Housing Hartlepool secures accreditation for telecare service

Housing Hartlepool’s telecare service, which helps support older residents in their homes, has secured accreditation from the Telecare Services Association (TSA), the representative body for the telecare industry in the UK.

The telecare service allows older and vulnerable people to live independently in their own home by providing equipment, tailored to meet their individual needs, that alerts the service if a resident has a problem. This service is commissioned and monitored by Hartlepool Borough Council and NHS Hartlepool.

The TSA accreditation involved a rigorous two day inspection and concentrated on the monitoring and installation of equipment, to ensure that Housing Hartlepool was compliant with the high standards required to meet the current Code of Practice.

The assessment also looked response times, how well the team were able to deal with customers and partnership working with various agencies including the NHS, police and Hartlepool Borough Council.

The inspector commented that he had never been to a centre where staff were so friendly and understanding with customers, which was a major bonus for the organisation.

Andy Powell, director of housing services at Housing Hartlepool said “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this accreditation, which provides reassurance to our customers that they are receiving a quality service.”