Telecare is a service that helps to support people to live independently. It gives an additional system of support that Telecare clients and their carers can use to receive emergency support 24 hours a day. Shropshire Council would like you to have your say on proposals to start charging a subsided rate for the Telecare service. While we remain fully committed to providing excellent care services for local people, the current financial context for local councils means we are exploring ways in which to recover some of the costs associated with running Telecare services. We are committed to continuing to fund the service for people who are care eligible (i.e have a social care package) following assessment and if you're entitled to after-care services provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act.

For people with lower-level needs or as a preventative measure, we are proposing to ask for a payment towards the service. We commission several non-statutory services (services which the council is not obliged to provide) which can be used to meet a person's eligible needs, such as the telecare service. In some cases, these services are used as part of a person’s Support Plan to meet their eligible care needs; however, there are currently examples of people with no eligible needs receiving these services who are not being charged.

The proposal is to ensure the following principles are applied consistently to non-statutory services:

• If a person receives a non-statutory service to meet their eligible needs, this would form part of their overall Support Plan and financial assessment.
• If the council chooses to provide a non-statutory service to a person who doesn't have eligible needs or their eligibility has not been established, we would charge the actual cost of that service.

This new approach would provide clarity on when people should be charged.

We are therefore asking Telecare clients, carers, people employed in health and social care and the wider public to comment on the proposals to start charging for the Telecare service.

How does the Telecare service currently work?

Telecare provides a way for people to signal for help if they are in need in their homes. Anyone can use it, including the elderly, disabled and vulnerable people. You may have heard of them being called 'Carecall', ‘Care Alarm’ or 'Lifeline' systems.

A standard telecare alarm package usually comes with a base unit. This either plugs into your telephone line or connects to the internet. It also comes with a call button, which you can wear as a pendant around the neck, wrist strap, and sometime includes falls detectors worn on the wrist and sensor matts.

The call button is the part used call for help when needed or some equipment can generate automatic alerts in the event of particular issues arising such as a fall. When activated the call will be picked up by a Response Centre which operates 24/7. The response centre will assess the situation and make a decision about the help is needed. This might be to call an emergency contact such as a family member or friend, call a service listed on the persons record or might be to calls emergency services.

In some areas, the Telecare Responder service provides assistance and home visits to check on clients' wellbeing. While this service is not currently available in Shropshire, we are seeking your feedback through the survey to determine if it would be beneficial.

Our Telecare supplier also installs, repairs, and maintains the alarms and related equipment.

Telecare has a number of benefits including:

• Ensuring that somebody can summon help in an emergency
• Helping a person to remain living at home with increased independence
• Reassuring family and carers that a service user can access help quickly in an emergency.

What changes are proposed?

Shropshire Council is proposing to introduce a charge for Telecare of £3.45 a week. This charge would apply to both existing and new users of Telecare.

Residents who receive a package of care from Shropshire Council or those entitled to after-care services provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act will not pay for telecare.

We are also proposing that, for new users only, a one-off start-up fee of £35.00 will apply.

New users would have a free 6-week trial of the service as part of the proposals, under a reablement package as per the legislation.  

Please remember to test your equipment by pressing the trigger button once a month. Testing equipment regularly is important and it may help to prolong battery life. If you have a personal alarm, a life-saving device you rely on, you want to be assured that it will be there when you call for help. That's why we encourage all our customers to be proactive and test their alarm systems at least once a month so we can identify any problems and fix them as quickly as possible

Key features of the charging proposal:

The charge would be the same no matter how little or often the alarm system is triggered

All Telecare equipment remains the property of the Council

The charge will be reviewed annually when the Council sets its budget, fees and charges.

If the Council decides to introduce a charge, everyone affected will be notified in writing, and given information on how to pay and the amount they will be expected to pay.

Why are you proposing to introduce a charge for the Telecare service?

Our older population is growing at faster rates. Councils all over the country are under pressure from the rising need and cost of social care services. In Shropshire this accounts for nearly 80% of the council’s overall budget. Central Government funding restrictions mean that the Council has been looking at alternative ways to recover some of the costs of running some services. One of the options is to introduce charges for some of the services that were previously free. Around £4 in every £5 the council spends is on social care, looking after the most vulnerable people in the county. More people than ever now need this support, which the council must provide, while costs to do so are rising.

Shropshire is currently one of very few councils that do not charge any residents for the Telecare service. The typical charge for Telecare services in other councils ranges from £1.50 to £19 per week. Introducing a charge in Shropshire would bring the council in line with other areas and help us to recover some of the costs associated with running the Telecare service, allowing us to sustain and develop the service. If the proposed charge is introduced, and all users paid the relevant charge, it is estimated that the Council could recover a proportion of the full cost of running the Telecare service. Therefore, the charges outlined above would be a contribution to the full cost of the service.

Why am I being consulted?

Before making any changes, Shropshire Council wants to know your views on how this could affect you and the people you know, so we can further understand the impact any potential changes could have on people who use the service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documents

• Equalities social inclusion health impact assessment.pdf
• Printable version of survey - Telecare charging consultation
• Easy read - Telecare charging briefing paper
• Easy read survey for Telecare Services .pdf

If you need a printed version of the survey, or help in navigating the document please call in at one of our Shropshire Local sites, speak to your local library or call us on 0345 678 9077 and we'll be happy to assist you. You can also respond to this engagement survey in writing:

• Email: TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk
• Post: Tell Us, Feedback and Insight Team, Shropshire Council, PO Box 4826, Shrewsbury, SY1 9LJ

An easy read version of the survey is attached, however, If you'd like the survey in an alternative format, please email TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk and describe the support you need to allow you to respond. Or you can call Shropshire Council's Customer Services at 0345 678 9077