New resource to support person-centred support for people with sensory impairment
A new Making it Real narrative for people with sensory impairment has been published by TLAP, members of the National Co-production Advisory Group, Royal Association of Deaf people, Sense, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss
Making it Real is a guide for measuring progress towards personalised care and support. It is built around 'I' statements that set out what good should look like if personalised care is really working well. Care Act statutory guidance references Making it Real as a tool for meeting people's outcomes in person centred ways and discusses the specific requirements for people with sensory impairments.
Making it Real for Sensory Impairment is intended to support commissioners and service providers by giving a clear set of steps for how Making it Real 'I' statements can be tailored for people with sensory impairments. The areas covered are information and advice; active and supportive communities; flexible and integrated care and support; personal budgets and self-funding; workforce and risk enablement.
The impact of sensory loss on older people and people with learning difficulties is also addressed in the report; it is recognised that the needs of these groups is frequently overlooked.
The new narrative includes guidance on the Accessible Information Standard which all providers of NHS care or treatment, and publically funded adult social care must follow, with full implementation by 31st July 2016. Sense, RNIB, Action on Hearing Loss and Change were members of the advisory group for the development of the standard.
Sue Brown, Head of Public Policy at Sense, said: "This is a very important document, not just for people working in specialist sensory services but for all social care staff. One of the biggest issues about sensory impairment is how common it is, and how often the impact of the sensory impairment is not recognised because social care staff focus on people's other conditions first. Good personalised care and support cannot be provided if people's sensory impairment isn't addressed. The examples in this document give lots of creative ideas about how to do this in practice."
Dr Jan Sheldon, Chief Executive for the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD), said: "The needs of people who are born Deaf and whose first language is usually British Sign Language (BSL) are generally not well understood. Services and information should always be delivered in an accessible way. If this does not happen Deaf people are often left trying to understand complex messages; any misunderstanding can have life threatening outcomes. The Royal Association for Deaf people are delighted to have had the opportunity to work as part of the TLAP Making it Real team to help Health and Social Care commissioners and partner organisations understand the importance of providing accessible services to Deaf people".
Sue Bott,Deputy Chief Executive, Disability Rights UK and member of TLAP's National Co-production Advisory Group, said: "I hope people in the statutory and charity sectors will read this publication as it is packed full of ideas for ways of meeting the support needs those of us with a sensory impairment that really work".
Mike Hughes, National Co-production Advisory Group member and member of the steering group for the report, said: "The importance of Professionals understanding what the sensory deprived person wants and needs is vital in securing outcomes that work."