Alyson Scurfield, Chief Executive of TSA, honoured by king in recognition of services to TEC.
The head of the TEC Services Association (TSA) has been appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in the king’s birthday honours list. Granted by the king and published by the government, the honours list rewards deserving people from all walks of life, in public recognition of their merit, service or bravery.
Photo courtesy of TSA.
The OBE granted to Alyson Scurfield comes in recognition of the fact that, since 2013, Alyson’s leadership has created safer, more effective TEC services for more than 2m people in the UK. She has transformed TSA from a traditional association of manufacturers to a collaborative advisory body that puts people, families and carers first, while working works closely with governments and regulators across the UK.
TSA is the independent advisory body for the technology-enabled care (TEC) sector, which represents more than 350 organisations – including councils, housing associations, care providers and technology suppliers – that commission and provide TEC services to older and disabled people.
In 2017, Scurfield set up the UKAS accredited quality standards framework (QSF) to address the lack of regulation and legislation in place around TEC safety. QSF audits TEC providers against 200 standards. Some 87% of people now using TEC are supported by QSF-certified providers.
Following the tragic deaths of two TEC users after their landlines were switched to digital, Scurfield worked with the government on the telecare national action plan, developing partnerships between telecoms companies and TEC organisations to ensure safe digital migrations.
She also launched the Virtual Home, a lifelike house used to improve TEC knowledge among care professionals. More than 9,000 care staff have now used it, with 95% saying they now feel more confident prescribing TEC as a result.
Scurfield also strengthened TEC commissioning across health and care, leading to the creation, in partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), of a free blueprint to scale digital preventative services. This has been downloaded by more than 700 council staff.
Alongside her role at TSA, Scurfield chairs Age UK North Tyneside. She previously worked in TEC for 11 years at the housing association Your Homes Newcastle.
Alyson Scurfield, CEO of TSA, says: ‘I am overwhelmed to receive this honour for services to TEC. I love this sector and believe passionately in the impact it has. Every single day TEC organisations cut pressure on the NHS, they strengthen community-based care and ensure millions of people live well in their own homes.
‘This honour is recognition of the brilliant TSA team who have supported me so much, and crucially, it’s acknowledgement of our talented, highly innovative TEC sector. Their dedication to improving people’s lives never ceases to amaze me.
‘I will use this OBE to continue banging the drum for technology enabled care and the vital role it can and must play in the future of health and care – supporting the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and its three strategic shifts.’
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chair of TSA and CEO of Care England, adds: ‘I am delighted that Alyson has been honoured by the King with the award of an OBE. This is not only recognition for the outstanding leadership that Alyson has offered to TSA, and the technology enabled care sector, but it is also an indicator of the importance of her work at a time of significant health and social care reform.’
Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, Associate Director of Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), says: ‘I am absolutely delighted that Alyson Scurfield has been awarded an OBE. She has always understood that TEC is not about technology for its own sake. It is about people. It is about enabling people to live the lives they choose, with dignity, independence, connection, meaning and purpose.
‘Her work has helped shift the conversation from devices and systems to real lives and real outcomes. She has consistently championed the idea that technology must sit alongside care, relationships and humanity, helping people to stay connected, safe, included and in control.
‘This honour recognises not only Alyson’s personal contribution, but also the importance of putting people and their lives at the very heart of technology enabled care.’
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