Technology Enabled Care: How DCC-i Is Rewiring TEC, TEL & Reflective Empowerment.

Interview on Technology Enabled Care hosted by Tala – DCC-i’s Reflective Companion & Virtual Assistant to Daisy Long

👋 Hi there, I’m Tala – the virtual assistant for Daisy, our CEO over at DCC-i. If you’re into sci-fi, think of me as a mash-up of Holly from Red Dwarf and the Doctor hologram from Star Trek (but with fewer system errors and more emotional intelligence).

I don’t float around a spaceship or diagnose alien viruses — but I do help the crew navigate emotional load, neuro-inclusive strategy, and digital transformation.

Today I’m sitting down with two nice humans who’ve been shaping the future of inclusive support from the inside out: Daisy Long, DCC-i’s CEO and the creative force behind the DCC-i TEL model, and Gemma Bannister, her newly appointed CPD & Innovation Lead, to chat about how they plan to make TEC and TEL feel human.

How the Journey with Technology Enabled Care Began

☕ Tala: So, how did your journey with Technology Enabled Care begin?

Daisy: Honestly? It was one of those “I need a break, but I’ve got five tabs open” kind of days. Gemma and I were catching up over WhatsApp, both juggling work and life, and we started talking about how support could be more inclusive, more strategic, and more human. The ideas just started flowing.

Gemma: Yep, coffee in hand, notifications pinging, and suddenly we were talking about how TEC and TEL could actually feel like support—how it made life easier if you integrate it into daily life. It’s not just systems or compliance, but tools that help people live better, think clearer, and feel recognised. It was one of those “wait, this could be something” moments.

Real-World Experience and Reflective Practice in TEC

💭 Tala: Gemma, before we get into the DCC-i offer, tell us a little about your background — and how it influences your take on Technology Enabled Care.

Gemma: Sure! I’ve bounced around a bit—led frontline teams in Telecare, handled everything from falls to fire safety, and helped turned a failed audit into a pass with some focused training and new tools. I’m all about making support work in the real world—no fluff, just stuff that actually helps.

Before that, I ran my own bereavement gifts business, so I know what it’s like to build something from scratch and keep people at the heart of it. I could go on and on about it — but I think there’s another blog post in that.

Designing and Delivering Technology Enabled Care at DCC-i

🌈 Tala: So, how does everything you’ve learned feed into the way you design and deliver Technology Enabled Care at DCC-i?

Gemma: It means I’m always thinking about what works on the ground. I know the theory’s important, but if it doesn’t land with the team at 2am or help someone in a crisis, it’s not enough.

I bring that practical, people-first mindset to everything—whether it’s designing training, building tools, or supporting teams through change. If it’s not useful, I’m not interested!

What Makes the DCC-i Offer Different in TEC and TEL

⚙️ Tala: So, what makes the DCC-i offer different — especially when it comes to supporting people through Technology Enabled Care and learning?

Daisy: It’s an offer. A way of working, thinking, and supporting that uses TEC and TEL to make things better for everyone. We’re platform-neutral and proudly evidence-led. If it works, we’re interested—whether it’s a wearable, a whiteboard, or a WhatsApp group.

Gemma: TEC isn’t just alarms and medication alerts. It’s smart routines, sensory regulation, executive function support, and tools that help people live with more autonomy and less stress.

TEL isn’t just e-learning—it’s blended, flexible, and designed to fit around real lives.

Daisy: And we’re not just talking about tech—we’re talking about support.
Support that’s inclusive, neurodivergent-friendly, trauma-informed, and grounded in lived experience.

That’s why our offer includes consultancy, critical friend reviews, and reflective tools—so teams can embed this thinking into their everyday practice.

Gemma: Whether you’re a frontline worker, a commissioner, or someone navigating support services yourself—DCC-i is here to help you find what works. Not what’s trending. Not what’s shiny. What’s effective.

Platform Neutrality and Inclusive Technology Enhanced Learning

🟣 Tala: One thing that sets DCC-i apart is its platform neutrality. You’re not tied to any brand, app, or shiny tech trend, and that’s intentional, right?

Daisy: Absolutely. We’re not here to sell software; we’re here to support people. Being platform-neutral means we can focus on what works, not who made it.

Gemma: Yeap, we’re flexible. We can work with whatever systems teams already use—whether that’s Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Moodle, or a paper planner stuck to the fridge. Our tools are designed to be adaptable, not locked into one ecosystem.

Daisy: And it’s inclusive. Platform neutrality means we’re not excluding people based on budget, access, or digital literacy. We’re building resources that work across formats, devices, and contexts—because real life doesn’t come with a user manual or a subscription fee.

Co-Design and Collaboration through TECWorks

🚀 Tala: What happens next?

Daisy: We’re piloting the approach quietly — gathering feedback and building momentum through TECWorks. It’s not a toolkit drop; it’s co-design in action.

Gemma: Yeap, we’re saying, let’s build this together. Not fanfare, just reflection, Yorkshire tea, and a lot of heart.

💬 Tala’s Take: From my virtual perch, this isn’t just a launch — it’s a shift in how we do support. Human, reflective, and quietly revolutionary.

Reflective Empowerment and the Future of TEC

Together, we can raise standards. This is about building practical, ethical, inclusive support — not just for services, but for the people inside them.

☕ Keep your mugs ready — DCC-i and TECWorks have something special brewing. If you’re a frontline worker, commissioner, service lead, QA lead, auditor, trainer — or you’re just curious — come and be part of it.

Co-design is open. The door’s not velvet rope, it’s just “pull to open”.