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Rehabilitation support

Rehabilitation services are provided by our team who are trained, experienced, knowledgeable and competent in supporting you with difficulties you might face, whether you have a sight impairment, hearing impairment or dual sensory loss.

We are here to help you at any stage in your sight and/or hearing loss journey, however we know that early support will help you to learn and develop the right skills to ensure that you are able to continue to live the life you want.

My Rehabilitation worker helped me greatly making me more aware of dangers around me. He encouraged me to be as independent as I can be. I was able to discuss things with him I might not my family. He helped me through a very difficult transition period.

Mr M, Epping
Rehab training

Our Visual Impairment Rehabilitation isn’t time limited and is delivered to you free at your home, in your community or your place of Work and includes activities such as providing support with:

  • How to prepare and cook food safely reducing the risk of you burning or cutting yourself
  • Mobilising inside your home and outside in the community reducing the risk of you tripping or falling and helping you to get out and about confidently
  • Finding safe routes to your regular destinations such as shops, workplace or relatives
  • Using public transport safely and confidently
  • Using specialist equipment, assistive technology or learning Braille
  • Maintain employment through use of the Access to Work scheme and by supporting you with any reasonable adjustments your employers may need to make
  • Registering your sight impairment and understanding the benefits of registration

We undertake an assessment of your presenting need and functional vision and can provide you with detailed information about your eye condition. Lighting within your home is important which our team will assess as well as your environment, so we can provide home adaptation recommendations. Because we appreciate the social and emotional impact of sight and dual sensory loss, we will take time to listen to you and to help you access any further support you need. This could include referring you to Social Care for Personal Budget information and assessment.

Hasmukh has been very supportive and caring in enabling me to be confident in my white cane training. He has supported in physical and emotional situations and has involved my wife and I in courses that have helped us both understand and adapt in my new circumstances. He is very polite, professional and only a phone call away for further assistance when and if needed. Thank you Hasmukh you have made a real difference!!

Mr C, Danbury

Hearing Impairment and Deafness Rehabilitation

Our hearing rehabilitation is delivered by qualified and experienced staff all of whom have personal experience of significant hearing loss. We can support you in a variety of ways including:

  • Registering your hearing impairment and understanding the benefits of registration
  • Making the best use of residual hearing
  • Getting the most out of hearing aid/s, cochlear implants or other hearing devices
  • Managing conversations with family, friends or strangers
  • Learning new communication methods such as finger spelling
  • Provision of vital equipment within the home such as an accessible smoke alarm, doorbell, telephone or baby monitoring systems
  • Demonstrating specialist aids and equipment such as Loop systems or TV listeners
  • Maintaining employment through use of the Access to Work scheme and by supporting you with any reasonable adjustments your employers may need to make
  • Signposting and referrals to our Voluntary Sector partners
  • Referring you to Social Care for Personal Budget information and assessment

This young lady is extremely good at her work, never rushed and explained everything fully. I am very happy with the visit. I did not know of the help that was available. Christmas has arrived early this year, and I give thanks to your department for their help.

Mr T, Basildon

We recognise the social and emotional impact hearing loss or deafness can have on you as well as those around you and will take time to listen and help you access any further support you need. We focus on delivering services which will support you to remain independent and communicating effectively, whilst improving your confidence, and ultimately keeping you safe within your home. We can share information, advice and communication tips dealing with common issues such as Tinnitus, background noise, TV being too loud and difficulties with hearing aids. Many solutions are equipment or technology based and we have a great deal of expertise and experience in this area.

Talking to someone who is also deaf makes things easier, they understand you more. Carly new exactly what I needed and was a great help.

Mrs R, North Weald

Dual Sensory (deafblind) Impairment Rehabilitation

All of our team are trained and experienced in working with, and appropriately supporting, people who have a loss of sight and hearing. In addition to all of the activities described above we will specifically focus on your needs relating to:

  • Accessing information
  • Mobilising
  • Communicating

We will offer you registration and information about local and national services available to you. We can discuss with you your entitlement to a specialist assessment under the Care Act 2014 and refer you to the team within Social Care who undertake these. They will assess your needs in relation to:

  • Communication
  • One-to-one support and social interaction
  • Support with mobility
  • Assistive technology
  • Rehabilitation
  • Your current and possible future needs

Where our support to you overlaps with the Social Work team we work closely together to ensure you receive a joined up and effective service. We also work in partnership with voluntary organisations who offer specialist support to deafblind people and can signpost or refer you to them should you wish.