A YEAR OF PROGRESS
WE’RE RIGHT BEHIND YOU
3
SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, LEARN AND BELONG Sense’s specialist services enable people who are born deafblind to live as independently and fully as possible – offering a range of high quality and flexible housing, educational, employment and leisure opportunities. These range from houses where individuals have very high support needs to accommodation where people require a lower level of support to live independently. We also provide a range of day services and resource centres around the UK – where individuals are supported to choose from a wide range of activities and programmes. These aim to help people to develop their communication and living skills and to provide opportunities for self expression and achievement through all sorts of activities – arts and craft, sport and exercise, sensory stimulation and many more. We also provide vocational training, and support people to participate as fully as possible in their local communities.
sense annual review 2009
In 2008/2009 we: • offered individually-tailored support to 309 deafblind people who live in Sense-run houses and flats. • continued to improve the quality of our services, with 89% being rated as good or excellent (up from 84% last year) by the Care Quality Commission with no services rated as poor. • received a highly commended award at the Skills for Care National Awards. Sense works in partnership with the Anne Craft Trust and has developed a range of pioneering strategies to safeguard those in our services from possible abuse. • continued to insist that the resources we offer to deafblind people should be of the highest quality: - the new SMART Centre in Birmingham provides a stimulating and interactive environment where people with congenital or acquired deafblindness can choose from a wide range of activities, both in the centre and local community. These include computer work, massage, pottery, arts and crafts, and visiting the local ice rink and rock climbing centre. - Providence Court in Exeter has been upgraded to provide state-of-the art facilities and offer a pleasant and stimulating environment for learning and socialising. • supported a group of individuals from the south east to appear in a film to promote awareness of deafblindness – who then welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to the premiere.
2 11 2
18
Housing and support for deafblind people Number represents houses in that location Day services Outreach services Communicator guides
2
4
4 3
Most of the children, adults and older people that Sense support, and their families and carers, are living in their own homes. While some people will get very good support from local authorities and services, many find it an uphill struggle to get the help they need – and are entitled to. Far too many families are still pushed to the point of breakdown by the huge demands of supporting a deafblind child or adult. And thousands of older people with sight and hearing problems still lead difficult lives.
Communicator guides
Sense’s outreach workers are specialists who provide vital support and backing to individuals and families. They offer specialist assessments, and in the case of a young child for example, may suggest a programme for that child to follow. They offer information and advice – including information about the local services someone may benefit from – and frequently negotiate and advocate on someone’s behalf.
In 2008/2009
Raising awareness of deafblindness is another important part of their role through providing training, and working closely in partnership with fellow professionals from other agencies.
2
In 2008/2009 4
• 1,224 children and adults received support from our Family Education and Advisory Service, and our outreach workers.
Communicator guides are people who offer communication support, guiding skills and practical help – such as help with shopping or dealing with mail – to enable deafblind people to continue to live independently. For older people in particular, continuing to live safely at home, to get out and about and stay in touch with friends and family can be very difficult – and a communicator guide can provide a vital lifeline. • Sense provided 91 deafblind people with a communicator guide service. A growing number of local authorities now also provide communicator guide services thanks to Sense’s campaigning and support.
Intervenors It can be a huge challenge for children or adults born deafblind to participate in learning opportunities at home, in school and in other settings. Intervenors work one-to-one, promoting each person’s development based on an assessment of their individual needs and skills. For example, children are encouraged to develop new skills through co-active play, and tactile and sensory stimulation, and adults are helped to develop their communication and independence skills and use local community resources.
In 2008/2009
“89% of our services were rated as good or excellent by the Care Quality Commission – with no services rated as poor”
• Sense provided an intervenor service to 110 children. We also offered training and support to many other intervenors who are employed by local authorities and others.
13