Agenda item

To consider for approval the Assistive Technology Task and Finish Group’s Final Report

Councillor J Saunders, Chairman of the Assistive Technology Task and Finish Group (the Group), presented the Group’s final report to be approved by the Committee before being submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

Councillor Saunders gave an overview of the report and the recommendations to Cabinet. The Group had given consideration to three policy areas: Effectiveness of Assistive Technology (AT); Universal Accessibility; and Charging.

During the discussion about the report the following points were made:

•      The current charges for AT were not sustainable and the Group believed a new charging structure was required. However concern was expressed that the charges shouldn’t be increase so much that people were discouraged from using the service.

•      The Group believed that using AT in homes can help maintain independence and reduce the demand for residential care.

•      There should be a drive to promote the use of AT to people who currently had low to moderate care needs in the interests of early intervention and prevention.

•      Good marketing was required in order to increase the public’s awareness of AT and the benefits. An increase in promotional activity was required including given people independent access to what was available.

•      The Group second recommendation in relation to ensuring commissioned providers incorporated AT into their services would be an area where the strongest impact could be made.

•      GP surgeries would be a useful place to advertise AT and GPs and other health service providers should be encouraged to promote the use of AT for early intervention and prevention and improving quality of life.

•      It was suggested that AT could help to reduce the needs for other aspects of care, reducing overall costs to the Council.

•      Individuals who were already receiving care should also be encouraged to independently look at additional AT which would help them to improve their quality of life.

•      It was suggested that Extra Care Housing should be considered in the same way as affordable housing as being necessary for development in the Borough.

•      Peterborough Council was given as an example of an authority with a useful adult social care services directory and a similar system would be useful in Cheshire East.

•      The possibility of offering AT services free of charge to over 85s living alone was raised as a potential way of increasing the use of AT and reducing demand for residential care. It was suggested that a recommendation to produce a business case for this option be developed by officers to see if it was viable and would be effective.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the Assistive Technology Task and Finish Group’s Final Report be approved and submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

(b)  That an additional recommendation be added as follows: “6.11 That officers be requested to explore the possibility of providing telecare services free of charge to over 85s who live alone and whether this would be financially sustainable and effective in maintaining independence.”

(c)  That a response to the report from both Cabinet and health commissioners and providers be requested and presented to the Committee.