Residents urged to take part in consultation on proposed charges to telecare offer

The consultation which launched on Monday 20 January 2025 and is part of the council’s wider plan to meet its savings and respond to the growing challenges in social care.

Proposed Changes

The proposal includes a weekly charge of £3.45 for both existing and new Telecare users. Additionally, a one-off start-up fee of £35.00 is proposed for new users, along with a free six-week trial period as part of a reablement package. Residents receiving a care package from Shropshire Council or those entitled to after-care services under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act will be exempt from these charges.

Reason for the consultation

Councils all over the country are under pressure from the rising need and cost of social care services. More so in Shropshire as the county’s older population is growing at a faster rate than the national average.

In Shropshire this accounts for nearly 80% of the council’s overall budget. Central Government funding restrictions mean that the Council has been looking at alternative ways to recover some of the costs of running some services. One of the options is to introduce charges for some of the services that were previously free. Around £4 in every £5 the council spends is on social care, looking after the most vulnerable people in the county. More people than ever now need this support, which the council must provide, while costs to do so are rising.

Shropshire is currently one of very few councils that do not charge any residents for the Telecare service. The typical charge for Telecare services in other councils ranges from £1.50 to £19 per week. Introducing a charge in Shropshire would bring the council in line with other areas and help us to recover some of the costs associated with running the Telecare service, allowing us to sustain and develop the service.

If the proposed charge is introduced, and all users paid the relevant charge, it is estimated that the Council could recover a proportion of the full cost of running the Telecare service. Therefore, the charges outlined above would be a contribution to the full cost of the service.

About Telecare services

Telecare services enable individuals, including the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable, to signal for assistance when needed. This service includes a base unit and call button, which can be worn as a pendant or wrist strap. The system connects to a Response Centre that operates 24/7, ensuring help is available at all times.