Care and Support Services
12
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 – 16
• Our befriending services , Hear to Meet and In Touch , help those isolated by their hearing loss . We supported over 1,300 people across England , Wales and Northern Ireland . Ninety-four per cent of them say we made “ a big difference ”. “ It ’ s given me more confidence . I feel more in control of my hearing loss .”
• Healthcare Inspectorate Wales asked us to help them inspect care homes – and support them to improve the quality of care for older people with hearing loss . We ’ ve made a great start : training 76 staff in 12 care homes .
• We provided information to over 45,000 people in local communities across the UK through giving talks , distributing leaflets and factsheets , and appearing at events . We were able to reach people who are isolated and have little access to information on deaf awareness issues , equipment , services and benefits .
• Our joint sensory services in England helped 3,309 people . We worked with local authorities to assess needs , and provided practical solutions such as rehabilitation support with everyday skills for people who are deaf , deafened , deafblind or have a hearing loss .
• Tinnitus affects around one in 10 people in Northern Ireland . Our dedicated tinnitus support service gave one-to-one support to 88 new clients . In the English seaside town of Margate , our tinnitus support group is doing similar , sterling work : it helped people on 152 different occasions this year .
• We also support people to return to , or enter , the world of work through specialist employment programmes in Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland . ‘ Moving On ’ supports 16-to-25-year-olds in Scotland and is funded by The Big Lottery Fund ; it helped 70 young people who are deaf or have a hearing loss to get work experience and move into full-time employment , training or education .
Care and Support Services
We work with people who are deaf , deafblind or have a hearing loss and additional needs to achieve their goals . The support has to be right for them as individuals , so it ranges from giving personal care in long-term residential settings , to helping people adjust to living independently in the community .
• In 2015 – 16 this added up to giving 508 people 1.8 million hours of support . In 47 care and support services we helped people to achieve personal goals , maintain independence and live as part of their community – and express their individuality .
• Our ‘ I can expect ’ involvement standards approach is tailored to individual needs . And we know it ’ s working : 96 % of people tell us they ’ re happy with the support they receive .
Our approach is working . 96 % of people tell us they ’ re happy with the support they receive .