What responsibilities do local authorities have?
In 2009 the Government reissued statutory guidance to local authorities covering their responsibilities to identify, assess, and provide information and services to deafblind people.
The Deafblind Guidance expects local authorities to:
- identify, make contact with and keep a record of deafblind people locally
- ensure that assessments are carried out by specifically trained personnel
- ensure that appropriate services are provided for deafblind people - remembering that individual services for people who are deaf or who are blind may not be appropriate for someone who is both deaf and blind
- ensure that they have access to specifically trained, one-to-one support workers if necessary
- provide information in a suitable format which is accessible to deafblind people
- ensure that a senior manager is given responsibility for deafblind services.
Download a copy of the guidance.
How well do local authorities meet their statutory responsibilities to deafblind people?
In 2007 we completed a survey which showed that 20% of local authorities who responded still had not identified a single deafblind person. We're currently conducting another survey, the results of which will be published in the Autumn.
I need advice and support to implement the guidance – what is available?
Sense has been working with local authorities since the deafblind guidance was first issued (2001). We are able to provide information and advice to support the implementation of the guidance in relation to children, adults and older people.
Please contact the information and advice team for advice and access to support.
This publication provides advice for social services older people’s teams about how the guidance relates to their work.
This toolkit explains how to put the deafblind guidance into action for deafblind children.
NB these documents were produced before the guidance was re-issued and before the latest research on numbers of deafblind people.
Are there people within local authorities who have experience of working with deafblind people?
There are two groups of people working for local authorities who have an interest in supporting deafblind people. They hold regular meetings and you can join an online discussion group.
What difference could the deafblind guidance make to the lives of deafblind people?
Read an article by Liz Ball, Campaigns Involvement Officer about her experiences and hopes for the re-issued deafblind 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 that are still not implementing it properly?
Tell us your experiences.
Who is able to help deafblind people?
Sense provides a wide range of services to deafblind people, their families, carers and professionals. We also have a directory which allows other businesses and individuals to advertise their services. The guidance also provides information on other organisations who provide services.
How can you recognise dual sensory loss in residential or domiciliary care?
The older someone is, the more likely they are to have both a visual and a hearing impairment. Unfortunately this often goes unrecognised or is seen as a natural consequence of ageing so we've put together toolkit to help.
I work in primary health – how can I ensure that deafblind people are able to stay active, independent and healthy?
Deafblind older people have higher rates of a range of conditions, including stroke, arthritis, heart disease, hypertension, falls and depression. Support is available yet very view older deafblind people receive appropriate services. There are plenty of things you can do.
Find out more information for primary health staff.
How can I support the work that Sense does to support deafblind people?
There are a variety of ways in which you can support Sense.
