Case Study: Additional Monitoring for New Assisted Living Building

As part of South Tyneside Homes' ongoing commitment to improving supported accommodation, a new assisted living building was constructed and integrated into their portfolio. These types of facilities serve a vulnerable population and demand robust, secure, and always-on monitoring solutions. Alarm Comm Systems, in partnership with our team, was tasked with delivering a resilient and integrated communications infrastructure that would allow the facility to be monitored remotely while reducing the need for permanent on-site staff.

The assisted living facility was a brand-new development, meaning all infrastructure needed to be built from the ground up. There was no existing network or telecoms infrastructure in place, and connectivity to the central control station — located off-site — was essential for the operational model to function efficiently. Additionally, the systems needed to operate securely and be protected against potential cyber threats, as they involved sensitive safety and access data.

To meet the needs of Alarm Comm Systems and South Tyneside Homes, we designed and implemented a tailored solution:

1. Internet Connectivity Provisioning
   We coordinated with BT to provide a new dedicated internet connection to the building. This included line installation, configuration of a business-grade router, and ensuring suitable bandwidth for video and alarm data transmission.
    
2. Secure VPN Configuration
   A secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) was established to create a direct and encrypted link between the new assisted living building and the central monitoring control room. This ensured that data — particularly sensitive information related to fire alarm alerts and access control — could be transmitted securely and in real time.
    
3. Systems Integration
   Once connectivity was in place, we worked with Alarm Comm Systems to bring the building’s security and communication systems online:
   • Fire Alarm Monitoring: Connected to the central control room to enable real-time alerts and incident response.
   • Door Entry & Video Intercom: Configured to work over the secure VPN, allowing staff at the control centre to speak to and admit visitors remotely.
   • CCTV Commissioning: Integrated into the network, allowing for continuous video surveillance and recording, viewable from the control room.
      
4. Testing & Handover
   Following installation, extensive testing was conducted to ensure all systems were functioning correctly over the VPN. The system was signed off after validation of network stability, alarm response timing, intercom clarity, and video quality.