Slide 1

Overcoming adult service cuts - the benefits of a universal sight loss pathway

ADASS Sensory Network June 8th 2012

Slide 2

What the presentation will cover:

  • Future of Rehab Group
  • The Sight Loss Pathway
  • Findings of Rehab survey
  • Working with Commissioners to make the case
  • Measuring effectiveness

Slide 3

The Future of Rehab Working Group

  • Multi-agency strategic group
  • Chaired by Vision 2020 Chairman

The aim of the group is ensure that every person who experiences sight loss can benefit from the provision of early access to a nationally agreed pathway promoting independence, choice and control over their lifestyle.

Slide 4

Objectives of Group

  1. Investigate rehab delivery across UK & identify gaps;
  2. Develop robust evidence-based UK sight loss pathway;
  3. Establish rehab role as essential reablement process;
  4. Contribute to development of ‘Seeing it My Way’ & support work to achieve government endorsement;
  5. Agree framework of skills needed to deliver sight loss pathway & gain governmental endorsement;
  6. Promote need for trained & supported workforce to deliver the associated rehabilitation outcomes;
  7. Raise awareness & campaign for service commissioning which supports delivery of ‘Seeing it my way’ outcomes

Slide 5

Sight Loss Pathway

  • Best practice model for all UK
  • Stresses early intervention to address presenting needs
  • Rehab clearly identified as an early intervention
  • Community Care Assessment only if some needs still outstanding, to determine eligibility for services
  • Represents ideal process map for Seeing it My Way
  • Highlights the need for specialist qualified professional interventions

Slide 6

Rehabilitation

  • Essential early intervention step on sight loss pathway
  • Long term process borne out of a long-term condition, addressing:

Emotional support

Daily living skills

Mobility training

Communication

  • Time limited but not time prescribed
  • May be recurrent over time

Slide 7

Achieving the Group’s aim - Triangular diagram:

‘Seeing it My Way’ at the apex

‘Sight Loss Pathway’ in bottom left corner

‘Qualified Workforce’ in top right corner

Slide 8

Framework of Skills

  • Follows the processes of the pathway
  • At each stage, framework identifies:

 Professionals involved

 Qualifications

 Core activity

  • Helps to clarify specialist focus of Rehabilitation Officers

Slide 9

Working with commissioners to make the case

  • Tell them – they don’t know!
  • Visual impairment needs assessment
  • Population
  • VI incidence & prevalence
  • Other risk factors: Age; diabetes; BME; poverty
  • Falls Prevention role – expert assessment
  • Evidence from reablement
  • Workforce need = incidence; work throughput; waiting lists
  • VI needs assessment into JSNA

Slide 10

Delivery models – what way ahead?

  • Sensory
  • Reablement (+ OTs etc.)
  • Voluntary organisation contract
  • Local authority trading company
  • Social enterprise
  • Freelance - spot purchase
  • Worker

Slide 11

Measuring effectiveness

  • Thomas Pocklington Trust commencing research in partnership with Social Policy Research Unit
  • Aim of research – to gather evidence of effectiveness of rehab interventions

Personal outcomes

Cashable savings

Slide 12

Consultation

  • Future of Rehab Group has consulted through own networks across UK
  • Consulted with UK Vision Strategy leads – March
  • ADASS Sensory Forum - May
  • Vision UK 2012 Conference - June

Please tell us:

  • Are the pathway & framework correct?
  • Note – pathway is best practice model but may not represent what is actually happening on the ground
  • Comments and suggestions

Slide 13

Any further comments

Jenny Pearce, Vista (Visionary representative)

Simon Labbett, SCA Rehabilitation Workers Consultative Network