Social Services

Our social services teams provide easier access to social care for people with sight problems.

We work closely with planners, commissioners, managers and providers of social care to promote best practice and improve the quality of services throughout the UK. We encourage local authorities to provide integrated care and empower service users to lobby for improvements where services fall short.

Together with carers, local groups and societies, we ensure individuals get access to basic and specialist advocacy support. If you are not happy with the services your local council offers, you have the right to complain.

Registration can help you get the practical support you need. We provide information about how to register as sight impaired or severely sight impaired.

Campaigns

Thousands of blind and partially sighted people, many on low incomes, are not receiving vital community equipment. Many have to pay for equipment themselves. Our 'Equipped for Living' campaign calls for improvements in equipment provision for blind and partially sighted people.

Successes

• Our Talking Book Service enables people with sight problems to enjoy the pleasure of reading. In some areas your local authority will pay for your membership.
• Our Talk and Support telephone groups offer help and support to blind and partially sighted users, accessible from the comfort of their own home.
• We continue our work with Primary Care Trusts, social services and other voluntary organisations to develop UK-wide, high-quality low vision centres that can be viewed as ‘Gold Standard’ within the health and social professions.
• We developed the Advocacy Resource Pack to advise individuals wishing to self-advocate.
• Progress in Sight is the first ever set of national standards outlining to blind and partially sighted adults the support they should expect and to service providers the quality they need to reach.
• The Hospital Services Handbook was developed in conjunction with local groups to promote better information services in hospital eye clinics.
• In 2002, we helped more than 3000 people get their voice heard and secure their rights and entitlements.

Content author: webeditor@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 06/03/2008 15:41