Hello and welcome to the 2nd edition of the Essex County Council TEC Newsletter! With a full summer schedule ahead of us, we’re excited to share some of the fantastic events and updates coming up over the next few months. Let’s dive in
Connect – A New Dawn
We’re thrilled to announce that a brand-new system, Connect, will be launching to replace CARES in June 2025. Connect has been designed with your feedback in mind, incorporating many of the features you’ve been asking for. Key improvements include:
• One simple process, no more completing three separate forms.
• A dedicated Prescriber Portal for easier management and access.
• Simplified ordering with a clearer, more intuitive process.
• Real-time updates so you can track progress easily.
• A modern, easy-to-use interface designed to make your day smoother.
We are working hard to ensure everything is ready and are looking for volunteers to take part in User Acceptance Testing. Your involvement will help shape the final product and ensure it truly meets your needs. More information and opportunities to get involved will be shared very soon.
Connect
Training Options
App Catalogue
We are excited to announce the launch of the Essex App Directory. The App Directory is an organised collection of wellbeing, mental health, and lifestyle digital apps for Essex-based practitioners to embed digital tools in your social care work. This app is suitable for practitioners and should be used as a guide when recommending digital apps. Key benefits include
• Digital apps categorised by alphabet and category
• Encourage digitisation in social care work
• Cut down research time when searching for apps
With the App Directory, you can now browse through wellbeing, mental health, and lifestyle digital apps when thinking about digital recommendations for your person. Access through your phone (Android and iOS compatible) or through your web browser!
Install the App (Android and iOS)
Web Browser (no downloading needed)
Scan the QR code to get an instant link to the directory
For more details information please check on the Provider Hub
Meet the Team
We would like to introduce you to Dan Hall, Livity Life’s new Community Engagement Officer. Dan, who joined Livity Life from SEND Sensation has been with us since March and is settling into Essex life nicely. To help you get to know him better, we asked him five questions to get to the root of what makes him tick:
1. What work plans do you have coming up that excite you?
There is so much to look forward too. I have really enjoyed getting to know and working alongside the team at Livity & Essex. We have recently opened our TEC Demo Room for individuals and/or groups who would like to come down and look at what equipment we have on offer. As well as this I am excited to get our quadrant-based engagement events up and running.
Finally, I am excited to get out and about and engage with other professionals and people in the community to ensure they have a greater understanding of TEC (Technology Enabled Care) and building upon new/existing relationships.
2. What’s your go-to karaoke belter?
Depending on the environment, I have a few... In no order: Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love, Uncle Cracker – Follow Me, Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten.
3. What item of TEC do you use in your daily life and couldn’t go without, and why?
In a boring answer, I would say my phone. However, I will say my Garmin Watch, I do a 10k daily step challenge with friends, so it is important my watch records these. As well as the steps I enjoy challenging myself at sporting events, Marathons, Hyrox & Triathlons to name a few and my watch being the key bit of TEC to track these.
4. Boxset recommendation?
I don’t watch much TV. However, I really enjoyed the series ‘Night Agent’ and a shoutout to ‘Prison Break’ – Series 1 & any police detective programmes.
5. How do you like your eggs?
As an omelette.
Product Spotlight
Small Screen – BIG IMPACT!
The Echo Show 5 is a compact, voice-first smart display that’s making a big difference in the technology enabled care world. With simple voice commands, users can video call loved ones, get medication reminders, control lighting, or just ask Alexa for the weather—all without lifting a finger. It’s especially helpful for those with limited mobility or cognitive impairments.
Why it works
Easy to use voice activation
Clear video calling for social connections
Routines and reminders boost independence
Bottom Line - A small device with real potential to enhance daily living and reduce isolation.
Case Study
As a 19-year-old college student, I faced significant challenges in adhering to my medication schedule, which required me to take medicines six times a day. Visible reminders, such as alarms, led to peer bullying, making it difficult for me to remember my medication without drawing unwanted attention.
To address these challenges, I was provided with the Pivotell Vibratime Smartwatch. This technology solution offered discreet vibrating alerts that avoided drawing attention, and customizable timers set for all six medication times. It empowered me to take control of my medication without external intervention.
The intervention led to significant positive changes. Discreet reminders reduced peer attention and bullying, allowing me to consistently take my medication on time. As a result, I became a happier, more content, and independent individual.This case study highlights the importance of personalized technology solutions in supporting medication adherence and emotional well-being for young individuals facing social challenges.
In Other News:
Mosaic Update
For those of you who work within ECC, you may have noticed some changes to the TEC Referral form on Mosaic. The form has been reduced in size with fewer questions to answer to east double entre elsewhere, but the main thing to be aware of is the title of the form from the START menu is now Care Technology Referral.
Full information will be circulated by the Mosaic team once the update is live.
Demo Room
After opening its doors last month, the TEC Demo Room at Livity HQ in Chelmsford has received glowing feedback:
“Thank you for showing us around the TEC demo. It was very interesting and informative, and I shared it with colleagues to encourage others to visit and try the equipment. Thank you so much for letting us use your meeting room, kitchen, and tea/coffee. You made us all feel very welcome 😊”
Don’t forget, Livity Life has meeting facilities, so why not hold your next team meeting there with a trip into the demo room? To book a visit, please get in touch with dan.hall@livitylife.co.uk.
Digital Champions and the Essex Roadshows
We will be hosting our quarterly face-to-face meetings with our Digital Champions cohort this summer at the ALC Centre in Brentwood, South Essex, this June. If you would like more information or are interested in joining the Digital Champions programme, please get in touch via CareTECService@essex.gov.uk for joining details.
We have also started planning for this years TEC Roadshows which we will be holding over September. More information to be shared closer to the time, but keep your eyes peeled!
eLearning
Everyone reading this newsletter has attended one of our training sessions and is a fully-fledged TEC Prescriber. However, if you have colleagues who have yet to complete their training or you would like a refresher, don’t forget that our TEC eLearning can be found on MyLearn for ECC staff and on the provider hub for our external partners.
Monthly Ops
If you have had any problems using the TEC Service, please remember that we host a Monthly Operations meeting online, where users can bring their issues to the leadership team, who will look into the issues and bring resolution. If we don’t know what’s not working, we can’t fix it. Email CareTECService@essex.gov.uk for joining instructions.
