Accredited and certificated courses
Eye Clinic Support Studies Course
RNIB run a four-day Eye Clinic Support Studies Course, accredited by City University London, for staff working witin eye clinics across the UK. The course is designed to equip eye clinic and related staff to competently address the emotional and practical needs of patients or clients on their eye care journey. It encourages you to identify key factors in providing effective support and to reflect on how to promote these in the clinical context in which you work.
Dates of courses in 2013 are as follows:
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24 - 27 June 2013 (Birmingham)
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22 - 25 July 2013 (Edinburgh)
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16 - 19 September (Birmingham)
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18 - 21 November (TBC)
To find out more about this course and make your booking, visit our Eye Clinic Support Studies Course pages.
For more information, please contact Donna Ledwidge on telephone 0121 665 4242 or email ECLOEditor@rnib.org.uk
Short courses and Seminars
Seminars for Eye Clinic Staff
RNIB host a series of one day seminars focusing on specific elements of eye clinic practice. These seminars offer the opportunity for eye clinic staff to meet others working in early intervention support based in eye clinic settings. Seminars will include demonstrations of the latest RNIB products and resources to support blind and partially sighted people, dedicated CPD sessions and opportunities to share best practice, ideas and learning.
How can the seminars help you?
The aim of the day is to discover how eye clinic staff work towards the same objectives, enabling patients and carers to understand and come to terms with sight loss, whilst appreciating the different methods used to provide this service learning from one another and sharing best practice.
These seminars are aimed at early intervention support staff working within eye clinic settings, providing front line services to newly-diagnosed blind and partially sighted people. This may include staff from local societies & organisations, the voluntary sector, sight loss sector and the NHS such as:
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Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs)
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Volunteers or full-time worker from any organisation
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Help-line support staff
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Specialist nurses
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Information or help desk officers
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Eye care early intervention officers
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Low Vision support workers
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Rehabilitation officers
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Sight care advisors
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Clinical support workers
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Vision support workers
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Patient support workers.
When and where are the next seminars happening?
Seminars will take place on an annual basis in three locations; Birmingham, London and Leeds.
How to book your place?
To book your place, download the booking form above and email to ECLOEditor@rnib.org.uk or call 0121 665 4242 for further details.
Free training for early reach in clinics and hospitals (Search)
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Do you provide practical and emotional support to people in an eye clinic?
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Are you a charity and would like to have more volunteers supporting in your local eye clinics?
Take advantage of free training and support through RNIB's 'Search' Project
Sight loss can have a devastating impact. The right practical and emotional support at the point of diagnosis and beyond is vital to people's ability to maintain a good life. It is widely acknowledged that early support should be an integral part of the patient journey from clinical care to social care. It enables patients and family members to understand what happens next, provides emotional support, and a point of contact at what can be a difficult time.
Some hospitals have dedicated staff (Such as Eye clinic liaison officers) to offer such support, but many rely on volunteers or nursing staff to signpost their patients to sources of further help and advice. Those volunteers and nurses (early intervention supporters) require a breadth of knowledge and skills in delivery of high quality support.
The Search project will offer free training and facilitate networking and continuing professional development for supporters. The aim is to ensure that practical and emotional support in eye clinics is offered to a consistent standard across England.
How can the project help you?
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Free one day course providing an overview of how you can best support an individual through their eye care journey
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Networking opportunities with people in a similar role in other locations
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Regular newsletter
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Continuing professional development opportunities
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Help for managers supporting staff and volunteers in eye clinics.
When and where is the project happening?
The project is running for three years from September 2012 across England in three broad geographical areas and in three phases:
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South (phase 1)
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Midlands (phase 2)
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North (phase 3)
If you are located in the Midlands or North and your organisation has an urgent need for support, please get in touch. We want the project to provide timely assistance.
Who to contact for more information?
Niall McMurtry, Search Project Manager, RNIB
T: 0191 266 5715
E: niall.mcmurtry@rnib.org.uk
RNIB acknowledges the support of the Department of Health - funder of the Search project.
Online Networks
Early Intervention Support Network (EISN)
The Early Intervention Support Network (EISN) is an email discussion network, established to support staff working within eye clinic settings, providing front line services to newly-diagnosed blind and partially sighted people including those diagnosed with a sight threatening condition.
The aim of the network is to create a community of those working within eye clinics across the UK, for peer support, development and dissemination of best practice, problem solving, sharing ideas, experiences and resources.
Find out more about EISN and subscribe now!
National Conferences
ECLO Conference 2012 - An overview
The RNIB Eye Clinic Impact Team held a one-day conference on the 4th October 2012 at York University. Over 50 delegates attended, representing 27 different organisations. Read more about the Eye Clinic and Early Intervention Conference 2012.