Community Alarms
North Hertfordshire Homes has an agreement with North Hertfordshire District Council’s Careline Control Centre to provide an emergency alarm system for its elderly and vulnerable tenants.
The Careline Control Centre is operated 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The alarm system works through the tenant’s own telephone line, and it is the responsibility of the tenant to provide and pay the rental for this line. North Hertfordshire Homes provide the additional equipment needed to support this service. The equipment requires an electrical socket to be within 8 feet of the telephone point. North Hertfordshire Homes will give consideration to installing an electrical socket to prevent a health and safety situation from arising.
The alarm is activated by pressing a button on the equipment next to the telephone or by pressing the button on a pendant on a necklace. This automatically connects to the Careline Control Centre where operators can then summon the help required. At the time of installation they will require some details about you, medical conditions, next of kin, your doctor and two emergency contacts that live within 15 minutes of your home and can gain access.
The cost of the service is minimal. You may be able to get a grant to pay for this service if you are in receipt of Housing Benefit. As we are contracted to install a certain number of alarms by Hertfordshire County Council we will be operating an eligibility criteria to ensure that our most vulnerable tenants have this service.
The alarm equipment is maintained by North Hertfordshire District Council but is the property of North Hertfordshire Homes. It should be returned to North Hertfordshire Homes when no longer required by the tenant or next of kin otherwise a charge will be made for this.
Any further information can be provided by contacting Supported Housing on 01462 704110 or Careline at North Hertfordshire District Council on 01462 454609.
