Sensory services

The sensory service comprises sensory social workers, communicator guides for people with dual sensory impairment, rehabilitation officers for people who are visually impaired and a Sensory Service Team Manager. All job functions work together closely to provide a comprehensive sensory service. The Sensory Service Team is countywide, covering North Yorkshire. The team’s specialist training and experience means it understands the impact of sensory loss and applies that as it works with you.

If you need equipment to help overcome difficulties resulting from your sensory loss, we can offer advice and information and signpost you to the options available to you.

Supporting the Deaf community

Some of the social care staff within the Sensory Service Team are skilled in British Sign Language (BSL) and understand the cultural differences involved in being a Deaf person in a hearing world. These staff have experience working with people who are Deaf and whose first language is BSL.

The team can undertake social care assessments and provide or arrange services for people who are eligible following an assessment. This may include help with:

• Using local community services.

• Managing practical daily living.

• Making decisions and keeping safe.

• Overcoming communication barriers.

• Work and/or education.

• Social isolation.

• Mental health conditions.

Supporting people who have a dual sensory impairment

The terms ‘deafblind’ or ‘dual sensory loss or impairment’ refer to people who have a combined vision and hearing impairment.

We have a dedicated team that provides specialist support for people with a dual sensory impairment. The team can undertake social care assessments and provide or arrange services depending on eligibility following an assessment.

The support considered will depend on the individual and the outcome of their assessment but will usually aim to help the person to access communication, information and mobility on either a short- or long-term basis.

Supporting people with a visual impairment

If you have been diagnosed with a visual impairment, we will receive notification of this through a Certificate of Visual Impairment from your eye health consultant. We keep a register of these certificates and offer advice, information and support relating to the concessions available once registered. An assessment can be offered to people who are on the register. For people not registered but their visual impairment still has a significant impact on their independence, we can still provide an assessment.

We also offer a rehabilitation service, which can help you to maintain or rediscover your independence, both at home and in the community. Rehabilitation may involve learning to use a long cane; learning skills to work independently in the kitchen; or learning how to use special equipment for reading and tasks such as shopping and paying bills. This service is usually provided to enable people to become as independent as possible for as long as possible before we consider any need for long-term support in response to vision loss.

Mental health

We work in partnership with health trusts and other organisations throughout the county to provide specialist mental health services to support people affected by mental health illness.

Mental health illness can affect anyone at any time and one in four people will experience some form of mental illness during their lifetime. There are many types of mental illness, from mild difficulties to more severe and enduring conditions. Some examples include abuse and neglect; addiction; anxiety; depression; eating disorders; stress; and trauma.

Your GP should be your first point of contact if you are worried about your mental health. Your GP may be able to treat you or refer you to your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT).

If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health and would like some support, contact one of the following local services.

Just ‘B’

Helpline for those struggling with emotional wellbeing.

Tel: 01423 856799 (helpline).

Email: info@justb.org.uk

Web: https://justb.org.uk

Samaritans

If you need urgent support or feel suicidal, call the Samaritans.

Tel: 116 123

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Tel: 0800 051 6171 (North Yorkshire mental health emergency).

Web: www.tewv.nhs.uk/services/crisis-advice

There are lots of support organisations and charities that can also help people with mental health illness, for example, Mind; contact details are on page 80.