A legal right to skilled help

Deafblindness is recognised as a unique disability, which requires skilled intervention if people are to be supported appropriately.

Social and community care law establishes a right for a person to have their needs assessed. The statutory guidance, Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults (issued by the Department of Health for England (LAC(DH)(2009)6)) provides a mandatory framework for how deafblind people should be assessed and what support they should receive.

The guidance states that assessment of a deafblind person should only be undertaken by "a specifically trained experienced person/team equipped to assess the needs of a Deafblind person - including communication, one-to-one human contact, social interaction and emotional wellbeing, support with mobility, assistive technology and rehabilitation".

The deafblind guidance does not specify what constitutes 'specifically trained and equipped'. Yet any social care assessment of a deafblind person that does not take proper account of the guidance can be challenged, ultimately in court.

In establishing a standard, Sense is clarifying the criteria a person needs to meet to be able to carry out an assessment which is compliant with the deafblind guidance. This is done with reference to the qualifications, experience and competence required.

The needs of deafblind children and adults and of those who are congenitally deafblind or have acquired deafblindness are very different. A person who is qualified to assess one deafblind person is not necessarily qualified to assess all deafblind people. We have indicated which qualifications are relevant to which groups.

What is 'suitably qualified'?

A professional who can demonstrate compliance with the criteria described below would be 'specifically trained and equipped' and therefore able to undertake the complex task of assessing a deafblind person.

Joint working

Sense supports collaboration and joint working in order to meet the criteria for being specifically trained. For example, a teacher with a diploma in Multi Sensory Impairment working together with social care staff who have the thorough knowledge of all legislation and guidance relevant to deafblind people, would be able to jointly meet the criteria and carry out an assessment.

Similarly if someone who does not meet all the criteria is involved in an assessment, they need to work under the supervision of someone who is 'suitably qualified' and who takes professional responsibility for the assessment.

Relevant qualifications

Competency

Sense believes that a person who is deemed 'suitably qualified' shall be a professional who:

1. has demonstrable understanding of deafblindness and its implications for the individual, their families and others who are important to them
2. is currently required to carry out assessments in a specialist role, either working with dual sensory impairment or with people who have a single sensory impairment
3. has thorough knowledge of all legislation and guidance of relevance to deafblind people, including specific deafblind guidance, practice and standards
4. can communicate with the deafblind person themselves or with support from an interpreter.

Experience

The professional should be able to demonstrate substantial, relevant and current experience in the field of deafblindness.

Colleagues with single sensory impairment experience should seek professional support from colleagues with dual sensory impairment experience until they are able to meet the criteria.

Acknowledgements

The production of this standard was overseen by senior staff in Sense with combined knowledge, expertise and experience in service delivery and practice, staff development and policy work relating to deafblind people.

October 2011

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