Telecare Transition in Highland Sheltered Housing Schemes

Highland includes 39 sheltered housing schemes managed by The Highland Council, encompassing over 500 properties, along with several amenity housing developments. These properties are primarily located in urban areas, though some are in more rural settings. Previously, services to these housing schemes were managed by nine different housing teams. 

In a unique arrangement compared to other Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) models, all Adult Services in the region are delivered by NHS Highland. In 2018, a strategic decision was made to revamp the Telecare service delivery model within these sheltered and amenity housing schemes. Previously, the telecare services, which included hardwired, interlinked systems, were provided by The Highland Council’s Housing & Property department.

However, it was decided that the responsibility for Telecare services would be transitioned to NHS Highland HSCP. This decision aligned with NHS Highland's existing role in delivering Telecare services for dispersed properties in North Highland. This transition reflects a commitment to providing more tailored and future-ready support for the residents in Highland’s sheltered and amenity housing. This decision supported a personalised approach to care, meaning sheltered housing tenants could choose their level of service based on their own needs or preferences. 

In this case study, we take a look at how The Highland Council approached decomissioning their warden call system for dispersed alarm units:

Transitioning Telecare in Highland Sheltered Housing Schemes