1. The National Sensory Impairment Strategy
SEE HEAR
The National Sensory Impairment Strategy
ALAN NICHOLSON
Scottish Government
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

2. Main Points from SEE HEAR
7 recommendations overall – 2 for the Scottish Government.
Onus on local partnerships to deliver.
Local Authorities, NHS Boards and local service delivery agents.
Localism is key - should have local charities on board - not just large nationals.
Minister is holding the Partnerships to account for delivery.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

3. Main Points from SEE HEAR
Funding over 2 years – initially last year and this.
Because Strategy was launched later funding will carry forward to – so still a 2 year project.
Funding in for the implementation of the Strategy, e.g., service re-design and re-alignment.
Funding is NOT for buying services or products.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

4. Core Aims & Objectives:
The core aim of the strategy is to demonstrably improve the quality of life for those people in our society living with or experiencing sensory impairment – including family members and carers.
The specific objective is to deliver on the 7 strategy recommendations, and by embedding the model care pathway into service delivery across Scotland.
All this must recognize the need for outcomes to be tailored to meet individual needs in a local setting addressing local priorities.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

5. Strategy Recommendations:
Recommendation 1: Options for Basic Sensory Checks.
Recommendation 2: Scoping of formal and informal training.
Recommendation 3: Skills audit & addressing identified gaps.
Recommendation 4: Planning, funding and care pathways.
Recommendation 5: Information management.
Recommendation 6: Equalities & Rights legislation
Compliance.
Recommendation 7: Guidance on Children and Young People.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

6. Challenges, Issues and Opportunities:
Appreciate that there will be challenges and issues for Partnerships:
Basic sensory checks don’t miss more complex or serious conditions.
Dis-aggregation of expenditure across multiple agencies.
Consistency of information to be collected.
Thresholds for what, when and how often data should be recorded.
Standardized categorization and classification of information.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

7. Challenges, Issues and Opportunities:
But there will be opportunities too…
To better understand the registration and regulatory requirements of training bodies such as Royal Colleges.
Understanding where there are gaps and deficits in the knowledge and skills across workforces, and what is needed to address these.
Building an appropriate and effective knowledge exchange.
Gaining a better picture of the service delivery landscape and what needs to be done to improve it for the benefit of users.
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

8. Next Steps – Warm words into Actions:
Early Days – but Partnerships need to be seriously looking at how they are going to implement the Strategy in their areas.
This means having genuine and meaningful partnerships across Local Authorities, NHS Scotland and the Third and Independent Sector at LOCAL LEVELS.
SCOVI has a role to play too in acting as a voice for blind and visually impaired people in Scotland and in engaging with its members to provide feedback to the Scottish Government
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail

9. ALAN NICHOLSON National Sensory Impairment Strategy Team
Area G-ER, Saint Andrew’s House
Regent Road, EDINBURGH. EH1 3DG.
Tel:
National Sensory Impairment Strategy
Ro-Innleachd Nàiseanta na Ciorram Mothacail