“What is the current Department of Health provision of support for deaf and hard of hearing people under Sensory Needs “ Tricia Pereira: on behalf of the office of the chief social worker and the National Adults Principal Social Worker Network

Q. What is the provision? A. Variable How is funding sorted, if there are orgs in professions We could put a tender out for this work. Competitive tender Have some positive tender NHSE there is a gap, there is DH coffers in Explore different routes and The long term Plan, scouring that and see where it will fit in. I can put the contectx and long term plan. How to go back to NHSE a call from the network and ADASS that's a justification We need to come up with a case, and present it, after Monday with Michael This is what people Tell me what you want and what do you want, to happen and agenda for conversation, Have a list of things that you want to take forward and Through the CSW and PSW network this sector is a priority and we have already made a start Lack of clarity Takes it back to government and NHSE Talk next week to Sonia Fleming.

Current Guidance 6.91 Assessment for people who are deafblind Issued jointly under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 in relation to children, and Section 78 of the Care Act 2014 in relation to adults. Q. What sections of the care act apply to deafblind people? 6. Assessment and eligibility the importance of having assessors appropriately trained and with the experience and knowledge necessary to carry out the assessment, including specialist assessments for those who are deafblind 6.46 Once the person has completed the assessment, the local authority must ensure that it is an accurate and complete reflection of the person’s needs, outcomes, and the impact of needs on their wellbeing. The process of a supported self-assessment begins with first contact and is only complete when this assurance has been secured. Until the process of assurance is complete and the local authority has ensured that it is accurate, it will not have discharged its duties under section 9 of the Care Act. Where the person carrying out a supported self-assessment jointly with the local authority requires a specialist, for example people who are deafblind, then the professional leading this assurance process must be seen as the ‘assessor’ and so must have specific training and expertise relating to the individual’s needs. When assuring itself that a self-assessment is comprehensive a local authority should not look to repeat the full assessment process again. 6.51 Where local authorities have established that the adult has capacity to undertake a self-assessment but experiences substantial difficulty in understanding, retaining and using the relevant information in relation to their self-assessment, they may wish to involve their carer or any other member of their family or support network in their self-assessment. Where the adult does not have the support required from a carer or family member who is willing and able to facilitate the person’s involvement effectively and who is acceptable to the individual and judged appropriate by the local authority, the local authority must provide an independent advocate to assist them in their self-assessment. When a person who would otherwise receive a specialist assessment (for example, someone who is deafblind) chooses to undertake a self-assessment, the local authority must involve a person who has specific training and expertise when assuring that the person’s assessment taken as a whole reflects the overall needs of the individual concerned. 1893: UK Parliament law - compulsory for all children who were either blind or deaf to receive education. Several day schools were established. However, no mention of higher education & teachers required no special qualifications. 1878: An Act of Parliament was passed, which meant that blind people using dogs to guide them were exempt from having to take out a dog licence. 1920: The ‘Blind Persons Act’, which made it the duty of local authorities to provide for the welfare of blind people. 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Replaced by The Equality Act 2010 protects people against unfair treatment (discrimination) 1999: The ‘Disability Rights Commission’ (DRC) was established to challenge discrimination against disabled people and promote equality by enforcing the DDA. 2001: ‘Deafblind Guidance’ under Sec 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. Gave new rights to deafblind people & placed additional duties on Local Authorities to ensure their welfare. 2004: European Parliament officially recognised deafblindness as a separate and distinct disability. All Member States ‘recognise and implement the rights of people who are deafblind’. 2014: The Care Act 2014 6.91 Assessment for people who are deafblind

Statutory Duties Under the Care Act First contact How does we manage first contact with a person who has sensory needs? What are the range of ways people can make contact? The process of assessment begins “from when the local authorities start to collect information about the person” (see 6.22 of the Care Act Guidance). Assessment The Act requires an appropriate level of qualification for people assessing someone who is deafblind. How do you ensure you are working in a strengths based way? Inclusion A requirement to ensure that the person being assessed is involved in the assessment process. Eligibility The criteria is relevant to deafblind people with a sensory loss. Think about how we may apply this. Prevention duties What preventative measures or services are in place? Do you have sufficiently aware & trained staff? E.g. Specific forms of Reablement – VI Rehab Officers Information and advice Is Information accessible? What ? How? On paper, electronic, via human contact? Registers Where do you keep your register’s are they up to date? How do you utilise the data? 

Supporting people in a strength-based way. Maria’s Story Who and What is important to Maria? What will promote her well being? Who and what will help her remain independent? What will support Maria to feel (not ignored) included in society?

Environment & Asset Based Approach; Learning from other places Tactile paving was first developed in Japan by Seiichi Miyake in 1965. COB

Principal Social Workers Network Social Work Leadership Raise Awareness Challenge Politically Raise Practice Standards Call for Action Days Highlight gaps & opportunities to address rights for Deaf & Deafblind people

Themes of the NHS Long Term Plan Chapter One sets out how the NHS will move to a new service model in which patients get more options, better support, and properly joined-up care at the right time in the optimal care setting. Chapter Two sets out new, funded, action the NHS will take to strengthen its contribution to prevention and health inequalities. Chapter Three sets the NHS’s priorities for care quality and outcomes improvement for the decade ahead. Chapter Four sets out how current workforce pressures will be tackled, and staff supported. Chapter Five sets out a wide-ranging and funded programme to upgrade technology and digitally enabled care across the NHS. Chapter Six sets out how the 3.4% five year NHS funding settlement will help put the NHS back onto a sustainable financial path, via medical science and innovation Chapter Seven explains next steps in implementing the Long Term Plan.

“In this internet enabled world of connectivity, 45% of Deaf people still have to walk into their surgery to make an appointment. When sign language users finally get to see their doctor, they are forced to communicate in ways that cause confusion, misunderstandings, missed diagnosis and poor treatment. 8 in 10 Deaf people want to use sign language, yet only 3 in 10 are given the chance.” (SignHealth, Sick of It Report 2014).

Information is not always in a timely “I can access [the information] but she can’t. For her to access appointment letters or letters from the consultants. She is completely reliant on me to access this information. This is becoming an issue now that she is in transition to adult services. She would not be able to do it herself.” 85% reported that they don’t get information about their healthcare appointments or other information in a format that they could access. Most reported that they needed to rely on someone else to read their letters for them to find out what was in them. GP 5-year Forward View Information is not always in a timely “Once I received information I had requested in Braille so late that I had to rearrange my appointment.” “It’s my body and I want to know exactly what’s going on with it.” One person reported that she often gets ‘stuck in the middle’ between professionals who don’t involve her in discussions about her care or communicate effectively with her. Family members and carers reported that they often have to access the information on behalf of the deafblind person.

GP 5 Year Forward View

Being Active Challenge politically Host a round table event Review Guidance Launch Refreshed Guidance

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

Thank You