Housing and care provider Bield is taking full advantage of advances in technology to create services that enable service-users to lead fuller, more flexible lives, while at the same time reducing the workload of care providers.

‘Sure Call’ is an automated daily wellbeing call service that arranges a telephone call every day or on specific days depending on the individual’s requirements.

Managed by Bield Response 24 (BR24), tenants answer calls in the morning at a time of their choosing and identify, by selecting an option, whether they need any assistance.

If assistance is requested, BR24 will contact the individual to establish what support is needed and respond as necessary.

Maureen Richardson, marketing and development deputy manager at BR24, said: “Sure Call is offering service-users and their carers an unprecedented amount of freedom as they no longer need to wait in for a call.

“With an option for landline or mobile contact, it really does help get people out and about as you also have the option of a text message to your mobile phone.”

The simple automated call prompts tenants to either select ‘1’ in which case they hang up and receive no assistance, or press ‘2’ if assistance is required.

All that is needed to benefit from this innovative service is a phone and the ability to hear and answer it. However, Bield are happy to try and facilitate those who don’t match these requirements.

Maureen added: “Service users will be free to choose as many or as few days a week as they like giving optimum flexibility.

“While they are away, or simply fancy a day off from the service all they need to do is let us know and we can make sure they don’t receive a call that day.”

Resonating with Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ ethos, ‘Sure Call’ will open many service-users and carers to a new level of independence allowing them to live their lives in the way they choose.

The charity has seen interest from other care and housing providers, and expects this service to be offered more widely in the coming months as the clear benefits begin to materialise on a broad scale.

Maureen added: “We’re delighted to be one of the first providers in Scotland to be taking innovative steps to enable everyone involved at Bield and beyond that little bit more freedom.”