1. The provision of social care for people with hearing loss www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/lifesupport Chris Wood Senior Research & Policy Officer chris.wood@hearingloss.org.uk 21 June 2013

2. WHY?

3. CONTEXT Cost savings – 20% of net spending Evidence gap: what social care services are provided for people with hearing loss Research needed to monitor social care services for people with hearing loss

4. WHAT?

5. WHAT WE WANTED TO FIND OUT Understanding need: Do local authorities in England and Wales assess the level of need and make plans to support people with hearing loss? Meeting need: What services are on offer to meet the needs of people with hearing loss? Access to services: How can people with hearing loss access the services provided by local authorities?

6. HOW?

7. SURVEY: SENSORY SERVICES Thank You ADASS, who helped us with the research Individuals who took the time to complete our survey. Responses England: May and June 2012. 64 (out of 152 surveyed) responded – 43% response rate. Wales: August 2012. 8 (of the 22 surveyed) responded – 36% response rate.

8. KEY FINDINGS: ENGLAND Understanding need Meeting need Access to services

9. KEY FINDINGS: ENGLAND Understanding need Meeting need Access to services

10. UNDERSTANDING NEED We looked at whether: Hearing loss appears in LA’s JSNAs LAs have strategies to plan their services for people with hearing loss Feedback is gathered from people with hearing loss.

11. JSNAS AND STRATEGIES One-third of respondents said that hearing loss appears as a specific issue in their JSNA. Two-thirds said it does not or they did not know Half said they have a sensory loss strategy One in four respondents said they have a strategy dedicated to hearing loss. Two-fifths of respondents said they have no sensory loss strategy in place.

12. SERVICE USER FEEDBACK Most (76%) do collect user feedback Some areas engage more than others: “Our service users are involved in a county strategy group, which is currently writing a hearing loss section for inclusion in the JSNA.” However, one in 10 do not gather any service feedback from people with hearing loss.

13. KEY FINDINGS: ENGLAND Understanding need Meeting need Access to services

14. MEETING NEED We asked about: Services for people who do meet the eligibility criteria Services for people who do not meet the eligibility criteria Resource allocation

15. MEETING NEED: SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

16. OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA coping and communication skills specialist rehabilitation tenancy support support groups equipment advice and demonstrations signing classes counselling

17. MEETING NEED: SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

18. MEETING NEED: RESOURCE ALLOCATION Fewer than half of the respondents (46%), said the RAS they use for personal budgets allocates points for communication support needs The remainder said their RAS does not, or they do not know

19. KEY FINDINGS: ENGLAND Understanding need Meeting need Access to services

20. ACCESS TO SERVICES We asked about: How can people with hearing loss get information about LA services? Where do assessments take place? British Sign Language interpreters

21. ACCESS TO SERVICES: INFORMATION

22. ACCESS TO SERVICES: ASSESSMENT Other places: audiology clinics, hospitals, care homes, community centres, charities One authority: “wherever the client wants”

23. ACCESS TO SERVICES: BSL USERS When a BSL user needs information or an assessment: In some cases a team member trained to interpreter level (level 6) in BSL is available In 80% of cases the service is delivered by an underqualified interpreter: a member of the team with no formal BSL training or up to level 3 BSL, or a friend or family member Better processes must be introduced to book proper communication support where it is needed

24. RECOMMENDATIONS

25. UNDERSTANDING NEED All local authorities should: Assess the needs of local people with hearing loss by including it in the JSNA (currently only one third do) Make plans to engage with and provide high- quality services for this population Monitor and evaluate services provided

26. MEETING NEED Wide range of services, information and signposting provided by some - share this good practice, ensure individuals don’t miss out Better provision of interpreters Improve signposting to Lipreading classes and information on Access to Work All should ensure RAS allocates points for communication support

27. ACCESS TO SERVICES LAs provide information on services in a variety of ways Not everyone knows about services – share good practice of providing information to ensure all know about them Offer assessments and information in convenient locations BSL users must be provided with qualified interpreters (80% are now underqualified)

28. HOW TO MAKE THESE CHANGES?

29. www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/lifesupport chris.wood@hearingloss.org.uk