workforce_strategy section heading

A sub-regional approach to integrated low vision services (NToW1)


Background
Gateshead Sight Service together with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Gateshead Council and Gateshead primary care trust led the 'low vision service' national eye care pilot.


Aims/objectives
The aims of this project were to share the learning from the Gateshead pilot by undertaking an 18-month initiative, driving through a sub-regional approach to developing integrated low vision services and to investigate the workforce development implications of other areas adopting this approach.


What happened?
Sight Service through its network of support groups, service user groups and other activities has worked with people who use services to identify gaps and shortfalls in services.

It also worked with the RNIB, which sent out 'good practice in sight' guides to all councils. People who use services were encouraged to assess the services they receive against the 'standards' identified in the guide so that this information could be fed back to the sub regional councils.

A regional event was held to bring together commissioners and planners, aiming to raise their awareness of the needs of visually impaired people. In particular, integrated service delivery and various options available were looked into.


Outcomes

  • The voluntary sector began to take a more central role in the preventative approach for people who are visually impaired.

  • The roles of the rehabilitation officer for the blind (social care) and optometrist (health) were reworked.

  • Information gained from the work was fed back to the local authorities and primary care trusts.

  • Following on from the commissioners and planners event, follow ups at a more local level to set up action learning sets to consider workforce design (new types of working) were planned.


Impact on workforce development and how you can use the learning
The project team were able to benefit from other work being undertaken nationally by the RNIB and work by the UK Vision Strategy and the benefits of joint working were very clear.

However, it was not easy to get involvement from local commissioners and it was apparent that visual impairment was not high on their list of priorities.

The team found that although visual impairment was not a priority, the aims and objectives and outcomes very clearly met the priorities of both the primary care trust and the local authorities.

 

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