What is First Point?

First Point is Downland Housing Association's 24 hour community alarm monitoring and telephone answering centre providing a caring and efficient response to calls from vulnerable customers within the community.

Sheltered, retirement and supported housing schemes and individual alarm users are connected to the alarm service. In addition various out of hours emergency and telephone answering services, for local authorities, housing associations, maintenance companies and voluntary agencies throughout England.

Our Services:

Our primary function is to answer calls from elderly or vulnerable people who have personal alarms fitted in their own homes. This service is provided in partnership with Mid Sussex District Council. These alarms provide peace of mind for users and their families that help is available in an emergency at the press of a button.

We monitor:

• panic alarms ( for domestic violence, neighbour nuisance or staff)
• bogus caller alarms
• door entry systems
• safe alarms
• smoke alarms
• fire alarms
• lone workers
• flood sensors
• carbon monoxide detectors
• telemedicine in the future.

In addition we provide:

• Out of hours housing repairs services to numerous Maintenance contractors and Housing providers in England.

• Emergency Answering services for social services, local authorities and care agencies.

• Telephone answering services for several private companies.

We also provide a GPS (Global Positioning System) system.

This system uses mobile phone technology to alert First Point and is designed to ensure the safety of staff members and lone workers who may find themselves in trouble.

The system works by sending information to First Point allowing them to contact the appropriate emergency service.

The GPS system gives First Point information about the person, name, car registration and more importantly the location of the signal down to street level.

Where are we?

Based in Burgess Hill, First Point, is staffed by professional, fully trained people providing a 24-hour service every day of the year.

If you would like to know more about First Point and the services provided then please contact us on 01444 446491 or email: firstpoint@downland.org.uk
Out of hours emergency number: 0845 688 9550.

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