Vision Rehabilitation Worker Apprenticeship Update Josh Feehan and Mike Bell

Rehabilitation Worker Apprenticeship Purpose Vision 2020 Low Vision and Rehabilitation Committee identified: Shortage of rehabilitation workers across the country Decrease in numbers entering the profession Currently only one training provider Need to take action with an increase in demand for services

Trailblazer Programme Government target 3 million apprentices by 2020 Trailblazer apprenticeships are employer led Require a minimum of 10 employers to develop the standard Vision rehabilitation worker fitted the criteria of the trailblazer

Progress to date Engaged over 10 employers of rehabilitation workers A range of local authorities, national and local sight loss charities who provide rehabilitation Submitted an Expression of Interest during the summer 2016 which was approved Developed a draft apprenticeship standard which is being submitted this month The standard is a Level 5 apprenticeship in line with the current qualification

How it can benefit you All employers with a payroll of over £3 million will have to pay the apprenticeship levy (Local Authorities included) Government has placed targets on Local Authorities to have a percentage of apprentices within their workforce Apprenticeships have no age limit anymore Current staff may be eligible to become apprentices e.g. social work, OT and rehab assistants Help get involved in the development of the standard Next Steps

RNIB Early Intervention and Rehabilitation Project Update Department of Health funded project Cost Avoidance Study into vision rehabilitation Good Practice Principles Raising awareness with health and social care professionals e.g. GP’s and OT’s CPD for the profession Creating a national Sensory Managers network

RNIB See, Plan and Provide campaign update See: everyone with a visual impairment must receive a specialist face to face assessment. Plan: everyone must have a plan in place, identifying the outcome of the assessment. The first two steps must take place within 28 days of first contact with the local authority. Provide: any agreed vision rehabilitation support must start within 12 weeks of the person’s initial contact with the local authority. General approach supported in ADASS position statement.

Campaign priorities Raise awareness of three steps of See, Plan and Provide Target local authorities with issues around low referral rates, significant waiting lists/times, or where substantial service changes proposed – 32 LAs at present Raise awareness of and challenge budget pressures faced by local services and wider social care services – 40 LAs at present Policy influencing via national government, LGA, Care Support Alliance

How you can help Let us know about planned service changes/reviews Let us know about significant budget pressures We’re keen to highlight best practice – case studies, local services showcase Any other challenges e.g. recruitment, pathways, partnerships