Agenda item

Ben Knight, Scrutiny Officer presented the submitted report in respect of the Assistive Technology Review.

The Use of Assistive Technology in Rotherham

Recent findings from the Inspection of Adult Social Care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) indicated that the council provided a good use of assistive technology to promote the safety and well-being of people in their own homes through Rothercare service.

Rotherham received £441,948 Preventative Technology Grant (PTG) from the Department of Health under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, which was made up of £165,327 for 2006-07 and £276,621 for 2007-08.  This was in the form of a specific formula grant with no conditions attached.

Through the grant, the Government expected councils to invest in ‘telecare’ to help support individuals with the aim to help an additional 160,000 older people nationally to live at home with safety and security and to reduce the number of avoidable admissions to residential/nursing care and hospital.  The Care Improvement Partnership anticipated that 884 possible users could benefit from the grant based on £500 per user.

Neighbourhood and Adult Services (NAS) recruited a specific project manager to deliver the assistive technology project using PTG funding.  This had since been absorbed within the new Rothercare Direct structure. The initial duration of the project of 2006-8 was extended, with the final funding from the Assistive Technology Grant to be spent by March 2010.

Issues emerging from the review:

·        Prior to the receipt of the PTG there was no overarching strategy in place in Rotherham.  However, since Rothercare was established there had been various assistive technology projects utilising a range of grant monies.  As part of the evidence gathering Members may wish to explore the evaluation of the assistive technology project and specifically Preventative Technology Grant funding, to establish whether the aims of the project had been met and whether value for money has been achieved.

·        As part of the Joint Commissioning Strategy between Rotherham MBC and Rotherham PCT a joint strategy for Assistive Technology was drafted in 2007.  However, the protocol does not appear to have been finalised.

·        It had been reported that a property at Grafton House Smart Flat had been supplied with a suite of assistive technology devices. As service users use this facility they evaluate which pieces of technology meet their specific needs. It is suggested that Members may wish to visit this facility to see how this works in practice.

·        £130,000 expenditure was ear-marked on assistive technology for the 3^rd sector so that they could identify 500 new clients for free Rothercare trials previously unknown to NAS. Members may wish to explore the impact of this initiative. 

·        The ‘Just Checking’ system monitors customer’s lifestyle through discreet sensors whilst the service user remains in their own home. This technology is primarily targeted at service users with dementia with carers remotely monitoring, via the internet. Approval was given to ‘rolling out’ this system in Rotherham.  However, Members may wish to explore the scheme’s implementation and impact.

A discussion ensued and members suggested that a visit should be arranged to the Grafton House Smart Flat, and Ben Knight agreed to make the necessary arrangements and make contact with members of the review group when these had been finalised.

Resolved:- (1)  That Councillor Turner join the review group

(2) That a final interview day be held by the working group to get the current position of RMBC and NHS partnership on Assistive Technology.

(3) That arrangements be made for the review group to visit the Smart Flat set up at Grafton House.