The General Exception Notices of Hackney Council met on Monday 25 August 2025 to discuss a general exception notice regarding the Technology Enabled Living Service. The decision was required to be taken under General Exception because at least 28 clear days notice was not given of the intention to take the key decision.

Technology Enabled Living Service

The council was scheduled to discuss a general exception notice concerning the AHI S610 Technology Enabled Living Service. Helen Woodland, Group Director of Adults, Health & Integration, was listed as the decision maker, with Councillor Christopher Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care, Voluntary Sector and Culture, as the lead member. Jas Kakkar was named as the author of the report.

The report pack stated that Section 2 of the Care Act 2014¹ includes a statutory duty for local authorities to ensure that people who live in their area receive services that prevent their care needs from becoming more serious.

Statutory guidance on the Act states that 'Local authorities must provide or arrange services, resources or facilities that maximise independence for those already with such needs'.

The report pack notes that technology-enabled living services can help keep people safe at home and prevent the escalation of needs, which can include hospital admission or residential care. It also notes that a key feature of the Care Act 2014 is the duty to promote well-being, which is defined to include nine components, including personal dignity, physical and mental health, control over day-to-day life, and the suitability of a person's home environment. The provision of technology-enabled living services is highly relevant to each of these well-being components.

The reason given for the general exception was that:

The procurement exercise has been challenged and we have been advised to reprocure the service. Having a gap in the service provision is a risk for Hackney's most vulnerable residents.