It all added up from day one
My first job out of school and my first introduction to Telecare and Supported Housing was as a Contract Estimator in pricing up hardwired solutions.
Healthcare tech isn’t just a career, it’s been my calling
I’ve worked for 37 years across community health, housing and social care. I’m an experienced, driven (and still young at heart), thought leader in the Technology Enabled Care Service (TECS) sector.
Technology is continually evolving…
I’m passionate about supporting the next generation of Everon Group sales and partnership managers to create the very best in cutting edge cloud based wireless solutions and independent living support.
My time in the Smart City tech space first inspired me to drive digital transformation informed by data trends and insight and that continues today. It’s all about having a truly connected approach to care.
…But some things stay the same
I started out with the leading solutions provider of its time, building and sharing my experience with the early smart technology and the use of data and software in acute healthcare. Then I came back full circle into TECS sector a year or so ago to drive change supporting early intervention and care outcomes through data, trend and insight.
This job has taken me to great places
My career’s had lots of highlights - too many to mention really - but launching the community telehealth concept in the House of Commons many years ago is right up there!!
Launching the telehealthcare concept many moons ago was a highlight too and supporting the creation of new telecare services as part of the PTG programme of investment.
Making a difference motivates me
My role continuously drives my passion for better care for residents in supported housing across the UK. Just getting regular ‘thank yous’ from carers, families and residents themselves and the fact you make a difference to their lives is the best feeling in the world. There’s no better motivation than that!
…and light bulb moments
I love meeting new people in my job and seeing that moment of realisation when they understand the value of TECS!
We all work together
The technology enabled care sector is a family, with one common goal; trying to make things better for the people we care and deliver services for.
Innovation is informed by data, trends and insight
There are exciting developments in the sector right now. The future is driven by data, trends and insight! Digital transformation is a once in a generation opportunity!!
Quickfire questions
Secret to a happy working life: A happy and supported home life!
A typical day: Supporting the next generation of thought leaders in sales, through mentoring and guiding.
This week’s priorities: Sharing the Everon Group’s story with our growing partnerships and highlighting the ROI they’ve achieved!
Most proud of: My family, but also I’m a proud Yorkshireman and right up there is my Mk2 Spitfire 1.72 scales model painted and transferred to boot (it was 47 years ago!!)
Spare time passions: Dining in/out. Travelling as much as possible. Family time. And laughing – a lot!
Inspired by: My parents; 54 years married, now that's perseverance!! My father for his skills to build quick and long-lasting rapport with people and my mum’s no-nonsense steadfast drive and focus! Always done with lots of laughter, just enjoying life!
All your favourites: Home with the family. Good food, and plenty of it - especially Indian, Italian, Chinese, Greek and my mum’s cooking! Skiathos is one of my favourite Greek Islands so naturally Mamma Mia is one of my favourite films!!
We are pleased to announce that Kai Tihilä has stepped in as Interim Chief Financial Officer. Kai brings with him a wealth of experience and will join the Global Leadership Team (GLT) in his new role.
Antti Miettinen, our long-serving Chief Financial Officer led the consolidation of the Group finance function successfully and as that project concludes for Everon Group, Antti has decided it is now the time to for a new challenge.
We would like to sincerely thank Antti for his dedicated service and the significant contributions he has made during his time with Everon and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
Antti will continue to offer his support to the company when needed.
Welcome aboard, Kai!
Across England, local government reorganisation is starting to reshape how services are planned, delivered and funded. For people receiving care at home or in residential care, this change could feel distant – far removed from everyday life. For those who provide care it offers an opportunity to look afresh at how health and social care is delivered and square the circle of limited resources and increased demand.
The changes explained
The UK Government have set out plans to move away from the two-tier system of district and county councils. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more with some exceptions to ensure the changes make sense for specific areas. The first elections are due in 2027 with all new local authorities set to be in place by April 2028.
As with existing unitary authorities, these new councils will be responsible for all services within an area including council run or administered social care provision. There are also new strategic mayoral authorities being launched across England, but the government has made clear that these will be focused on economic growth and not social care.
Future opportunities
However, the English devolution white paper talks about aligning boundaries of strategic authorities and NHS integrated care boards, prompting discussions by policymakers and stakeholders about establishing closer partnerships in future.
Conversations are taking place between existing councils - as they prepare for change - about how local government re-organisation could be an opportunity to reform public services. New partnerships could set a platform for improved co-ordination between health and social care services across the public and private sector.
The new unitary authorities, meanwhile, will be facing the same challenges of the councils they are replacing. That includes looking at ways they can streamline local delivery and improve efficiency. To maximise these benefits for providers of supported living, residential homes and other care settings, better use of technology will be an essential part of the equation.
With limits coming into force on overseas recruitment for care workers and no magic wand for increasing funding for social care services, the new councils will need to think more innovatively about how advances in technology, including AI and machine learning, can be embraced.
Switching to prevention-led care
The UK government has been vocal about the need for a greater focus on preventative, person-centred care. In January, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting announced measures it would be taking to:
“…harness the power of care technology to transform care and support older people to live at home for longer.”
This included the launch of an independent commission into adult social care – chaired by Baroness Casey of Blackstock – to rebuild the adult social care system to meet the current and future needs of the population.
The implementation of the government’s local government re-organisation will dovetail with the expected reporting by the commission of longer-term recommendations in 2028 for the transformation of adult social care in England.
It means that we are unlikely to see those recommended changes come into force much before the next general election with the potential prospect of a new UK government with different priorities.
What action can be taken now?
2028 is a long time away for those working at the frontline of social care, especially when there are digital solutions available now or in development that could help them to better manage resource and prioritise, while allowing people to be living independently at home for longer.
Everon Group has been working with Housing LIN, TechUK and the TSA, champions for the technology enabled care sector in the UK, to argue the case with decision makers at all levels of the impact that investment in technology could bring.
In all three countries in which we operate, we are working closely with industry partners to influence policy makers of the best way ahead – including examples of best practice across the UK, Finland and Sweden where better use of technology has made a real difference.
The power of data, trend and insight
For care at home or in residential settings, the power of data, trend and insight is an important element in shaping a future-fit model for health and social care delivery. This is the time to invest in connected data driven digital systems that allow care providers and health care commissioners to free up resource for tasks that matter the most.
The road to preventative care is the ultimate solution for the challenges that the new wave of local authorities will face when they pick up the baton for social care delivery from existing unitary and county councils in the UK.
Cloud-based care management platforms, real-time monitoring, and predictive analytics are not distant ambitions – they are today’s tools for a more proactive approach to care.
Foundation for better care
Local government reorganisation isn’t just a bureaucratic shift. It’s a moment of decision. For those working in adult social care, the challenge now is to ensure digital transformation stays at the heart of this change – not as an afterthought, but as a foundation for better, more responsive care.
When we get this right, we won’t just improve systems. We will transform lives for the better and technology will be key to that.
Everon Group works directly in the UK with commissioners of grouped or supported housing services – from housing associations to care home networks, local authorities to integrated care boards.
We specialise in cloud-based wireless technology that analyses data to provide insight for early detection of health issues. Everon Group has supported the likes of Clarion Housing, Hyde Housing, Community Housing and Jewish Care, working in continued partnership on the digital transformation of their estates.
To find out more about how Everon Group can support your organisation book a consultation and we’ll be in touch.
A UK report on the role of the property sector in improving health caught our attention recently. Produced by the UCL Institute of Health Equity it provided a clear case for the importance of designing environments that promote independence, prevent illness and support people to age well. As a technology enabled care company with operations in the UK, Finland and Sweden, this report resonated with us, highlighting the broader picture of the challenges faced by those in society who need help the most.
We live at a time when inequalities in health have widened, and the NHS is under strain with not enough social and affordable homes being built. For those of us supporting health and social care delivery, we can also see the real challenges staff are facing in continuing to deliver the highest quality standards of care despite limited budgets and a shortage of skilled staff.
This report came out just at the time that the UK government was announcing proposals to streamline the planning system and a new commission to reform adult social care in England. It’s an added driver for action alongside the adoption of the latest data led technology in the solutions required for the future way forward.
Build in technology for safer homes
There’s a real opportunity with future housing design to not only make homes warmer and sustainable but to build in digital technologies that can make them safer too, leading to improvements in health and wellbeing for residents. Developers are already expected to contribute to the costs of local NHS provision. Could this be extended to technology enabled care (TEC) as part of the drive for a more prevention led model of care?
The next generation of TEC will provide housing associations and commissioners of services in other care settings with the data, trends and insights to meet the needs of future residents. This is where investment has the potential to reduce the cost of expensive hospital admissions, for example.
At Everon Group, we already provide intelligent data powered systems that are allowing care providers to be more efficient so that they can focus on tasks that matter, including supporting people most in need of care. We are developing products that embrace AI and machine learning that will allow more people to be independent for longer. Across the three countries in which we operate – Finland, Sweden and the UK, we’re already seeing an impact. Just imagine the potential if this technology was introduced into new build housing design from the start?
Everon Group works directly in the UK with commissioners of grouped or supported housing services – from housing associations to care home networks, local authorities to integrated care boards.
We specialise in cloud-based wireless technology that analyses data to provide insight for early detection of health issues. Everon Group has supported the likes of Clarion Housing, Hyde Housing, Community Housing and Jewish Care, working in continued partnership on the digital transformation of their estates.
To find out more about how Everon Group can support your organisation book a consultation and we’ll be in touch.
