introducing vild - rnib · but i’ve never felt confident assessing the vision of people with a...

Call VILD on 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected]

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Introducing VILD Specialist training and consultancy for professionals working in learning disability or dementia

Optometrists • Health and social care professionals • Commissioners

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Call VILD on 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected] Call VILD on 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected]

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Contents

4 Supporting a dual diagnosis

6 Consultancy services for commissioners

8 Training for health, social care and SEN professionals: Learning disability and sight loss

10 Advanced training for health, social care and SEN professionals: Learning disability and sight loss

12 Training for optometrists: Learning disability

14 Training for health and social care professionals: Dementia and sight loss

15 VILD’s specialist services in Scotland

15 Additional services from RNIB

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The prevalence of sight loss among people with a learning disability or dementia is far greater than previously thought.

Supporting someone with a dual diagnosis can be far more challenging than supporting someone with one condition or the other.

RNIB’s award-winning Visual Impairment and Learning Disability service (VILD) offers consultancy and training to help you deliver seamless, accessible eye care services for people with sight loss and a learning disability. Our consultancy and training also extends to professionals supporting people with dementia.

For more information about the VILD training and consultancy solutions in this brochure please contact us.

Tel: 0141 772 5588Email: [email protected]: rnib.org.uk/learningdisability

Supporting a dual diagnosis

The prevalence of sight loss Our research revealed that when a learning disability or dementia is the main condition, sight loss is often overlooked. This means that sight conditions often go undetected and untreated. This risks unnecessary damage to the eye, can severely diminish a person’s quality of life and may lead to an increase in behavioural problems.

• 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability and almost ten per cent of them are blind or partially sighted.

• 750,000 people in the UK have dementia and at least 100,000 – but probably more – also have significant sight loss.

By designing and implementing an efficient referral pathway you can help ensure that everyone with a learning disability or dementia has their vision regularly assessed and that those with sight loss are given the appropriate treatment and support they need.

Contact VILD today to discuss your training and consultancy needs.

Sight loss with a learning disability or dementia

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Consultancy services for commissioners

Bridge to Vision consultancy service By working with local commissioners – including eye care, a learning disability and older people commissioners – we can help you develop community services that ensure equitable access to eye care. Bridge to Vision works by:

• auditing existing referral routes and services

• designing effective and integrated referral pathways to community optometry

• implementing action plans across relevant stakeholder groups

• delivering accredited training for optometrists [1], and health, social care and SEN professionals [2]

• conducting an impact evaluation which will evidence project outcomes and value for money.

[1] Accredited by Vantage Technologies, who administer the CET Scheme on behalf of the General Optical Council

[2] Accredited by Glasgow Caledonian University

Our Bridge to Vision consultancy service works alongside commissioners, community stakeholders and directly with parents, carers and patients to create seamless eye care pathways for people with learning disability or dementia.

Cost Bridge to Vision consultancy services are tailored around your service’s specific needs. Consultancy services start from £250 a day. The final cost and the duration of the consultancy will depend on your specific requirements and any additional travel considerations.

We’d be happy to discuss your specific needs and the consultancy services available. For more information, or to get a consultancy quote, please email [email protected] or call 0141 772 5588.

Bridge to Vision delivered impressive results and was great value for money. We now have an efficient, cost-effective pathway, where service-user outcomes, satisfaction and staff confidence have all increased.

Mick Ward, Head of Commissioning, Adult Social Care, Leeds City Council

Sight loss with a learning disability or dementia

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Training for health, social care and SEN professionalsLearning disability and sight loss

Training for professionals Our award-winning training will provide you with essential information and skills, including:

• how to recognise behaviours that may indicate sight loss in the people you support

• the eye conditions affecting those with a learning disability

• how to adapt your service to best meet your patients’ individual needs

• how to adapt an individual’s environment to promote independence and minimise risk.

RNIB also offers an advanced training course for health, social care and SEN professionals. Please see page 10.

Supporting someone with a learning disability and sight loss requires specialist skills. Our training will help you understand the impact sight loss has on daily life and provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to meet the needs of your customers, patients and service users.

The VILD training had a huge impact on my working life. I now feel really confident meeting the needs of patients with sight loss and a learning disability and I know that their quality of life has improved because of me.

Kristina MacKinnon, Community Learning Disability Nurse, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Parents and carersThis training is also suitable for parents and carers. If you work with parents or carers who have a child with a learning disability, please recommend this training to help them provide tailored support and adapt their home environment.

Training costs for parents and carers areagreed on an individual basis.

Cost Our introductory training sessions can be tailored around you and your team’s individuals needs. Basic packages start from £600, but the final cost will depend on your specific requirements.

We’d be happy to talk you through your specific needs and the training opportunities available. For more information please email [email protected] or call 0141 772 5588.

Winner

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Advanced training for health, social care and SEN professionals

Health and social care professionals working in learning disability are ideally placed to play a key role in improving the lives of service users. Our advanced training can help you develop the expertise to support those with sight loss and a learning disability directly and mentor other colleagues supporting patients and service users in the community.

Become a Vision ChampionOur aim is to establish Vision Champions in local authorities or health regions across the UK. Their role is to provide support and practical advice to clients and carers before, during and after assessment by an optometrist. This advanced training can be undertaken through a two-day or four-day training course. We would be happy to talk to you about the level of training most appropriate for you and your team, but both training packages can help you:

• undertake a functional vision assessment, so you can understand the impact of sight loss on your service users

• train colleagues to deliver a functional vision assessment

• offer practical advice and support for care strategies that will increase service users’ independence

• advise on the support required for service users at appointments and in accessing further treatment where it’s needed

• advise carers and other community workers on how to ensure their service users access the treatment they need

Paul is 30, has Down’s syndrome and receives day service support from his local authority. Paul’s carers reported that he was becoming reluctant to leave his flat and no longer seemed to recognise them.

A member of Paul’s review team was part of the local authority rehab team and had recently completed RNIB’s Vision Champion training. Although Paul had no previous history of sight loss, the Vision Champion suspected Paul’s difficulties were likely to be the result of undiagnosed sight loss. Paul was referred to a local optometrist, who diagnosed dense cataracts in both Paul’s eyes. Paul’s condition made reading, watching television and recognising faces very difficult.

Sadly, people with a learning disability are often refused cataract treatment due to perceived management difficulties, but because the Vision Champion could both demonstrate that Paul’s visual needs were understood and ensure Paul’s carers were able to put adequate support and care in place, the operation was promptly scheduled.

The operation was successful, and Paul now greets his carers, friends and family with a smile of recognition. He can now walk independently from his flat to the front door, and enjoy watching TV, even using the remote control.

Paul’s carers said the training and support from VILD has been invaluable in helping them, and Paul, understand his visual problems and has significantly improved his quality of life.

Paul’s story: The impact of a Vision Champion

Cost The Vision Champion training sessions can be tailored around you and your team’s individual needs.

• Two-day course: from £1,200 and can accommodate up to 15 participants.

• Four-day course: from £895 per person.

The final cost will depend on your specific requirements.

Please call 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected] to discuss your specific needs.

• support those undertaking assessment and care-planning for a personal budget or self directed support.

The two-day training is a face-to-face workshop. The four-day training is a face-to-face accredited course followed by extended practical input at your own service, where you will be supported to put your learning into practice.

Learning disability and sight loss

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Training for optometrists

Supporting optometristsOur UK-wide accredited training is available as a bespoke training session in your workplace or through our accredited Bridge to Vision DVD training-resource.

The training covers the two core competencies of Communication Skills and Visual Function, explains the alternative testing methods available for this patient group as well as the key considerations for dispensing and clinical decision-making.

Optometrists often tell us they struggle to test the vision of people with a learning disability because the customer or patient can’t read the letters on the charts or because they have little or no speech. Our award-winning, accredited training can help you make the necessary adjustments to ensure successful outcomes for all your patients.

CostBespoke training sessions can be tailored around you and your team’s individual needs. Basic packages start from £200, but the final cost will depend on your specific requirements. Please call 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected] to discuss your specific training needs.

To support the development of inclusive eye care, RNIB are offering the Bridge to Vision training DVD free of charge. To request a copy please email [email protected] or call 0141 772 5588.

I’ve got years of experience as an optometrist, but I’ve never felt confident assessing the vision of people with a learning disability.

RNIB training gave me a whole new way of looking at the issue and provided practical solutions to deliver a first class eye examination. It’s made my job much easier, and gave me the confidence and skills to help more people.

David McKeefry, Optometrist, Ayrshire & Arran

Learning disability

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Call VILD on 0141 772 5588 or email [email protected]

Training for health and social care professionals

Over 100,000 people in the UK have dementia and serious sight loss. And because the population is ageing, the number of people who experience both conditions is increasing everyday.

Training for health and social care professionalsIn conjunction with Alzheimer’s Scotland, VILD have developed training for social care professionals that specifically addresses the eye care and support needs for people with this dual diagnosis.

The training, which is suitable for all social care professionals supporting people with dementia, covers:

• visual awareness and the impact of sight loss on everyday life

• the prevalence and types of eye conditions among those with dementia

• how to recognise behaviours that may indicate undiagnosed sight loss amongst people with dementia

• how to adapt your care or service to best meet your service users’ needs

• the basic skills needed to adapt their environment.

Cost Our dementia training can be tailored around you and your team’s individual needs. Basic packages start from £600, but the final cost will depend on your specific requirements.

We’d be happy to talk you through your specific needs and the training opportunities available. For more information please email [email protected] or call 0141 772 5588.

RNIB offer practical support, advice and information to all those with sight loss and those who work with them – including people with a learning disability or dementia.

Advice and supportRNIB Helpline is the direct line to the support, advice and products your patients and service users need to remain independent. We’ll put them in touch with the people, services and organisations there to help, both locally and nationally, including voluntary groups and support from social services.

Whether they want to know more about an eye condition, buy a product from our shop, join our library, find out about possible benefit entitlements, be put in touch with a trained counsellor, or make a general enquiry about living with sight loss, we’re only a call away.

Telephone: 0303 123 9999Email: [email protected]

Products and publicationsWith over 1,000 products and publications, RNIB has the widest range available from any organisation in Europe for blind and partially sighted people. All products are designed to make life easier and help people stay independent, whether they are at home, work, school, enjoying leisure time or out and about. Shop with RNIB and get advice from our Helpline team on the best products for you.

Telephone: 0303 123 9999Email: [email protected]: rnib.org.uk/shop

RNIB National Library ServiceRNIB National Library Service is the largest library in the UK for readers with sight loss. Whether someone wants to read for pleasure or learning, relaxation or inspiration, we can help them discover an exciting new world of books and reading.

Telephone: 0303 123 9999Email: [email protected]: rnib.org.uk/library

RNIB’s award-winning community services have been operating in Scotland for over 15 years. They include specialist vision assessment to inform the development of a personalised package of independent living, training and support.

Day support and outreach is available in some areas offering one to one community/home based support services. For more information please email [email protected] or call 0141 772 5588.

Dementia and sight loss

VILD’s specialist assessment, rehabilitation, day and outreach services in Scotland

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Additional services from RNIB

Contact usIf you would like to find out more about any of VILD’S services, please contact us:

Tel: 0141 772 5588Email: [email protected]/learningdisability

Our websiteVisit rnib.org.uk for all the latest information about our work, establishments, services, discussion forums and much more. Please note that our services are available to anyone with a sight condition and are not restricted to people on the register of blind and partially sighted people.

© RNIB May 2012 Registered charity number 226227

RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information to anyone with sight loss or those who work with them.

introducing vild - rnib · but i’ve never felt confident assessing the vision of people with a...

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