Faire Careline Service

Faire Careline Service
01851 701702

What Is the Faire Careline Service?

A 24-hour-a-day service operated by the Customer Services Section on behalf of the Social and Community Services Department of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, providing:

• Reassurance for people living on their own
• Immediate response in an emergency
• Reassurance and support for carers

The Community Careline Service provides an automatic link from the user's home to the Control Centre in Stornoway. The computerised unit in the Control Centre, which is staffed around the clock by a team of trained operators, is linked to home units by the  ordinary telephone line.

The equipment in the home is quite simple and consists of a main unit (a small box about the same size as a telephone receiver) and a small pendant which can be worn around the neck, on the wrist or clipped to clothing. The pendant can work from anywhere in the home, and in the garden and surrounding area. It is very important to remember to wear it so that you can make a call at any time. The main unit is plugged into your mains electricity supply. but has a battery back-up, so that it will continue to call for assistance, even during a power cut.

How Do I Use It?

Press the red button on the pendant or main unit. After a few seconds, the operator will respond to your call and speak to you. The operator will already know from the computer screen who is calling and all the information relating to your circumstances, and will be able to talk with you. If in making a call you are unable to speak for any reason, the operator will alert a contact person or the emergency services without delay.

There is no need worry about using the system at any time during the day or night - it is there for your reassurance as much as for use in an emergency.

Who Can Apply?

The Community Alarm Service is available for people who are at risk due to age, disability or other factors. If you think you could benefit from a Faire alarm and have a domestic telephone line then Faire will be pleased to supply you with their service.

People who have benefited over the last nineteen years include:

• Those who live alone or are regularly left alone.
• Anyone who lives with a person who could not cope in an emergency
• Persons who are in danger or at risk due to restricted mobility or illness and who might need to call for assistance in an emergency.
• Any person who would have difficulty in leaving the house to call for assistance due to restricted mobility or illness.
• Those who live in an isolated location.
• It brings temporary respite for carers, in the knowledge help can be summoned quickly.
• Family on the mainland with peace of mind knowing their loved ones have the protection of the Faire service.
• Victims of domestic violence and persons who fear violence from a current or former partner.
• Persons whose life style lead them to be considered a fire risk in the community.

Who Are the Call Centre Operators?

Faire Operators have been trained to handle calls efficiently, quickly summoning help when it is needed. You will always find they are friendly and ready to listen to you.

A high proportion of operators are Gaelic speakers and will converse with you in Gaelic where this is appropriate.

Is There A Charge To Users?

Yes.There is a small charge set by the Comhairle, currently standing at £1.50  per week for people connected to the Community Alarm Service.  This is a weekly monitoring charge, as  the equipment remains the property of Faire and we will uplift it when our service is no longer required.  

Staff visiting will explain methods of payment etc. prior to your alarm being installed and most careline users are able to claim exemption from VAT by self-certification on the appropriate form.

4 Easy Steps To Becoming A User Of Faire

Step 1

Contact the Faire Careline Service direct on 01851 701702 at any time of the day or night, or get a member of your family or home carer to make the approach for you.

Contact any Social Work Service throughout the Western Isles and they will pass a referral on.

If you are a hospital patient the hospital discharge process should ask if it is appropriate for you to have  a Faire alarm.

If you are being assessed for another social service you should be asked if you would benefit from a Faire alarm.

Step 2

A member of Faire staff will take some details from you and you will be contacted by the Fieldworker who will make arrangements to come to see you.

It is helpful if you can supply relevant personal information, but please note that you need only supply as much medical and other confidential information as you wish

You will be asked to name three contacts – family, friends or neighbours who live locally, are on the telephone, and can be contacted in an emergency. These contacts are a very important part of the Community Alarm Service.

Step 3

Your application will be processed as quickly as possible and, in special situations, the installation will be given immediate priority. The simple installation process will be undertaken by our Fieldworker staff and you will be shown how to use the system.  Your details will then become part of the Faire Careline database, and you can seek assistance at any time of the day or night.  We are experienced at alerting the emergency services, NHS 24, community nursing and social services.

Step 4

You are now a user of the Western Isles Community Careline Service. Regular calls will be made to ensure your equipment is working properly. The Call Centre Operator will also call you up from time to time, and give you a chance to practice calling in.

For reassurance, you are also welcome to activate the alarm from time to time so that you can be certain everything is working as it should be.

Smoke Alarms

You will also be offered a radio triggered smoke alarm which we will supply, install and maintain at no cost to you. 

In the event of a smoke alarm activation it will raise a call through your Faire alarm to the Control Centre so that help  can be summoned as quickly as possible and support given during a crisis.

Telecare Services

Technology has advanced in recent years making available a whole range of solutions linked to home alarm units.  These range from bed and chair sensors, pressure mats, fall detectors, flood, gas, heat and smoke detectors to medication dispensers, property exit sensors and so on. 

Assessment for the appropriateness and availability of these monitoring devices is through the Occupational Therapy Service. Faire Staff will be happy to pass on your details to the relevant OT Service for their attention.

Additional Services

Faire Staff operate as an out of hours contact point for local authority services and will take your out of hours enquiries for the following services from 5pm to 9am weekdays, weekends and Public Holidays:

• Telephone calls to Comhairle switch-boards.
• Housing repairs
• Social Work
• Home Care Replacements
• Roads
• Technical Services
• Environmental Services
• Street lighting
• Refuse collection
• Transport enquiries
• Sports & leisure
• Registrars
• Emergency Planning
• Any other urgent situation

Contact

Faire Careline
Dun Eisdean
Westview Terrace
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2LD

Tel.: 01851 701702
Fax.: 01851 705580
e-Mail: faire@cne-siar.gov.uk