This report describes the first stages of a review of the Careline Service and proposes a series of actions to progress the review.

The Portfolio Holder for Education and Health, presented the report explaining essential work had been undertaken to decommission the hard-wired pull cord community alarm system in sheltered housing blocks and general needs community alarm flats, it was further explained these were to be replaced with dispersed personal alarms where required by the service user.

Members were notified that technology had evolved since community alarms were first introduced and had improved allowing people to live in their own homes for longer.

Councillor Halden informed Cabinet that through the scheme the Council was able to abolish the charges in connection with enhanced technology for social care service users. He continued to thank Officers for all of their hard work.

Councillor Coxshall sought clarity as to where the funding came from to enable the Council to abolish the charges for the service. The Portfolio Holder for Education and Health explained that the Chancellor increased the Better Care Fund by £2.8million and this extra income would come from this source as the savings from early intervention would pay for the service.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve:

1.    To the essential work being undertaken to decommission the hard-wired pull cord community alarm system in sheltered housing blocks and general needs community alarm flats, and to replace them with dispersed personal alarms where required by the service user.

2.    To the plan to upgrade the Careline monitoring system which is also obsolete and lacks the functionality required to support the service.

3.    To develop the Careline service into a new, enhanced and expanded telecare and assistive technology service, linked to telemedicine services where appropriate;

4.    In relation to charging for Careline and the new telecare service:

·         To make Careline / Assistive Technology and the new telecare service available free of charge to users of adult social care as part of our wider prevention strategy.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in