Dear First Choice Homes Oldham,

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Could I possibly suggest that you direct these questions towards one or some of the following employees: - Assistive Technologies Manager/ Lead, Service delivery manager, assisted living/housing association dept, Care Home support, adult services, Service manager, Contact centre Manager – or similar roles to those listed above.

If you share this request – please do so in HTML as then the text boxes can be ticked
In order to assist with this survey, could you please answer the following:

1a. Does your organisation presently provide a Telecare operations centre (ARC) to monitor personal alarms (e.g., Falls alarms) for your local vulnerable population &/or local authority?

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YES
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NO
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UNCERTAIN

1b. IF the answer is NO or UNCERTAIN - is this a service you may consider offering in the future?

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YES
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NO
☐
UNCERTAIN

If the answer to 1a) & 1b) is NO or uncertain – this is the end of the FOI request. Thank you for your response.

IF the answer to 1a) is YES please reply to all the questions below.

2a. Do you use an external provider or other government body or private organisation for alarm responder/monitoring services? If so, can you please detail: -

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NO -We provide this service ourselves -managed in-house
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YES – we use an external provider

2b. If an external provider is used, please give name of monitoring centre/ provider with any contract start/end date & contact details if known.

2c. If you provide this on behalf of other organisations, please list these organisations &/or areas of the UK you cover?

3a. What type of devices are used in the community? If you can name device supplier/manufacturer this would be appreciated.

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Mostly Analogue
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Mostly Digital

Types of devices: -

4. What protocols do your devices use?

5a. Are you presently preparing for the digital switchover?

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YES
☐
NO
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UNCERTAIN

5b. If the answer is NO or uncertain, have you any plans to move to a digital platform and if so have you a plan to go out to procurement/tender for such a platform in the next 2 years?

Response -

6 Could you please indicate which software platform is used in the monitoring centre you use?

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Not known
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Tunstall PNC
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UMO Enovation
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Jontek
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Bosh/Telealarm
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ArchAngel
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Chubb
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Appello
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Bold Communications
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Neat
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Azursoft
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ESI
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T21
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STT0DM8
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ENAI
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SELMA
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Other not named – please give details in text box below

7. As regards the above – do you know when the contract end date is &/or when the software platform used will be under review?

Response -

8. Have you any concerns about your present service? Some possible common concerns listed below, but please feel free to comment –

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Ability for call handlers to work remotely during this present lock & maybe future down phase.
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The analogue to digital switch-over and how suppliers can play catch up & do you see disruption/challenges in replacing older analogue devices?
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Safety of lone workers
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Service costs/ budget restrictions
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Security of email and chat when discussion client confidential data
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Infrastructure costs – considering move to hosted solution
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Restriction on choice of alarm devices which could be used
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Support and customer service concerns
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Alarm signals – failure rates
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Concerns re moving from platform supplier & reprogramming individual units
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Lack of responder app capability for remote workers
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Ease of use & training new starters
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Device management/ stock control
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Other issues/concerns not listed –

8a – any additional comments re the above possible concerns?
Response -

9. What tender framework/ portal does your organisation use for procurement re Telecare devices/services and software?
Response -

10. Do you know (approximately) how many device connections you have?

11. Who is the main person(s)/ decision maker (s) or team – who would be responsible for your Telecare monitoring centre &/or telecare services - name/title/direct dial number/email?

Response -

12. Any other comments as deemed useful to this enquiry?

Response

THANK YOU -
If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary. If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.
I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter, excluding public holidays. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Sheila Anne Mughal