NEW TSA CODE OF PRACTICE IS HERE
14 November 2008
Telecare Services Association (TSA) has launched its new Telecare Code of Practice at the National Telecare and Telehealth Conference in Brighton. Telecare supports a variety of service users, traditionally older and vulnerable people and it is essential that there are robust and challenging standards for its delivery. The Telecare Code covers the whole telecare system from referral to response and identifies the importance of each component part along the way ie referral, profiling, service set up, monitoring, response and re-evaluation.
The new Telecare Code is the culmination of the biggest consultation exercise ever undertaken by TSA – based on 16 months of research, negotiation and revisions. More than 300 organisations have been actively involved in this work and their views and opinions have helped to shape the new Code. The result of this very thorough consultation process is a Telecare Code which is person centric and a Code with clarity and vision. As telecare plays an increasing role in future social care and healthcare policy we can be assured that this Code of Practice is in line with current thinking and fit for purpose.
In developing the new Telecare Code of Practice we have worked closely with service commissioners at national levels and we thank the Department of Health’s Care Services Improvement Partnership, the Scottish Telecare Programme Board and the Welsh Assembly, for the insight, support, enthusiasm and encouragement they have shown and expressed throughout this process.
The Scottish Telecare Programme Board, which has committed £8 million to funding an increased telecare service between 2008 and 2010, has already indicated that during this period it needs to “agree a standards framework suitable for telecare provision in Scotland. Based on the outcome of this work we will consider the appropriateness of asking local partnerships to seek TSA accreditation from 2009 – 2010 as a condition of securing funding.”
In the months ahead we will be introducing the new Telecare Code of Practice to our members and assisting the first organisations going for Code to reach the new standards, to overcome the challenges it presents and to understand the potential that it offers to service users, service providers and commissioners. As a starting point we will be issuing the Code of Practice documents in January 2009 and inspections carried out by TSA’s independent inspection body, Insight Certification, will commence in May 2009.
We know that you will have many questions and we will be delighted to talk through key points and the areas of change with you. Marian Preece, TSA’s Operations Manager, who has steered the Code through each stage of development, will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
We look forward to receiving your feedback and comments in the weeks ahead.
COP Matrix Nov 08