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Social Care

Child Who Is Deafblind

Social care can provide support to help a deafblind child achieve the best possible outcomes, promote independence, and support their family and carers.

Support may include:

  • A specialist assessment by a suitably qualified deafblind practitioner.
  • Support to develop communication skills, including the use of British Sign Language (BSL), tactile signing, objects of reference, symbols, communication aids, or technology.
  • Assistance to access education, leisure activities, and opportunities to socialise with peers.
  • Support to develop independence skills such as personal care, mobility, daily living skills, and decision making.
  • Short breaks or respite services for the child and their family.
  • Equipment and adaptations to maximise safety, communication, and independence.
  • Specialist support workers who understand deafblindness.
  • Emotional and practical support for parents, carers, and siblings.
  • Transition planning to prepare the young person for adulthood and adult social care services.

Desired outcomes include improved communication, greater independence, reduced isolation, participation in family and community life, and support for family carers.

Adult Who Is Deafblind

Under the Care Act 2014, adults who are deafblind are entitled to a specialist assessment where deafblindness impacts upon their wellbeing and daily living.

Social care can provide:

  • A specialist deafblind assessment completed by someone with specific training and expertise in deafblindness.
  • One-to-one support to access the community, appointments, education, employment, and social opportunities.
  • Assistance with communication, including interpreters, communicators, deafblind guides, and assistive technology.
  • Support with personal care, maintaining nutrition, medication management, and daily living activities where eligible needs are identified.
  • Mobility support to help the person travel safely and maintain independence.
  • Equipment, technology, and home adaptations to improve communication, safety, and independence.
  • Support to develop and maintain relationships and avoid social isolation.
  • Assistance with managing finances, correspondence, and accessing information where sensory impairments create barriers.
  • Respite and support for unpaid carers.
  • Supported living, residential care, or other accommodation options where appropriate to meet assessed needs.

Desired outcomes include maintaining independence, promoting wellbeing, reducing social isolation, ensuring access to information and communication, maintaining safety, and enabling participation in work, education, family life, and the local community.

Key Principle for Both Children and Adults

Deafblindness is recognised as a distinct disability. Social care services should not simply consider hearing and vision impairments separately but should assess how the combined impact affects communication, access to information, mobility, safety, independence, and overall wellbeing. Support should be provided by professionals with appropriate knowledge and skills in deafblindness wherever possible.

Social Care Support for Children and Adults who are Deafblind

Deafblindness is recognised as a distinct disability and should not be viewed simply as a combination of hearing loss and sight loss. The Department of Health’s Care and Support for Deafblind Children and Adults Guidance (2014) states that people are considered deafblind where their combined sight and hearing impairment causes difficulties with communication, access to information and mobility. Local authorities have specific duties to identify, assess and support deafblind individuals. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk]

Child Who Is Deafblind

A deafblind child may require specialist support from social care to help them reach their developmental potential, communicate effectively, access education and community opportunities, and reduce reliance on family carers.

Specialist Assessment

The local authority should ensure the child receives a specialist assessment by a practitioner with knowledge and expertise in deafblindness. The assessment should consider:

  • Communication needs
  • Access to information
  • Mobility and orientation
  • Social interaction and emotional wellbeing
  • Family support needs
  • Current and future support requirements

[gov.uk], [sense.org.uk]

Social Care Support May Include

Communication Support

  • British Sign Language (BSL)
  • Tactile signing
  • Hands-on signing
  • Objects of reference
  • Symbol systems
  • Communication passports
  • Assistive technology and specialist equipment
  • Support from communication specialists

Development and Independence

  • Personal care support
  • Developing daily living skills
  • Independent travel training
  • Social skills development
  • Building confidence and self-advocacy
  • Accessing play, leisure and community activities

Family Support

  • Short breaks and respite care
  • Parent and carer support
  • Advice on accessing benefits and services
  • Support coordinating education, health and care provision

Equipment and Adaptations

  • Specialist communication aids
  • Vibrating alarms
  • Adapted technology
  • Environmental adaptations to improve safety and independence

Transition to Adulthood

As the child approaches adulthood, social care should begin transition planning to ensure continuity of support into adult services and help prepare for employment, further education, independent living and community participation.

Adult Who Is Deafblind

Under the Care Act 2014, adults who are deafblind are entitled to a specialist assessment where their dual sensory impairment affects their wellbeing, independence or ability to achieve outcomes.

The law states that a deafblind assessment must involve a person with specific training and expertise in deafblindness. [deafblind.org.uk], [gov.uk]

Social Care Support May Include

Maintaining Independence

  • Support with personal care
  • Meal preparation and nutrition
  • Managing medication
  • Household tasks
  • Accessing services and appointments
  • Support with correspondence and paperwork

Communication Support

  • BSL interpreters
  • Deafblind communicators
  • Guide communicators
  • Communication support workers
  • Accessible information formats
  • Assistive technology

The deafblind guidance specifically highlights the importance of access to appropriately trained one-to-one support workers where required. [sense.org.uk], [gov.uk]

Mobility and Safety

  • Orientation and mobility training
  • Rehabilitation support
  • Community access support
  • Environmental adaptations
  • Equipment to maximise safety at home and in the community

Preventing Isolation

Adults who are deafblind are at significant risk of social isolation. Social care support may therefore include:

  • Accessing community groups
  • Maintaining relationships
  • Employment support
  • Education opportunities
  • Leisure activities
  • Emotional wellbeing support

Accommodation and Care Arrangements

Where appropriate, social care may provide:

  • Direct payments
  • Personal budgets
  • Supported living
  • Shared Lives services
  • Residential care
  • Additional support packages to maintain independent living

Kirklees Council Guidance

Kirklees Council has a dedicated Sensory Services Team supporting people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind. Following an assessment, the service may provide:

  • Specialist sensory assessments
  • Equipment
  • Rehabilitation training
  • Advice and information
  • Signposting to specialist services
  • Access to BSL interpretation services
  • Support to live safely and independently

The council states that assessments focus on understanding the impact of sensory loss on day-to-day life and identifying support required to maximise independence. [kirklees.gov.uk], [kirklees.gov.uk]

For people with dual sensory impairment (deafblindness), Kirklees specifically recognises that sensory services can provide assessments, advice, equipment and rehabilitation support to promote safety and independence. [kirklees.gov.uk]

Calderdale Council Guidance

Calderdale works through specialist sensory impairment services and follows the national Deafblind Guidance. In practice, support is based on a specialist assessment and may include:

  • Communication support
  • Rehabilitation and mobility training
  • Assistive technology
  • Information in accessible formats
  • Support to access the community
  • Assessment of care and support needs
  • Preventative services to reduce isolation and maintain independence

As with all local authorities, Calderdale is required to ensure assessments for deafblind individuals are undertaken by suitably trained practitioners and that services meet the specific needs arising from combined sight and hearing loss rather than treating them as separate disabilities. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk]

Key Social Care Outcomes

For both children and adults who are deafblind, social care intervention aims to:

  • Maximise independence.
  • Promote communication and self-expression.
  • Improve access to information.
  • Enhance mobility and safety.
  • Reduce social isolation.
  • Support emotional wellbeing.
  • Increase participation in education, employment and community life.
  • Support family and unpaid carers.
  • Ensure individuals can exercise choice, control and dignity in their daily lives. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk], [kirklees.gov.uk]

References

  • Department of Health and Social Care: Care and Support for Deafblind Children and Adults Policy Guidance (2014). [gov.uk]
  • Sense: What to Expect from Your Council if You’re Deafblind. [sense.org.uk]
  • Kirklees Council: Sensory Services and Dual Sensory Impairment. [kirklees.gov.uk], [kirklees.gov.uk]

Key Contacts for Deafblind Support

Kirklees Council – Sensory Services Team

Kirklees Council has a dedicated Sensory Services Team for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind. The team can provide specialist assessments, equipment, rehabilitation training, advice, information, and signposting following an assessment of sensory needs. [kirklees.gov.uk], [kirklees.gov.uk]

Contact Details:

  • Email: sensory.services@kirklees.gov.uk
  • SMS: 07786 202419
  • Adult Social Care Contact: Community Health and Social Care Hub
  • Website: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/health-and-well-being/sensory-services.aspx [kirklees.gov.uk]

Calderdale Council – Adult Social Care

Calderdale follows the national Deafblind Guidance and can arrange specialist assessments and support through Adult Social Care and sensory impairment services. Support may include communication support, rehabilitation, equipment, community access support, and care services where eligible needs are identified. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk]

Contact Details:

  • Adult Social Care Gateway Team: 01422 393000
  • Email: gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Website: https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/socialcare-and-health/adult-services/ [sense.org.uk], [gov.uk]

Suggested Text for a Report or Information Sheet

Children who are Deafblind

Children who are deafblind are entitled to specialist support to help them communicate, access information, move around safely, develop independence, and participate in family, education, and community life. Support may include specialist deafblind assessments, communication support, mobility training, equipment and adaptations, respite services, and support for parents and carers. Transition planning should also be provided as the child approaches adulthood. Local authorities have a duty to ensure assessments are carried out by practitioners with appropriate expertise in deafblindness. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk]

Adults who are Deafblind

Adults who are deafblind are entitled to a specialist assessment under the Care Act 2014 where their combined hearing and sight loss affects communication, access to information, mobility, wellbeing, or independence. Social care support may include specialist one-to-one support workers, communication support, rehabilitation and mobility training, assistive technology, equipment, support to access the community, personal care, supported living, residential care, direct payments, and support for carers. Services should be tailored to meet the unique impact of combined sight and hearing loss. [gov.uk], [sense.org.uk], [deafblind.org.uk]

Kirklees and Calderdale Services

Both Kirklees and Calderdale provide access to specialist sensory impairment services and adult social care teams that can assess deafblind individuals and arrange appropriate support. Assessments consider the impact of deafblindness on communication, mobility, access to information, emotional wellbeing, and daily living, with the aim of maximising independence and reducing social isolation. [kirklees.gov.uk], [kirklees.gov.uk], [gov.uk]