In 2001, as a result of campaigning by Sense, the Department of Health issued statutory guidance on how deafblind people should be assessed and what services they should receive. Over the eight years since then, many deafblind people have benefited from specialist assessments and services as a result.
Sense is delighted that the Department of Health has re-issued the guidance. Not every local authority has been implementing it properly, so that many deafblind people still have to fight to get the right services. The re-issue of the guidance should help remind authorities they need to comply fully with something which is a legal requirement.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families said:
“I want every deafblind person, in every area to get the high level of service and support this Guidance requires Local Authorities to provide. This is equally important for children because if they don’t get the support they need early on in life it can greatly affect their future life chances.
“Each Local Authority must ensure they are fulfilling their obligation to make one member of their senior management responsible for deafblind services so that every deafblind person is identified and gets the comprehensive service they deserve.”
The re-issued guidance makes similar requirements of local authorities, including:
- To identify deafblind people living in their area
- To ensure that people receive an assessment form a suitably qualified person
- To ensure that people receive services appropriate for a person who is deafblind, including one to one support where needed
- To ensure that a senior manager has responsibility for deafblind services.
Read the Guidance information for deafblind people and families
Read the Guidance information for local authorities about how to implement the guidance.
Sense wants to hear about your experiences of the deafblind guidance. Have you received a good service from your local authority? Did you have to quote the guidance in order to get it? Or do you live in one of the areas which are still not implementing it properly? Let the campaigns team know your story.
