This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Sensory Impairment Action Plan
12/01/2004
Social work staff should be able to meet the basic
communication needs of a person with a sensory impairment
by April 2006 said Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe
today.
Mr McCabe made the announcement as he launched the
Sensory Impairment Action Plan and said that much had been
done to improve the quality of life for the sensory
impaired in recent years, but that much more work was
required.
The Minister also announced that the Executive would
assist in keeping the Glasgow School of Rehabilitation open
until at least the summer of 2005.
Mr McCabe said:
"I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to
the consultation process, particularly Deafblind Scotland,
the Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Scottish
Council on Deafness.
"Key stakeholders have taken the time to put across
their views to help shape the future of community care
services people with a sensory impairment want and
deserve.
"The final version of the plan reflects these views and
in doing so, we believe, offers the means through which to
improve the quality of life for people with a sensory
impairment in Scotland.
"It is imperative that social work and social care
services be able to meet the basic communication needs of
the sensory impaired and I hope that all concerned will
move towards ensuring that this is the case as soon as
possible.
"This requirement, along with the other distinct action
points within the Action Plan will give the Executive,
Local Authorities and other stakeholders clear goals in
improving services for the sensory impaired.
"I am confident that in continuing to work together we
will be able to translate our aspirations into
reality."
Talking about the Glasgow School of Rehabilitation Mr
McCabe said:
"I would also like to take this opportunity to announce
an agreement between the Executive and Guide Dogs for the
Blind Association to keep the Glasgow School of
Rehabilitation open until at least the summer of 2005.
"The Executive will contribute to the costs of running
the school to allow discussions to take place on the future
of rehabilitation training in Scotland."
In Autumn 2002 the Scottish Executive set up a planning
group with representation from Deafblind Scotland, the
Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Scottish
Council on Deafness. Its purpose was to outline what common
community care needs might be for those with a sensory
impairment. Their ideas formed the basis of a consultation
seminar that engaged with users of sensory impairment
services. The clear message given was that people with a
sensory impairment would appreciate better access to
information about services, better access to services,
clear service standards, improved training for staff who
provide the services and increased user participation in
how services are developed.
Taking the seminar views into account, the planning
group then formed an action plan for consultation which
included short, medium and long-term goals which, it is
thought, will make a positive difference to those who use
these services. The draft Sensory Impairment Action Plan
went out for a period of consultation in August which
concluded in late November.
Key recommendations in the Action Plan include:
- Every social work or social care facility should have
staff able to meet the basic communication needs of a
person with a sensory impairment by April 2006;
- The Scottish Executive should consult on the best
methods of collecting information to assist service
planning and delivery;
- The Scottish Executive should develop an information
strategy for people with a sensory impairment;
- A short-life working group to consider how best to
review research findings on meeting the needs of people
with a sensory impairment;
- A short life working group to produce common sensory
impairment service standards to be implemented by September
2005; and
- A national training strategy, which places the needs
of users and carers at its heart, based on existing good
practice standards.
As advised by the planning group, a summary of the
action plan will be available in Braille, audiotape, CD,
British Sign Language video and various languages (Arabic,
Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi and Gaelic).