Community Alarms and Telecare

1. The Difference Between a Community Alarm and Telecare

Community Alarm

A Community Alarm is a telephone unit that is linked to either a pendant or a wristband worn by the person. If they encounter difficulties in their home or there is an emergency the wearer is able to press a button that will connect them to somebody at a control centre who can give advice or reassurance, or contact a relative, friend, neighbour or the emergency services.

A Community Alarm is available to anyone who does not live in a residential or nursing care placement.

Telecare

Telecare is a term used to describe a range of simple sensors that either raise an alarm or act as a reminder or prompt. They include things like;

1. Door sensors;
2. Movement sensors;
3. Smoke, gas or flood detectors;
4. Bed sensors;
5. Medication reminders.

Unlike a community alarm Telecare sensors do not require activation by the person.

Telecare can be provided in addition to, but not instead of a community alarm as the telephone unit is required to ensure that there is an effective response to any sensor activation.

When a sensor is activated a control centre is alerted and somebody will swiftly contact the person to check their safety and give advice or reassurance. If contact cannot be made, or further assistance is required the control centre will contact a nominated person able to access the property and/or the emergency services.

It is available to people who live in:

1. Their own home;
2. Rented accommodation (including Local Authority accommodation);
3. Supported living;
4. Extra Care;
5. Shared lives placements;
6. Residential or nursing care placements.

2. Eligibility for a Community Alarm or Telecare

Community Alarm

Anyone meeting one or more of the following criteria is eligible for a Community Alarm;

1. Is living alone;
2. Is housebound;
3. Is home alone on a regular basis when relatives or other carers are out;
4. Who feels vulnerable at home;
5. Has a need to contact a doctor or someone else in an emergency;
6. Is a carer of a disabled child or adult who needs the control centre to call for help in an emergency.

Eligibility can be determined through a proportionate assessment of need, but a person can make their own arrangements for a Community Alarm without having an assessment, so long as they meet one or more of the criteria above.

Any person wishing to make a self referral should be directed to the council’s website where they can download a referral form. If the person is unable to do this a copy of the form can be provided to them. This can be found in the Local Resources by clicking here.

Telecare

Eligibility for Telecare must be determined through a proportionate assessment process. The assessment must be demonstrate how a particular piece of Telecare can reduce risk or maximise independence.

Determining eligibility

Self referrals

For self referrals eligibility is determined by the Equipment and Assistive Technology Lead upon receipt of the referral.

Assessment

Any social care practitioner, regardless of team should be able to;

1. Consider the potential benefit of a Community Alarm or Telecare during an assessment; and
2. Determine eligibility as part of the assessment process.

3. Charging for a Community Alarm or Telecare

Community Alarm

The charge applied to a Community Alarm depends on the circumstances under which it is being arranged.

Self-referrals

Where a person makes their own arrangements for a Community Alarm the cost is £3.00 per week, which includes the monitoring and response service.

Under the duty to prevent, reduce or delay needs

Where there has been a proportionate assessment of need and the Community Alarm is being provided under the duty to prevent, reduce or delay needs the same costs apply. However, under the Care and Support (Preventing Needs for Care and Support) Regulations 2014 the Local Authority must take reasonable steps to ensure that the charge is affordable to the person.

Under the duty to meet eligible needs

Where there has been a proportionate assessment of need and the Community Alarm is being provided under the duty to meet eligible needs the costs should be included as part of the person’s personal budget. If the financial assessment process determines that the person is unable to make a contribution to the cost of their services the Local Authority should meet the cost.

Telecare

The cost of Telecare is £5.00 per week, which includes the monitoring and response service.

This cost does not increase if the person has more than one sensor installed.

Under the duty to prevent, reduce or delay needs

Where Telecare is being provided under the duty to prevent, reduce or delay needs the same costs apply. However, under the Care and Support (Preventing Needs for Care and Support) Regulations 2014 the Local Authority must take reasonable steps to ensure that the charge is affordable to the person.

Under the duty to meet eligible needs

Where Telecare is being provided under the duty to meet eligible needs the costs should be included as part of the person’s personal budget. If the financial assessment process determines that the person is unable to make a contribution to the cost of their services the Local Authority should meet the cost.

Residential or nursing care placements

4. The Care and Support Plan

5. Arranging a Community Alarm or Telecare

Community Alarm

Complete the Community Alarm Referral Form in full with the person and email it to telecare.referrals@walthamforest.gov.uk.

The referral form can be found in the Local Resources area by clicking here.

Note: Make sure that the person is aware of any contribution they will need to make and have agreed to this.

The Equipment and Assistive Technology Lead will order the alarm and update case notes.

You will need to monitor installation and liaise with the person and the provider, Newham Network as necessary. If you require support contact telecare.referrals@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Telecare

Complete the Telecare and Key Safes Application in full with the person (or their representative if they lack capacity) and email it to telecare.referrals@walthamforest.gov.uk.

The referral form can be found in the Local Resources area by clicking here.

Note: Make sure that the person is aware of any contribution they will need to make and have agreed to this.

The Equipment and Assistive Technology Lead will order the Telecare and, if needed, Community Alarm and update case notes.  

6. Monitoring and Reviewing a Community Alarm or Telecare

Monitoring

As the social work or occupational therapy practitioner that completed the referral you are responsible for making appropriate and proportionate arrangements to monitor the effectiveness of the Community Alarm and/or Telecare once installed.

All monitoring activity should be recorded on case observation notes.

At such time when monitoring is no longer required it may cease. However, if the person has other services steps must be taken to ensure that the effectiveness of the Community Alarm and/or Telecare is reviewed as part of statutory Care and Support Plan reviews.

Review

7. Repairing a Community Alarm or Telecare

All requests for repair should be made via email to telecare.referrals@walthamforest.gov.uk.

8. Removing a Community Alarm or Telecare

If equipment is no longer needed you should email telecare.referrals@walthamforest.gov.uk who will make arrangements to collect it.

Note: It is important to do so in a timely way as the person will continue to be charged whilst the equipment remains in place.