1. Referral Pathways and the Children's Low Vision Project in Wales Nathan Davies Children's Low Vision Advocate for Wales RNIB Cymru

2. Structure of Presentation Background information Evaluation of referral pathway system in Wales Audit of individual cases in Cardiff Conclusion

3. The way it was…. Health Education Families Social Services

4. The way we wanted it to be… HealthEducation Social Services Families

5. Development of Referral Forms CYP 1 and CYP 2 Discussion Group Meetings 2005 CYP 1 for health professionals CYP 2 for education and social services To share information and make referrals

6. Distribution of CYP 1 and CYP 2 CDs Website: www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?pid =12229&orgid=562 Endorsed by Welsh Assembly Government

7. Evaluation of CYP 1 and 2 Two sister paper-based questionnaires Version A for health professionals Version B for education and social services October 2007, 367 professionals were sent questionnaires

8. Evaluation of CYP 1 and 2 216 health professionals 151 education and social services professionals Final overall response rate of 38% ( 141 responses)

9. Routine use of CYP 1 and 2 12% of health professionals routinely use CYP 1 20% education and social services professionals routinely use CYP 2

10. Reasons for not using CYP 1 and CYP 2 ???

11. Other findings Professionals would prefer to receive standard forms CYP 1 and 2 Inter-agency working protocols Awareness of other practices and procedures

12. Audit of cases in Cardiff Detailed audit of referral pathway of individual children seen at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff Supported by Mr Patrick Watts Early stages at present

13. Aims of Audit 1. Map the referral pathway of individual children 2.Find out the take up of community based Low Vision services 3.Identify barriers to referral 4. Find out if information was shared with University Hospital Wales

14. Process Cross reference children referred by UHW with children registered on Children's Low Vision Project database Identify discrepancies and find out reasons Make recommendations

15. Conclusion Referral systems in place Multi-agency working Discussion Group Meetings

16. Nathan Davies Children's Low Vision Advocate for Wales nathan.davies@rnib.org.uk 02920 44 9552 nathan.davies@rnib.org.uk