Assistive Technology and Telecare

Assistive technology and Telecare can be provided:

1. As part of a Reablement service; or
2. To support hospital discharges; or
3. Alongside services to meet on ongoing care and support needs; or
4. Independent from all of the above.

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.

If a person lives in residential or nursing care assistive technology and Telecare is normally the responsibility of the provider to assess and arrange for equipment to be installed. However, Dorset Council staff can advise and, if there is an immediate need, assistive technology equipment can be loaned until the home can source their own.

Dorset Council provides information and Advice on Assistive technology through the council’s website, via their Adult Access team or if an individual or their family want specific go a look at equipment and receive impartial advice and information they can attend a session via the TEC Lounge at the Greenwood Centre, Dorchester or by appointment at the Hanham Centre, Wimborne -  bookings can be arranged via the Adult Access Team for both centres.

Our Service Provider Medequip also have a private pay option where individuals can approach for advice and information on how best to support their needs if they wish to self-fund or our Adult Access Team have a list of local suppliers.

Dorset Council does not charge for any of the assistive technology provided through the Strategic Service Provider if either:

1. The individual has been assessed as being eligible under the Care Act; or
2. The assessment can show that the individual would need Care Act services within a 6-month period but by providing equipment this need with be avoided or delayed.

For some people being discharged from hospital a temporary loan of equipment is available for up to 6 weeks for those that just need reassurance but are not Care Act eligible until they can arrange a provision on a private basis.

If the person has an existing (or developing) Care and Support Plan, Carers Support Plan or OT Assessment and Evaluation, any assistive technology or Telecare that is provided to meet on-going needs following an assessment or review must be recorded in the plan.

Assistive technology and Telecare should not be provided until an appropriate and proportionate assessment of need has been carried out.

Any social care practitioner can assess the need for assistive technology and Telecare as part of a needs assessment if they are confident to do so.

All Adult Social Care staff are receiving appropriate training via the TEC team and our Service Provider on the range of equipment available to issue to ensure they are confident in its use. The TEC Team are available for specialist advice and information and staff should ensure that they assess the individual’s capacity to understand how technology can support them and how it works. If necessary, the individual may require a Mental Capacity Assessment and Best Interest decision on the least restrictive use of technology.

Our colleagues in health settings are also going to be trained on the appropriate use of technology and will have access to equipment linked to a pager that can be issued to patients being discharged from hospital where there are 24-hour live in carers /family members who could respond to an alert if it raised. This range of equipment is known as standalone, I.e., it’s not linked to a careline but there is also a range of prompting devices that can support someone in the early stages of dementia to remind them to do activities such as take their medication.

Once an assessment or review of an individual has taken place, if assistive technology is required the member of staff can order this direct from the Service Provider via an online secure portal directly into their system.

The web system will capture only the required information to allow a delivery to take place, if a family member /staff member can be present and basic medical information to allow the provider to safely install the appropriate equipment.

The system will automatically send an email update the following day, to confirm what equipment has been installed. Any concerns or further feedback can also be included in the email to alert the social care staff if further assistance may be required. This email confirmation can then be saved onto the individuals' client record.

If assistive technology/telecare has been provided by Dorset Council, we will replace it for free if it becomes damaged or faulty.

Each item of equipment will be appropriately labelled with a contact centre telephone detail for the Service Provider who has the authority to replace the equipment as soon as possible if it is not working. For linked or telecare equipment as this is directly linked to the call centre the Service Provider will get an appropriate warning alert should an item become unplugged/battery loses power or is not responding and they can take appropriate action in line with the TSA guidelines.

Once it is determined that the equipment is no longer required and it is safe to do so, adult social care staff can go directly on to the Service Providers website and arrange an online collection with the individual and/or their family member, so that equipment can be recycled and appropriate careline and/or sim charges will cease.

Note: If a review has determined that assistive technology or Telecare equipment is no longer required these arrangements should only be made when any alternative provision to meet needs is in place.