share your location if you get lost, become confused or experience a fall. This helps carers to respond quickly and allows you to be more confident when out and about.

Home activity monitoring helps understand a person’s usual daily routine by observing patterns of movement within the home over time. This provides a gentle, behind the scenes view of day‑to‑day wellbeing.

By working together with you and unpaid carers, TECS can help identify changes early and explore what support or equipment may help you. This can help you to stay independent for as long as possible.

Community alarms (Lifeline)

Community alarm systems - often known as Lifeline - help older and vulnerable people live safely and independently in their own homes. The alarm systems provide 24 hour emergency support and reassurance for people using the service, as well as their families and carers.

A typical Lifeline system has a base unit which is installed in your home and a wearable pendant or wrist button. This allows you to call for help at the press of a button if you need assistance.

Technology Enabled Care Services (TECS) is no longer a Lifeline provider. Instead, we works in partnership with a range of approved external Lifeline providers. You can choose a suitable provider from the approved list. This ensures flexibility and choice based on your circumstances.

Once a Lifeline service is in place, we can enhance the system by assessing your individual needs and linking compatible additional peripherals. These peripherals work alongside the chosen Lifeline service to provide a joined‑up and personalised solution, helping to create a safer home environment. By tailoring technology to individual risks and routines, TECS helps ensure that support is always within reach, promoting independence while providing peace of mind.

Provider Contact telephone Number Website address
Sanctuary LumaLiving 0330 1233 365 www.sanctuary-lumaliving.co.uk
Sanctuary 365 0330 1233 365 www.sanctuary365.co.uk/our-products
Careline Community Service and Lily 01553 616200 www.west-norfolk.gov.uk
Careline 365 0808 304 4719 www.careline.co.uk
MedEquip Connect 0800 910 1390 www.medequip-connect.com
Careium 01323 644422 www.careium.com
Legrand Electric Ltd 01670 352371 www.legrand.com/legrandcare
Chubb 0800 321 666 www.chubbfs.com
2iC-Care Ltd 0208 158 8538 www.2ic-care.com

Enhanced Response Service

The ERS responds to telecare alerts and people who need non-emergency assistance, from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week.

Enhanced Response Service (ERS) is on Cambridgeshire Online Directory

See how TEC works in our smart flat

TECS Smart Flat video

Please watch in YouTube for more accessibility options. - opens in a new tab

Benefits for your team

  • Hands-on experience: Explore a wide range of assistive technology designed to support adults and children across Cambridgeshire.
  • Knowledge sharing: Learn how equipment and services can be integrated into your own practice or service delivery.
  • Networking: Meet TECS Coordinators and discuss collaborative opportunities.

Arranging a smart flat viewing

For Cambridgeshire County Council colleagues

Before booking a visit, please complete the TECS Bitesize training via the Learning and Development platform Thinqi. This introductory module will help you understand TECS and get the most from your Smart flat visit.

For external professionals and general public

If you are not a Cambridgeshire County Council employee, please contact the TECS team at TECS@cambridgeshire.gov.uk for guidance on training and access.

Booking your visit

Once training is complete and access to Thinqi is confirmed, you can book a date suitable for you and your team.

Smart flat location

The TECS Smart flat is located at: Flat 12, Rectory Gardens, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, PE29 2BH.

Request support from the TECS team

Having read through the resources on this page, if you have any further queries, please contact us.

You can make a formal referral to the service by completing the online form below. 

Request support from the TECS team - online form

If you are an existing TECS user and are waiting for equipment or want to report a fault, please contact Technology Enabled Care Service Team on 01480 378160.

Digital switchover

What is happening to the telephone system?

In UK, the analogue telephone system that we have used for many years is being gradually replaced with a modern digital system. This is called a digital upgrade. This is because the UK needs a modern telephone system which can handle how people want to communicate by using their mobile phones, laptops, tablets or other electronic devices.

The digital upgrade is planned to be completed by 31 January 2027 and phone companies are already encouraging people to upgrade their phone systems. This will involve your phone provider arranging for an engineer to come to your home to install the new system.

What do I have to do?

At this stage, we want to make you aware that this change is happening, so that you will know what to do in case you are contacted and offered a digital upgrade from your old telephone system. It may be, however, that your telephone service has already been upgraded.

For further information visit The Digital Switchover - Connecting Cambridgeshire.

Guidance for care homes

Guidance for provision of community equipment in care homes414KB–pdf
Size: 414KBFile format: pdf