Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation – FAQs

Summary: Frequently asked questions on RNIB rehabilitation service.

• Why are social care services for blind and partially sighted people so patchy?
• Are the standards in “Progress in sight” mandatory?
• How do blind and partially sighted people get assessed?
• Do people have to be registered with their authority to obtain help?

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Why are social care services for blind and partially sighted people so patchy?

There are probably several reasons. Since the introduction of the NHS and Community Care Act (1990), local authorities have had to draw up and publish plans outlining its priorities.

Sight problems are often overlooked or bundled together with “physical disability”. It has been said that blind and partially sighted people are not the most vocal when it comes to making a fuss or at least not the older ones. The majority of people are not registered, authorities may simply not know that they exist.

Are the standards in “Progress in sight” mandatory?

No, they are not legally binding. However, they have been drawn up under the direction of and published by the Association of Directors of Social Services.

Consequently the standards contained within the document are approved by all Directors of Social Services and this should help provide a lever for change if an authority is performing particularly badly against the standards.

Progress insight provides a framework which makes it easy for an authority to see how well (or badly) it is doing and what to do to rectify the situation.

How do blind and partially sighted people get assessed?

Staffing levels and structures vary from authority to authority. When a blind and partially sighted person is referred to the social services department (social work department in Scotland) they may be seen initially by a “generic” care manager, that is someone who works with all sorts of people with a full range of needs.

This person will assess the individual, and if it is appropriate, the person will be referred on for a specialist assessment (assuming the authority has a specialist visual or sensory impairment service) In other areas the referral might start with a visual impairment specialist, who will assess the needs of the person relating to their sight loss, and if appropriate, refer them on for further assessment by a care manager.

In recent years some rehabilitation worker training has been modified to provide staff with a combination of specialist and more general care management skills, enabling them to conduct a comprehensive assessment of need.

Do people have to be registered with their authority to obtain help?

Absolutely not. Local authorities have a legal duty to provide services for people in need. If someone has a serious sight problem, and is having difficulty in coping, then they are eligible to be assessed for social care regardless of whether or not they are registered.

Registration was introduced under the 1948 National Assistance Act, and Local Authorities are obliged to maintain registers of severely sight impaired (blind) and sight impaired (partially sighted) people in their area.

Registration is voluntary. With continuing erosion of social care services and an increase in the population of frail older people, an assessment does not guarantee that an individual will receive a service.

The authority will apply eligibility criteria to determine whether or not their needs are serious enough to warrant help. In England the official guidance on this issue is “Fair Access to Care Services”. A person does not have to be registered to obtain help but it can bring about certain financial benefits.

Content author: webeditor@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13