The Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN) was set up last year following the demise of the Social Care Association. Chair, Simon Labbett, explains its progress so far.
It is anticipated that RWPN is the first step towards a professional body for rehabilitation officers visual impairment (ROVIs) across the four countries of the UK. We are an independent body but now firmly linked into the visual impairment sector because we are a member organisation of VISION 2020 UK.
Become a member
Since December, we have been inviting anyone who holds the rehabilitation workers qualification to join the network and, as of January,150 of you have signed up as members. Membership is free. Each member can gain access to our website, where we are starting to build a library of useful resources and suggestions of more resources are welcome.
Our work will be coordinated by a committee of practising rehabilitation officer visual impairments (ROVIs) and we meet for the first time this month. The committee currently has representation from Northern Ireland and most regions of England. We would particularly like to hear from anyone prepared to represent Scotland.
I strongly believe that the role of rehabilitation workers is finally becoming much better understood and valued within the sight loss sector.
However, to give this new body the credibility it deserves, we all have to sign up to it. If you would like to see RWPN's terms of reference and would like an application form to join, email me at simon.labbett@bradford.gov.uk
Article published in NB magazine March 2013.