Wandsworth Council is set to expand its care technology service with a significant investment aimed at helping residents live independently and reducing pressure on adult social care. The council's Cabinet approved a budget variation of £650,000 in 2025-26 and £550,000 in 2026-27 to facilitate the expansion, as detailed in the Care Technology Investment and Procurement Paper No. 25-379.
The council currently supports around 650 people with care technology and aims to mainstream the service, extending it to those with more complex needs. This expansion aims to address the increasing demand for adult social care services related to older people, learning disabilities, and mental health. The investment is projected to deliver efficiencies and benefits of £1 million from 2024-25 to 2026-27, with continued savings estimated at £3.5 million up to 2029-30. These savings will be realised through embedding the system within the community.
Councillor Graeme Henderson, Cabinet Member for Health, explained that the investment in technology is a key part of the council's strategy to support residents in their own homes.
The evidence suggests if you keep people at home, they thrive, they prosper far better than putting them into care institutions. And so the central plank of our strategy is to try to keep people at home for as long as we possibly can,
said Councillor Henderson.
The council currently employs a progressive technology approach and is looking to fully embed a mainstream care technology service delivery model. The specific types of care technology currently in use and those being considered for the expansion were not detailed in the meeting information.
Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Council, agreed that this was a sensible investment in the technology of the future.
The council plans to use a procurement system that prioritises quality and social value. The procurement system, referred to as the most advantageous tender evaluation method, will weight quality at 100%. Contractors will be evaluated against strict criteria to ensure they meet the council's needs in delivering high-quality services and aligning with its principles on social value.
