I cannot see much difference between sharing services and being forced together........and re-locating staff, if consultation procedures are followed, oftne results in LAs having to pay travel costs.........there are other hidden costs that often make the "sharing" appear cost effective but the masked costs drive up the overall costs anyway.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
I declare an interest, because my mother uses this service and is not one of the 'customers' asked. In such a service local knowledge is vital, as is a local situation. Those using the service are not always articulate in their needs and it is thus up to the person manning the phoneline to know if it is raining heavily, the traffic is stacked-up or there has been an accident somewhere causing problems. Even simple things, like localised power cuts, can cause problems that rely on direct local knowledge. I have personally had to explain to operators at DDC that Aycliffe is in Dover, how much worse if they are in Shepway?
The rubbish about them saying they prefer a 'local operator' and then moving them further away is the expected justification on questions worded to give the desired result that we have all seen many times.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Absolutely!! My concerns exactly.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
You can't say that 5 miles up the road is not local !
Been nice knowing you :)
OK - define Local. Would people in Cheriton know that the A20 is stuffed this evening?
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I know and I am at home all in Deal day. I know that there are roadworks at Brenley Corner, and accident anti-clockwise at junction 28 in Essex. There is one being cleared on the M20 at Ashford
Been nice knowing you :)
Technology means we can "log in" to almost anything anywhere, but pragmatically there is no substitute for local knowledge and understanding. Working in and around hospitals, housing and social care for about 165 years I have come to appreciate that!
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Forgive me if i cannot understand the points some of you are making .I sat through several meetings when interviews were held to find an alternative to Careline .What has knowing whether a road is blocked or the weather conditions within our district .Elderly ,vulnerable people wear a pendant so if needed they can get help For excample if they fall outside in the garden it should trigger a call to an operator who in this case will be situated at Shepway .That operator has knowledge of thats persons name ,address health conditions .In the case of the private clients a call will be made to some one who is a key holder for that persons home .THe client must give the names of two people who will hold the key .The operator will try to reasure the client and calls are recorded .
I know how this works as at one time i held the keys for two of my neighbours .The weather conditions or road blocks made no de diffedrence as i had to make my way to the home of the client .What difference does it make if that operator is sitting at Whitfiels or Shepway .All the operators are fully trained and as I have stated in the press release our srtaff are transferring and indeed they will know our clients and in time so will the Shepway operators .I think this business of road blocks etc is a red herring .
THe careline was running at a loss and had to be subsidised hence we had to make the closure decision . .People in our sheltered schemes in an emergency will operate their pendant and the Shepway operator will contact a DDC officer who is responsible for the clients in oursheltered Housing
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Goodness Bern how old are you ??Must be getting near retirment
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Thanks Sue, exactly the point I am making - it is a means to put a person in contact with someone to assist, not to have someone from the council go out...
Been nice knowing you :)
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Correct Paul .Only as I have stated where we still have sheltered schemes .The Sheleterd Schemes are a seperate contract .DDC will buy that service from Shepway and it is our staff who after contact from the call centre provide the help required .I dont know how much more I can explain .I have been months sorting this out I have said so many times Housing is a very busy and complicate portfolio ..
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
What is worrying here is that a 'care line' is being called a 'call centre' and the suggestion that only those in sheltered care will get attention from anyone other than a key holder. Direct local knowledge, as well as some knowledge of those calling for help, would mean that in situations requiring the sort of help those with the lines could need beyond a visit from a friend can be attended to. As one example, localised flooding could well effect not only the caller but also the key holders and would require more than just a visit from a key holder. In such a situation direct local knowledge would enable those manning the care line to pass the call to the emergancy services, saving time and lessening distress. You can never reduce human problems to a series of pre-determined routines without creating more problems.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sue,last evening wasnt a red herring as davidh can veryfy along with hundreds of others who were stuck on the a20 yesterday.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Why couldn't the whole service be transferred to Dover? therefore making this town the 'hub' and attracting more workers to our ailing ghost town.Folkestone must be rubbing their hands with glee.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Marek ,have you any idea how much this kind of service costs to run .It is not something a Town Council could take on .Chris if the operator cannot contact the keyholder than the emergency services are called .I dont think you are clear as to what kind of service the private sector users had .The staff at the careline did not go out and attend to clients when the pendant was pressed .
White Cliffs Careline was a call centre I repeat again the sheltered housing schemes do have an officer to visit them These clients are council tenants .
THe call centre is a point of contact especially for people who live on their own ,
Brian dear I know the road was blocked but in politics when someone throws in that sort of info its called a red herring so as to draw ones attention from the debate in hand
When i did my Instructor training we took it in turn to throw in red herrings ..
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
Marek ,have you any idea how much this kind of service costs to run .It is not something a Town Council could take on .
Sue
Correct I have no idea how much it costs to run but how come Folkestone can afford to supply office space and workers and Dover can't?
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Sue, dear, we are not stupid, ignorant or uninformed. No, wait, we are!!!!! How stupid of me. Please continue to patronise us, we clearly need it.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sue,the only one WHO is putting red herrings is you.my point is when the a20 is blocked it puts pressure on the towns roads,so i would like to know how these careline propose to get to there cliants when the town is at a standstill.
I suppose we need to point out that we KNOW the careline phone operatives don't personally go out, but simply direct and co-ordinate. Sue seems to think we don't understand..................
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
bern,i think you are right there,sue dosent understand that we know that.i allso think that her red herrings are called kippers.