1. Social Care and Eye Clinic Liaison Officers
ADASS Physical Disabilities, Sensory Impairment and HIV/AIDS Network Meeting
15th February 2019

2. An Introduction to the role of Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLO)
History of the ECLO
Overview of ECLO
Role of RNIB as Industry Leader
UKOA, NICE, QFA
Looking ahead

3. Definition of an ECLO
A sight loss advisor who works directly with people affected by sight loss in a clinical setting. What an ECLO does: Provides a person centred service to people of all ages affected by sight loss including relatives & carers. Offers information, practical & emotional support, and empowers people to access appropriate statutory and community support services.

4. Why do we need them?
Being diagnosed with an eye condition can be difficult to come to terms with, and everyone reacts differently. It can be an extremely confusing and uncertain time and in many cases emotionally traumatic.
People with sight loss are three times more likely to suffer depression.
A survey of registered individuals revealed that after diagnosis 92 per cent of blind and partially sighted people were not offered formal counselling by the eye clinic, either at the time or later.
Nearly a quarter of blind and partially sighted people (23 per cent) leave the eye clinic not knowing, or unsure of, the name or nature of their eye condition.
Eye clinic staff are often unable to provide the emotional and practical support their patients' need. The ECLO can help provide this essential support

5. Relevance to you Hearing - Dual Sensory Impairment
Physical Disabilities – Eye disease as a secondary condition
HIV/AIDS – Immune deficiency related eye disease

6. Linking to Social Services & Sensory Impairment Teams
ECLO as a ‘Bridge’ – routes to services/information
Working in the community
Potential obstacles
EG of Exemplar Relationship – Wakefield SIT & Pinderfields & Pontefract ECLOs.

7. Working in symbiosis Moira’s Story Debra’s Story SIT’s Story
Benefits of the personal touch
Benefits of relationship to service users
Benefits to service delivery
Downside……..however…….bottom line

8. Case study White Male, aged 32 Lived alone, single
Sudden unexpected sight loss – victim of acid attack
Depressed

9. Obstacles & work arounds
Interactive Discussion led by Moira and Debra

10. Summary & Questions

11. Get in touch
Carolyn Chamberlain, Head of Eye Clinic Support Services Debra Baverstock, Service Manager Eye Clinic Support Services Moira Horsfield, ECLO, Eye Clinic Support Services