A decision over the future of Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Careline Service is set to be delayed following a recent consultation exercise.

Careline was launched almost 40 years ago to support people in their own home through assistive technology, such as fall bracelets.

However, other providers have emerged in recent years offering similar services on the open market.

Following a year-long review, the council’s Cabinet decided to go out to consultation over the future of its paid-for service, with the preferred option being for the council to leave the telecare market and cease the lifting/response provision of the 24/7 service - with help and support to transfer customers to alternative providers. The six-week consultation closed on September 30.

The results of the consultation are to be reported to the Cabinet at its meeting this month – where it had also been due to make a final decision on the future of Careline.

But it is now recommended that a final decision is postponed until next year having considered responses to the consultation, which included suggestions from Colchester City Council and other companies expressing an interest in potentially taking on all or part of the Careline service – or otherwise inviting discussion about how a service could be delivered in an alternative way.

Councillor Gina Placey, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Partnerships, said: “Since the launch of Careline, which has been a real success for the council, the telecare industry has changed substantially, and it is only right that the council reviews the provision of the service given there are now numerous alternative providers.

“More than 1,000 responses were received as part of the consultation exercise, with 60 per cent of service users indicating that they would, if necessary, be willing to move to an alternative trusted provider – and this currently remains the council’s preferred option.

“I will be recommending to my Cabinet colleagues that additional time is incorporated for exploring these alternative ideas in more detail before the Cabinet commits to implementing a preferred approach.”

A report due to go before the council’s Cabinet on Friday, 15 November, recommends that Colchester City Council be invited to put forward a formal detailed proposal and that a further report be made in February next year to provide an update on the opportunity and any other third-party proposals.

It means that a final decision on the future of Careline would be made early in 2025 – and that if councillors do decide to withdraw the service, the anticipated date that it would end would now be pushed back by three months to the end of June 2025.

The Careline service is currently still active 24/7 and if a decision is made to cease the service, it will continue through a transition period.

‍