Our community alarm service - known as Care Connect - has been designed to enable vulnerable and/or at-risk residents in County Durham to maintain their independence in their own home. Through the use of a home-monitored alarm, customers have help and assistance available 24 hours a day.
What is Care Connect?
Care Connect offers an alarm monitoring and response service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to your home. We provide assistance and reassurance, and will deal with emergency situations and concerns as they arise, despatching our trained staff when required.
We help customers to maintain independence in their own home through the use of technology. For example, we can install a bed sensor for people who are at risk of falling during the night. The sensor is inobtrusive and puts an alarm call through to the control centre if the person fails to return to bed within a specified period of time.
Our mission statement
Our mission is to be altogether better as a team and in partnership with others. We will deliver a caring and supportive service 24 hours a day, to assist people to live independently in their own home, providing value for money and choice.
Who can benefit from the service?
Anyone who lives in County Durham who feels they are vulnerable or at risk, could benefit from the reassurance and assistance the service can provide. This includes those who:
- are older people
- have a long-term medical condition
- have a short-term medical condition
- feel they are vulnerable and/or feel isolated
- have a learning disability
- have a mental health condition.
Other people can use the service if they just want security and peace of mind, and to know that the service is available for them 24 hours a day.
What can the service offer you?
We offer 24 hour a day, 365 days a year assistance and reassurance when you contact us through your home monitoring alarm. Our fully trained staff will assess your needs and contact appropriate services when necessary.
What do I need to be connected to the service?
For the monitoring alarm system to be installed in your home, you need to have a working telephone line which accepts incoming and outgoing calls and have an electrical socket close by. Alternatively, you must be living in a property which has an existing pull cord system.
How do I apply for the service?
You can contact us either by phone or by email using the contact details at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, you or your family/friends can complete the form below:
Care Connect application form.pdf (1 pages, 77kb).
Professionals such as Social Care Direct staff who wish to refer their clients to the Care Connect service can use this form:
Care Connect referral form.pdf (1 pages, 81kb).
You can also use the following online forms:
We will agree a suitable date to visit you in your own home, conduct a survey, complete a needs and risk assessment and support plan. This is so that we are aware of your personal needs. A monitoring alarm unit will then be installed.
How does the service work?
Requesting assistance
Once the alarm is installed, to request assistance you will press the alarm in your home. This will put a direct call through to our control room. Staff will respond to your call and offer support and reassurance. A member of staff will be sent to your home if necessary and will identify where you might need additional assistance or support. For example, if you need support where you have been injured through a fall, staff will contact emergency services and stay with you until support arrives.
Periodic visits and equipment maintenance
We will visit your property regularly to update your personal circumstances and check that your monitoring alarm equipment is in good working order.
Service charges
There is a charge of £3.90 per week + VAT (no VAT is chargeable if a VAT exemption form is completed) for the service, but you may receive the service free if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance.
Please note you will be required to provide documentary proof of the benefit you are receiving.
If you do not receive any of the above benefits, you may still receive the service free or get some assistance towards the cost by requesting a financial assessment.
There may be a one-off installation charge of £20.00, but this will be discussed before installation.
Additional services
Additional features can be incorporated into your support package, at a small charge. These include (all prices subject to VAT):
- re-assurance call - 50p per call
- weekly visit - £1.25 per visit
- additional pendant - 50p per week
- monitored smoke detector - £1.00 per week.
Cooling-off period
Our agreement with you allows you to access the service for up to 21 days before we request any payment. If at any time during this period you wish to terminate your agreement with us, the equipment will be removed without any charge.
You can also download a leaflet summarising our service: Care Connect marketing leaflet.pdf (3 pages, 331kb)
More information
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