New partnership to use innovative technology to safeguard vulnerable adults in their homes

A partnership of social care, Barnsley Council’s Community Safety division, police and fire services that will use innovative technology to safeguard vulnerable adults in their homes from the risks of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning and bogus callers will be launched on Friday, 4 July. Reporters and photographers are invited to attend the event 10am at Barnsley Town Hall (Reception Rooms).

The Barnsley Safe and Secure at Home Partnership will comprise the council’s Central Call team, Barnsley Social Care Alarm Service, the Safer Neighbourhood Team, South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Central Call already has a partnership with the fire service that prevents injury and threat to life to the most vulnerable members of the community through the use of Telecare smoke detectors. The activation of a Telecare smoke detector in the user’s home triggers an immediate response from Central Call operators, who can then alert firefighters.

The Safe and Secure at Home Partnership builds on that joint working and effective communication to prevent:

• bogus-caller crime by using Telecare technology to remotely monitor doorstep callers, trigger a police response and gather evidence through remote recording to secure prosecutions. This will be supported by educating vulnerable people on what steps to take when dealing with cold callers,
• life-threatening situations by using Telecare technology to remotely detect carbon monoxide in the vulnerable person’s home and alert Central Call.

The safeguarding system will reassure vulnerable people, their families and friends that their safety is being monitored and that help is at hand in an emergency.

One hundred Safe and Secure at Home Telecare packages, comprising smoke detector, carbon monoxide monitor and bogus caller button, will be installed in vulnerable people’s home in the 12 months to March next year. For those meeting the needs criteria there will be no installation charge and a weekly monitoring and service charge of £3.50.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has agreed to finance the 100 smoke detectors. Funding support has also been received from Telecare equipment supplier Tunstall, and further bids for external funding will be made as the scheme progresses.

Senior Managers from the emergency services have been invited to Friday’s launch, along with senior managers from the council including the Cabinet Spokesperson for Adult Social Services, Cllr David Bostwick.

Paul Higginbottom, Business Manager of Central Call and Home Care, stated: “We are very encouraged by this new partnership which embraces all key stakeholders as we work together to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community, enabling them to remain in the safety and security of their own homes and enjoy a good quality of life. The new technology will be used to complement sound operational practices to prevent incidents such as bogus caller crime from taking place and when it does, to provide a swift response from the appropriate emergency services and secure convictions to deter future offences from taking place.”

ENDS

Issued by press office, 01226 773442, email: pressoffice@barnsley.gov.uk