Sensory Impairment Review

1. Sensory Impairment Review PSI PB April 2009 Richard Collins Head of Adult Commissioning Lincolnshire County Council

2. Background to Review • External provision evolved from grants through SLA’s to contracts • Contracts were coming to the end of their term • 3 main contracts tendered short term ‘as is’ to allow for review • All providers retained their contracts • In-house provision not part of review • Review carried out by independent research worker who has a sensory impairment • Used Best Value principles where possible

3. Assessment of need Provision of services and support to sign language users and people with acquired deafness Registration services for people who wish to be registered Interpreters provision Provision of technical equipment Raising deaf awareness in the general community Service to deaf children and their families An Intervenor scheme to assist families who have deafblind members (PA), Deaf/Blind Community Services Development Officer to liaise and work with families with a deaf/blind member, Volunteer co-ordinator for the Guide Help Scheme for older people who are deaf/blind. Specialist assessment, Build confidence and self esteem Develop communication skills Promote Independent Living Skills Develop Mobility Skills Develop individual programmes of rehabilitation training Hold the register of adults and children registered as blind or partially sighted. Current Contracts

4. Blind Societies • Training to improve life skills • Help to obtain adaptations to property • Help and advice in using specialist and other equipment in the home • Help and advice on how to minimise risks in the home and promote safe living • Advice and assistance on improving the security of the dwelling • Help and advice on maintaining contact with health and social care professionals • Help on claiming benefits and completing associated forms • Advice and assistance on moving home or relocating to a more suitable property • Direct help with tasks such as shopping where a person may need support in dealing with a new environment • General advice on entitlements and available services for people with visual impairments and assistance in accessing these services

5. Blind/Deaf Clubs • Mostly monthly • Chance to socialise and communicate • Information exchange • Very well regarded by Service Users • Often the only opportunity to get out of the house • All clubs struggling to cope financially and in maintaining volunteers & management

6. Main Concerns of Service Users Over 200 people were consulted • Lack of awareness by the world at large, and social exclusion encountered by people with sensory impairments. • Ineffective communication is the single most significant barrier to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. • People with sensory impairment belong to a minority group with a low profile • No Sensory Impairment Strategy in the Council • Little confidence in the local authority

7. Other Service User Concerns • LCC Dependence Needs Assessment form lacks sufficient detail on sensory impairment • A lack of information in appropriate formats for people with sensory impairment • Difficulties in communicating with service providers • Difficulties in using public transport. • Lack of information about and opportunity for people with sensory impairment to enjoy a social life • Confusion about availability of advocacy services • No Sensory Impairment pamphlet by Adult Social Care • Feelings of extreme isolation linked to rural living, quality of life and respite

8. Concerns Relating to Providers • Poor relationship between the Council and service providers/little feedback • Little or no knowledge or skills about sensory impairment in LCC • Lack of information about people who are deaf or hard of hearing makes it difficult for service providers to quantify and plan future services • Assessments carried out by providers considering sensory impairment needs do not always include the wider holistic social care assessment and recording on the council’s systems • Provider contracts not of sufficient duration to give sustainability and continuity of support • Weak contract monitoring, lacks quality measurement

9. Recommendations • To consider commissioning services for carers of sensory impaired people • To ensure that all commissioned services are fit for purpose • To commission services which provide realistic opportunities to access employment • To undertake further work and analysis of the unmet needs of Black and Minority Ethnic groups • Develop a more robust way of recording and maintaining a record of people with sensory impairments • To investigate availability of advocacy services • To promote advocacy and peer support services • To promote Personal Budgets • To examine the Adult Social Care Needs Assessment processes • To adopt the Access and Communication Toolkit

10. Recommendations Develop a Sensory Impairment Strategy for Lincolnshire with partner organisations to achieve the following: • To work with partner organisations to raise awareness • To develop a closer working relationship with external providers • Raise the profile of the needs of people with sensory impairment with elected members • To arrange sensory impairment awareness training • Work with partners to make information & advice readily available

11. Recommendations • Adult Social Care - Separate the assessment process from the existing contracts and offer as a separate sensory impairment assessment and data collection contract. Combine the non-assessment element in a sensory impairment provision contract that would include support to local blind, deaf and deaf/blind clubs. • Supporting People – Align with the Adult Social Care programme to commission services and establish joint commissioning arrangements, which meet local needs. • Contract monitoring should be more flexible, responsive, person-centred and outcome-focussed. Providers have asked for increased feedback from the council regarding their performance, and Service Users should be given the opportunity to be actively involved in the evaluation of services.

12. Ways Forward • Communication and Consultation • Agree Plan • Developing the new Services • Procurement Exercise • Transition • Review and Evaluation

13. Contact Richard Collins Head of Adult Commissioning Lincolnshire County Council richard.collins@lincolnshire.gov.uk