Community Alarms

"Central Call" have been awarded all three codes of the TSA strategic framework 2006 - 2009

Our "Statement of service" Our "Performance indicators" How we are "Performing"?Telecare

 What is CENTRALCall?                                 

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 's Central Call Service provides a 24-hour,  365 day a year emergency  response service for  approximately 9,000 residents of the borough of Barnsley.  There are currently around 4,100 service users linked to the service using Individual Alarm Units, the remainder are in Local Authority and Housing Association accommodation, linked by hard-wired intercom systems.  

In November 2006 Central achieved accreditation in all three parts of the Telecare Services Association (TSA), the organisation which sets the standards for this type of service. 

This means that we achieve rigourous standards in the delivery of our services with regards to:

1)  Call Handling  

2)  The installation and management of our Individual Alarm Units

3)  Our emergency response service.

In all cases it is not just how quickly we response, but the manner and effectiveness of our response.

 

For more information of the TSA please visit: www.telecare.org.uk.

Our service users are made up of older and/or vulnerable adults and adults with disability, allowing them to maintain their independence, safe in the knowledge that if they feel ill; have a fall, are afraid or worried in and around their homes, then they can access help at the touch of a button.    The  service also offers Telecare which are added sensors placed around the home offering safe and secure, memory support, falls and cognitive decline packages.  

 The service is delivered by a team of trained staff who ensure that the dignity, privacy, independence and confidentiality of each service user is maintained at all times.  

Individual Alarm 

An individual alarm unit is a piece of equipment which is connected to your own telephone and plugged into a nearby 13 amp socket.  The service user wears a  pendant, either on a cord or a wrist strap.   When pressed the pendant sends a signal to the unit which then calls the Central Call control room in Barnsley.   On receipt of the call a screen shows who has called, their address and various other information e.g., doctor; family/friends; medical conditions.   The staff in Central Call can then speak to you to make a decision on what assistance is required and ensure that your needs are met, this may be calling emergency services, doctor, family/friends or when required the mobile response team will visit.

If voice contact cannot be made then someone will visit your home within 25 minutes of receiving the call.

You will need a telephone line and a 13amp plug socket near to the telephone point to install the unit.

Telecare

Telecare is additional equipment which can be linked into your Individual Alarm Unit

 

Smoke Detectors, Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Bogus Caller buttons are examples of equipment that can be linked to your lifeline units.   These send an automatic call to our Control Room when activated and we can then take the appropriate action.

 

To assist people who are at high risk of falling we can fit bed monitors and fall detectors.   The Bed monitor will switch the bedside light on when someone gets out of bed during the night, and if they have not returned to bed within 30 minutes we will receive an alarm and the Fall Detectors trigger automatically when someone falls.  Our call handlers will then call the service user to make sure that all is well and if not they will take appropriate action.   

 

A Lifeline 4000 unit allows family etc., to programme timed messages reminding service users to take their medication, keep doctors’ appointments etc; temperature extreme devices can detect if cookers have been switched on without placing a pan on the ring and will also send an alarm if the house gets too cold; flood detectors which are placed under the sink will alarm if water overflows.  

 

The above equipment is invaluable to users who have memory problems, enabling them to stay at home with a fast response when problems arise, giving carers and family peace of mind.

 

These are just some of the devices which can now be used in conjunction with our alarm units and the cost to the service user ranges from an extra 50p per week to an extra £1.00 per week on top of the existing £2.60 charge for our service.

 

For more information see the leaflet "Central Call" available from your Local Area office, or by phoning Central Call on (01226) 775671.

 

The service is available to any resident in the Barnsley Area who needs this type of service.

 If you are interested in the Central Call alarm just phone Central Call  on 01226 775671 

The staff will arrange to visit you as soon as they can and will arrange for the unit to be fitted.

Helplines

Central Call Unit Beevor Court  2 Pontefract Road
Barnsley
S71 1HG 
Tel:  01226 77567 1 
Fax: 01226 787453

Charges/Fees

The cost is £2.60 per week plus VAT. But most people will not have to pay the VAT. This may vary if you have Telecare equipment installed , as shown above.  

You will have to pay your telephone line rental and the cost of your calls and any other charges. You will pay your phone bill in the same way as you do now.

 Methods of Payment Available

 You can pay by Direct Debit through your bank account.

We can send you a bill that you can pay monthly at any one of our cash offices or by sending a cheque through the post to the cash office.

• Benefits and Taxation homepage.
• Area Cash Office opening times.
• More information on how to pay

 Opening Times/Locations

 Central Call is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

If you would like more information on Individual Alarm Units or Telecare please contact us  on 01226 775671 

 

Leaflets

Stay In-Touch.

Distribution Points

 Local Area Offices.
Wellington House.
Libraries.
Barnsley Hospital.

 Websites

 Berneslai Homes

 

Response Times/Next Steps

 If you are interested in a unit we will make arrangements to visit you as soon as we can.

If you have a unit and need to get help in an emergency we will answer your call whatever time of day or night. We will get you help straight away if you need it. We will call a relative, your doctor, ambulance, police or fire brigade.

 

Out of Hours Procedure

 The service operates 365 days a year - 24 hours a day.