August 11th 2026
As part of Digital Care in Focus: Commissioning Month, we spoke to Deb Gent, Policy, Information and Commissioning Senior Manager (Live Well) at Lancashire County Council, about her approach to commissioning Technology Enabled Care (TEC), why flexibility matters, and how she sees the future of TEC moving from reactive support to preventative care.
Moving beyond traditional telecare
Deb has been commissioning TEC services in Lancashire for a number of years and has always been keen to move beyond the traditional model of analogue telecare. Rather than commissioning a service based around a single technology or supplier, Lancashire has developed a technology-agnostic approach that focuses on achieving the right outcomes for each person.
For Deb, the technology itself is only one part of the solution. Deb believes that people should have the freedom to use the technology that works best for them, rather than being limited to one provider or one product.
This flexible approach enables new technologies to be adopted as they emerge and supports more personalised solutions for people using services.
The importance of response
While technology continues to evolve, Deb believes that effective response services remain fundamental.
The specification for Lancashire’s commissioned TEC service includes a robust 24-hour mobile response service, ensuring that help is available whenever it is needed.
Knowing that an incident has occurred is only valuable if someone can respond appropriately. For Deb, commissioning technology without considering what happens next risks missing the opportunity to improve outcomes.
This thinking is reflected in what she describes as the “So what?” rule.
Whenever new technology is introduced, there must be a clear pathway for action. Alerts, monitoring and data should always lead to a meaningful response that supports the individual. This principle has shaped Lancashire’s approach to commissioning, ensuring that TEC is embedded within wider service design rather than operating as a standalone solution.
Choosing the right technology for the person
Lancashire’s approach to selecting TEC is firmly rooted in person-centred, outcomes-focused practice. Rather than starting with a particular product, practitioners begin by understanding the person’s goals, strengths, circumstances and the outcomes they want to achieve.
Working alongside its TEC provider, Progress Lifeline, Lancashire considers a range of factors when identifying the most appropriate solution, including the risks being addressed, how easy the technology is for the person and those supporting them to use, its reliability within the home environment, the evidence that it can achieve the intended outcomes, and how well it integrates with wider support arrangements.
This focus on individual outcomes helps ensure that technology is tailored to each person’s needs, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Everyday technology has an important role
Alongside more specialist TEC, Deb is a strong advocate for using everyday consumer technology wherever appropriate.
She believes that products people are already familiar with are often more accessible, intuitive and better designed than traditional care technologies.
To support practitioners, Deb developed an Everyday Technology Booklet, bringing together a wide range of products that can be purchased online to help people live more independently. The guide includes links to products, explains how they can be used alongside other services, and even provides practical guidance for social workers on how everyday technology can be purchased as part of a person’s support.
This enables micro-commissioning of personalised technology solutions, giving practitioners greater flexibility to meet individual needs.
Lancashire has actively promoted this “Everyday TEC” approach, encouraging practitioners to consider mainstream consumer technologies alongside traditional monitored TEC services where these offer a more personalised, accessible or cost-effective solution. The emphasis is always on identifying the right technology for the individual.
Embedding TEC within wider commissioning
For Deb, TEC is not a standalone service. It is an enabler of prevention, early intervention and strengths-based practice.
Technology is considered as part of wider care and support planning, with close collaboration between commissioning and operational teams. As digital maturity across adult social care continues to develop, Lancashire increasingly expects providers to demonstrate good digital practice, including compliance with the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), the use of secure email and electronic care records that support secure information sharing and effective care delivery.
While the council does not mandate the use of specific TEC products or platforms, commissioned providers are expected to consider how technology can support independence, reduce risk and improve outcomes. This may include traditional telecare, digital social care records, remote monitoring, falls prevention technologies and other digital tools that enhance person-centred care.
Building trust through information governance
As technology becomes increasingly connected and data driven, Deb believes that information governance, cyber security and data protection must be built into commissioning from the outset.
During Lancashire’s TEC procurement process, bidders were required to demonstrate compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, alongside robust arrangements for cyber security and system resilience. This included providing assurance around areas such as user access management, incident reporting, business continuity, secure data hosting, audit trails and the management of third-party suppliers.
The council also sought assurance that providers could securely manage the information collected through connected devices, digital monitoring technologies and cloud-based platforms.
Importantly, these considerations do not end once a contract has been awarded. Information governance and cyber security remain central to Lancashire’s ongoing contract management and assurance processes, recognising the increasingly important role that digital technology plays in supporting people safely within their own homes.
Alongside these technical safeguards, Deb believes that ethics and consent must remain at the heart of Technology Enabled Care. People should understand how technology is being used, what data is being collected and how it supports their care, ensuring technology empowers people rather than simply monitoring them.
Looking ahead: from reactive to preventative care
Looking to the future, Deb believes the greatest opportunity lies not simply in deploying more technology, but in making better use of the data it generates.
She would like to see stronger integration between TEC, social care systems and Shared Care Records, enabling information to flow more effectively across health and care services.
As data becomes richer and analytics become more sophisticated, Deb anticipates a shift from reacting to incidents towards preventing them altogether. Rather than responding after a fall has occurred, patterns in data could identify increasing risks earlier, allowing timely interventions that help people remain independent for longer.
Lancashire is already taking steps in this direction through initiatives such as investment in Nobi smart lamps and the continued promotion of Everyday TEC, reflecting a wider ambition to embed technology within a broader prevention and independence agenda.
Deb also sees the role of mobile responders evolving alongside this shift. As predictive analytics become more commonplace, response services could become increasingly proactive, supporting neighbourhood-based models of care by intervening before crises occur rather than responding only when something has gone wrong.
For Deb, the future of commissioning is not about buying more technology. It is about commissioning services that connect technology, people and data to deliver safer, more personalised and preventative care, enabling people to live independently for longer while ensuring that the right support is available whenever it is needed.
Evaluation of Nobi Pilot, Lancashire and South Cumbria – Academic Evaluation
Smarter care: Evidence and experience with smart light technology – Digital Care Hub webinar recording and resources
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