Upgrading Independent Living in Nottingham: Intratone and Chiptech at the Forefront

0​3 March 2025

In December 2024, Nottingham City Council continued its ambitious journey to modernize over 60 independent living schemes across the city. The council has partnered with two technology providers: Intratone and Chiptech, to deliver devices that enhance safety, connectivity, and independence for residents. This partnership marks an exciting new chapter, bringing these two companies together for the first time to support those with the greatest needs and provide solutions that improve the lives of both residents and their carers. We joined the teams on-site at Lathkill Close, one of the many schemes undergoing this exciting upgrade, to hear from those involved and see the technology in action.

For this project, Intratone provided their advanced door entry systems, which integrate seamlessly with Chiptech’s digital dispersed alarms. Chiptech, a company founded in New Zealand in 2000, is one of the market leaders in digital social telecare, with a growing presence in the UK.

Aaron Longstaff, a sales consultant at Chiptech, highlighted the scope of their operations: "Our UK-based office in Lancaster supports over 160,000 digitally connected devices across the country. We have quickly grown to become one of the market leaders in social telecare.” Intratone, a company founded in 2000, is a leading cloudbased wireless access control and door entry solutions manufacturer specialising in user-friendly intercom systems and real time management. With over 20 years of experience, Intratone have simplified property access for more than 15,000 customers ( several millions of dwellings) offering products that enhance security and efficiency for housing associations and property managers.

Intratone’s systems are designed to be inclusive, enabling residents—especially those with greater vulnerabilities— to feel safe and supported. These solutions also empower carers and support teams with efficient tools that enhance their ability to provide care.

At the heart of this project is the Chiptech 7, a powerful and resilient dispersed alarm system designed with personcentred care in mind. Aaron explained: "The Chiptech 7 provides resilience through its dual SIM technology. In the event of an outage, the unit can roam between SIMs to maintain connectivity. Additionally, all our units are preprogrammed, saving customers an average of 15 minutes per unit during installation. The device also includes voice-guided installation, ensuring a seamless setup."

Beyond its connectivity features, the Chiptech 7 offers significant benefits for independent living schemes. Sam Boothroyd, sales consultant at Chiptech, shared her perspective: "One of the additional benefits of using the Chiptech 7 in independent living schemes is the integration of environmental sensors, such as heat and smoke detection. Residents can also use the unit to answer calls from the Intratone door entry panel, giving them even greater independence and security."

This project at Lathkill Close required a tailored approach. The intercom system was programmed to call the Chiptech Personal Alarm, creating a call point setup where calls can go directly to each flat or to Nottingham On Call, the council’s 24-hour monitoring service. This setup allows carers to access properties remotely using a secure password when Nottingham On Call is contacted.

This flexibility ensures that the solution works seamlessly for both residents and the support teams who assist them.

The council’s referral-to-response service dedicated to keeping vulnerable people safe and independent in their homes. Raj Verna, a team leader at Nottingham On Call, described their role: "We provide a referral-to-response service (R-to-R) to ensure our most vulnerable residents can live securely in their homes while maintaining their independence. This partnership with Intratone and Chiptech enhances our ability to deliver that care. Security for residents has been improved through the installation of video intercoms, which is especially helpful for those with mobility issues as it allows them to answer calls without needing to walk to the handset in the hallway. Chiptech have been installed either by the scheme manager or the Nottingham Oncall team, ensuring that installation does not depend on a external contractor. The installation process has been flexible, as not all residents in the schemes require these units."

As Nottingham City Council continues its upgrades across the schemes, it’s clear that partnerships with Intratone and Chiptech are paving the way for smarter, safer, and more connected living. By focusing on the needs of vulnerable individuals and their carers, these partnerships are creating a future where independence and support go hand in hand.