Health and social care professionals working in learning disability are ideally placed to play a key role in improving the lives of service users. Our Advanced training can help you develop the expertise to support those with sight loss and learning disability directly and mentor other colleagues supporting patients and service users in the community.
Become a 'Vision Champion'
Our aim is to establish 'Vision Champions' in local authorities or health regions across the UK. Their role is to provide support and practical advice to clients and carers before, during and after assessment by an optometrist. This advanced training can be undertaken through a two-day or four-day training course. We would be happy to talk to you about the level of training most appropriate for you and your team, but both training packages can help you:
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undertake a functional vision assessment, so you can understand the impact of sight loss on your service users and help those who care for them to do so too
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offer practical advice and support for care strategies that will increase service users' independence
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provide vital information about a patient's visual history to help optometrists tailor the eye examination
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advise on the support required for service users at appointments and in accessing further treatment where it's needed
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advise carers and other community workers on how to ensure their service users access the treatment they need
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support those undertaking assessment and care-planning for a personal budget or self directed support.
The two-day training is a face-to-face workshop. The four-day training is a face-to-face accredited course followed by extended practical input at your own service, where you will be supported to put your learning into practice.
Cost
The 'Vision Champion' training sessions can be tailored to you and your team's individual needs.
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Two-day course: starts from £1,200 and can accommodate up 15 participants.
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Four-day course: starts from £895 per person.
The final cost will depend on your specific requirements.
To discuss your specific needs, email learningdisability@rnib.org.uk or call 0141 772 5588.
Case study
Paul is 30, has Down's Syndrome and receives day service support from his local authority. Paul's carers reported that he was becoming reluctant to leave his flat and no longer seemed to recognise them.
A member of Paul's review team was part of the local authority rehab team and had recently completed RNIB's Vision Champion training. Although Paul had no previous history of sight loss, the Vision Champion knew Paul's difficulties were likely to be the result of undiagnosed sight loss. Paul was referred to a local optometrist, who diagnosed dense cataracts in both Paul's eyes. Paul's condition made reading ordinary print, watching television and recognising faces very difficult.
Sadly, people with a learning disability are often refused cataract treatment due to perceived management difficulties, but because the Vision Champion could both demonstrate that Paul's visual needs were understood and ensure Paul's carers were able to put adequate support and care in place, the operation was promptly scheduled.
The operation was successful, and Paul now greets his carers, friends and family with a smile of recognition. He can now walk independently from his flat to the front door, and enjoy watching TV, even using the remote control.
Paul's carers said the training and support from RNIB's Visual Impairment and Learning Disability (VILD) service had been invaluable in helping them, and Paul, understand his visual problems and has significantly improved his quality of life.