The Department of Health has published the final, formal determination of the Preventative Technology Grant (PTG) funding. In most cases amounts appear to vary by a few hundreds from the figures published in January, which were rounded to the nearest £1,000.
The publication coincides with the release of the Delivery and Improvement Statement (DIS), Adult Social Care 2005/06 – Guidance Document, by the Commission for Social Care Inspection, which references telecare in section 2.15
The determination does not say anything new, but reinforces certain messages. Core to these are:
‘Whilst the funding will go to all councils in England with social service responsibilities, they are expected to work with partners in the NHS, housing and district authorities, voluntary and independent sectors and service users and carers in developing telecare services. Telecare will be most effective where implemented as an integrated service.
‘…effective use of this grant will help local authorities and their partners to achieve key PSA targets…In addition, the CSCI Delivery and Improvement Statement will monitor the number of people benefitting from telecare since introduction of this grant. Councils should note well the contents of this circular.
‘Although this grant funding is primarily aimed at supporting older people, the Government’s vision is for telecare and other new technologies to be used, where appropriate, for the benefit of people of all ages including those with long-term conditions, learning disabilities, mental health problems and those needing end of life care.
‘Service strategies and policies for telecare should be formulated so that people with differing levels of need…can have the choice to remain at home whenever possible.
‘This grant is not intended to be treated as replacement funding for existing resources, including revenue funding for community alarms through the supporting People programme for example, in sheltered housing.’
DIS Guidance 2005/06
Section 2.15 asks for baseline figures for 2005/06, and projections of numbers of people 2006/07 and 2007/08.