What is Rehabilitation?
As a result of your visual impairment you may be experiencing difficulties performing tasks you previously did without any problems such as telling the time, making a hot drink, signing your name etc. You may find it difficult to continue your leisure pursuits or you may feel that emotionally it is difficult adjusting to your sight loss. Rehabilitation helps you to find new ways of dealing with the things you find difficult due to visual loss.
What is a Rehabilitation Worker?
A Rehabilitation Worker Is someone who holds a qualification in rehabilitation work with people with a visual impairment. Following your initial referral to Bradbury Fields a Rehabilitation Worker will call out to complete an assessment with you. The assessment is a formal assessment of your needs the aim is to identify the difficulties you are experiencing and to discuss with you ways these may be solved. They will also give you advice and information on services that are available both from Bradbury Fields and other agencies in Merseyside. Following your assessment you may be provided with equipment to assist you or a programme of further training may be advised. This training may vary from the use of a piece of equipment involving one visit to a course in long cane mobility or Braille lasting several months. Shortly after the visit the rehabilitation Worker will complete a care plan. This care plan is a list of the issues identified at the assessment and any work the Rehabilitation Worker has agreed to carry out with you such as providing equipment, providing information or setting up a training programme. You will get a copy of this care plan in the format of your choice, most people have it in print or on tape but you can request it in various languages, Braille, moon etc.
What is a Rehabilitation Assistant?
Although a rehabilitation assistant does not hold the qualification in Rehabilitation, they are all qualified to NVQ level 3 standard. Rehabilitation Assistants are able to carry out less complex assessments, demonstrate the use of equipment and provide advice and support. They are not qualified to carry out certain rehabilitation training such as teaching mobility, Braille etc. Once you have completed your initial assessment and the Rehabilitation Worker has completed their work, if you require further assistance from Bradbury Fields it will usually be a Rehabilitation Assistant who visits. A Rehabilitation Assistant will also contact you, usually by telephone, once a year to see if you require any further assistance from us.
What Assistance Can I Expect From a Rehabilitation Worker/Assistant?
A Rehabilitation Worker/Assistant can offer advice, training and support in the areas listed below. This can either be during the initial assessment or you can ring at anytime if you are experiencing problems. If the services are not provided by Bradbury Fields we will tell you where they are available and help you to access them.
Mobility
- Help with mobility (getting around) - training a person to move around safely indoors or outdoors, with or without a cane. Bradbury Fields can provide the appropriate white cane if required.
- Advise and inform about alternative ways to get about - such as using guide dogs.
- Advise on how to obtain travel services available such as Merseylink, blue badge, concessionary travel passes etc.
- Provide advice to family members or carers who support a person with a visual impairment, in particular demonstrating safest and most effective ways to guide.
Communication
When sight loss occurs communication (reading & writing) can become difficult. Our Rehabilitation Workers/Assistants can help with the following
- Handwriting using templates or signature guides
- Learning to type
- Learning to use specially adapted computers for people with a visual impairment.
- Note taking and recording information using cassette recorders or dictaphones.
- Learning to use a tape or radio player
- Accessing information, books, magazines etc in other formats such as tape, large print, Braille, computer disc etc.
- Advice on using a hand held magnifier to read print.
- Training in use of other magnification aids such as CCTV and easyreader.
- Learning to read Braille or moon. These are systems of reading written material by touch.
Independent Living Skills (doing everyday things)
When sight loss occurs general everyday activities in and around the home can become difficult. Our Rehabilitation Workers/Assistants can provide training and equipment to help with the following
- Making a hot drink
- Marking dials so you can see to use them
- Preparing food safely for yourself
- Telling the time
- Using the telephone
Leisure Pursuits
- Information about specialist leisure services for visually impaired people run by other agencies such as holidays, clubs
- Advice about how to continue with present leisure pursuits.
Benefits
- Entitlements after registration of visual impairment such as blind tax concession, and TV licence concession.
- Information about free Directory Enquiry service.
- Information on services available giving specialist benefit advice.
Education and Employment
- AlthoughBradbury Fields is not a direct provider of employment advice or full time education support they can help you to access these services.
Do I Need To Be Registered as Visually Impaired to Receive A Service?
No you do not need to be registered. If you have a sight problem, which cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lenses, then Bradbury Fields will be able to help.
Do I have to pay for the Rehabilitation Service?
Once again the answer is no. The service is completely free of charge and is paid for through a contract with social services.
Specialist Rehabilitation Workers
We have the following specialist Rehabilitation Workers within our team
Rehabilitation Worker with black and Asian people
In addition to carrying out the role of Rehabilitation Worker as outlined above with this service user group this post also:
- Increases the uptake of our services by black and Asian people by working within their communities
- Provides information in various formats in various languages
- Runs groups specifically to meet the needs of various ethnic groups i.e. Chinese, African-Caribbean.
- Produces a monthly talking newspaper in Cantonese
- Employs a part time travel guide who assists people from various ethnic groups in accessing public transport.
Rehabilitation Worker with children
This post specifically meets the rehabilitation needs of visually impaired children and their families in mainstream education.
Rehabilitation Worker with people with acquired brain injury
This post specifically meets the rehabilitation needs of people who have lost vision due to brain injury. This may be as the result of an accident or stroke.
Rehabilitation Worker with people with hearing loss
This post specifically meets the rehabilitation needs of people with a combined sight and hearing loss.
Bradbury Fields also provides an activity club for people with combined sight and hearing loss mainly for those who communicate by British sign language or deafblind manual.
The above list is to give you an idea of the common difficulties we deal with but if you have any problem due to your visual impairment you are welcome to get in touch and we will do our best to assist you or find someone who is able to. For more information please contact our Rehabilitation Services Manager or one of our Rehabilitation Workers on 221 0888 (Liverpool) or 443 4152 (Knowsley).
