Technology enabled care is a service designed to help you live more independently for longer.

It can range from solutions as simple as a button you press if you need assistance through to more innovative solutions such as apps or GPS devices.

Technology enabled care can provide reassurance to family, friends and carers.

It can:

• Remind you of things you to do, like when to take your tablets or if you have an appointment in your diary
• Send an alert to a response centre or carer if you need help
• Use GPS technology to help you remain safe when you’re out and about in the local community.

NRS Healthcare operate the technology enabled care service in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council, we provide a full end-to-end assessment and installation process for Buckinghamshire residents.

You may be subject to a financial assessment depending on the kind of equipment recommended for you, but you will be advised of this.

For further information you can see https://careadvice.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/supporting-you-to-live-independently/technology-that-can-help-me-live-independently/

If your health and social care professional thinks technology enabled care may be of benefit to you, they can refer you to the service.

Alternatively you can refer yourself or someone you care for by completing the form here:

https://account.buckscc.gov.uk/service/Technology_Enabled_Support_Assessment

Your needs will be assessed and we will talk to you about the things you would like to achieve and how you would like to live your life.

Our TECS team will then make some suggestions about the kind of solutions we offer which may help you.

You can contact our dedicated team on 0345 121 8111 or telecare@bucks.nrs-uk.net

Equipment is prescribed by a health or social care professional, who will assess your needs and order the equipment which is best suited to help you and your carer in your daily life.

Please speak to your health or social care professional about your needs or contact your local council customer services team if you are not currently allocated a health and social care professional. https://careadvice.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/

Your equipment is on loan to you for as long as you need it. Your health or social care professional has told us how long they think you will need it.

If you decide you no longer need the equipment, please contact your local team here. We will contact you to arrange a time and date to collect it from you.

We may contact you if you have had the equipment for longer than your health or social care professional advised that you would need it for. We will discuss the equipment you have and if you no longer require it, will arrange to collect it from you.

If you are moving away then please let us know as soon as possible and in plenty of time. You can tell us you are moving by completing our contact form here or by calling our customer service team.

Your equipment MUST NOT be taken out of the area because it belongs to the Buckinghamshire ICES.

Your health or social care professional and the ICES team will help arrange for the right equipment to be provided to you by your provider in the area you are moving to. It may be possible to take some items with you, but this must first be authorised by the local team and the area you are moving to. Please speak to your health or social care professional or call NRS Healthcare to discuss. If you take items out of area this service will no longer be able to repair and/or service the items.

If you have a problem with your equipment or it stops working, you can contact us by completing the contact form here or by calling the customer service team or the health or social care professional who assessed you.

We will either repair the item or replace it for you, depending on the type of equipment you have.

We have an out of hours service for emergency repairs to hoists, beds or mattresses. This operates from the close of normal hours until midnight (last call-out). You can find contact details here

If your equipment needs servicing, one of the NRS Healthcare team will contact you to arrange this.

When you no longer need your equipment, please contact your local team. You can do this by completing the contact form here or by calling the customer services team.

We will arrange to collect if from you. This means we can loan the equipment out to another person who needs it.

You, your carer or a family member may also return equipment directly to your local service centre in Aylesbury. The full address can be found here. Please ensure you label all the equipment with the name and address of the person it was loaned to.

Please remember to return any accessories (such as batteries, chargers, slings, carry bags etc) you were provided with, and have these ready for the collection team, or return these yourself with your main equipment.

Some smaller pieces of equipment may not need to be returned – you will have been told if this is the case.

If you are not eligible for funded equipment you have the option of accessing our local Safe and Well Service. There is a questionnaire on our Safe+Well website here which will help guide you towards the best daily living aids to help you. Or, you can call the Buckinghamshire Safe and Well team on: 0300 1000247 option 3.

You can also view products to purchase on our national NRS Healthcare website www.nrshealthcare.co.uk. NRS Healthcare have an Occupational Therapist on hand to help you with further information about any purchases you would like to make – you can contact them on 0345 121 8111 or email productadvice@nrshealthcare.co.uk