1. Vision Rehabilitation Worker Apprenticeship Update
Josh Feehan and Mike Bell

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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