The Institute for Apprenticeships has approved the Rehabilitation Worker standard ST0 431.   The single biggest boost to regenerating the workforce for England is now in place.  Here is the link to the standard.

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/rehabilitation-worker-visual-impairment/

Currently the only provider of the two year training course is Birmingham City University (BCU).  The on-training element of the apprenticeship mirrors the Foundation Degree programme. https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/rehabilitation-work-visual-impairment-fdsc-2021-22

The first cohort of students started in September 2018. It is never too early to be thinking about how employers can access their levy and identify potential apprentices. BCU have written an excellent guide to the whole process of applying for levy funds and the BCU application process.  The Rehab Work apprenticeship - E-leaflet for employers.docx

Essex Cares has allowed us to share the JD for their Vision Rehabilitation apprentices who are currently learning at BCU.  Sensory Rehabilitation Worker Apprentice JD.docx   

Supporting Evidence for Vision Rehabilitation

Vision rehabilitation services are crucial to ensuring blind and partially sighted people remain as independent as possible. Now, new independent research commissioned by RNIB, with support from the Department of Health, has identified that the cost of providing vision rehabilitation services is dwarfed by the financial benefits.

Independent research by the Office for Public Management (OPM) and based on a case study of services provided by Sight for Surrey has shown that the financial benefits of good vision rehabilitation services significantly outweigh the actual costs of delivering this service. In fact in the case study site, over £3.4 million of health and social care costs were avoided, reduced or deferred annually based on a service which cost an estimated £900,000 a year to deliver.

See the link below for more detail 

https://www.rnib.org.uk/professionals/knowledge-and-research-hub/research-reports/early-reach-research/rehab-cost-avoidance

Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) Statement on Vision Rehabilitation

https://www.adass.org.uk/adass-position-statement-on-vision-rehabilitation-may-2016 

End Point Assessor Organisation (EPAO)

RWPN ceased to be the EPAO for this standard from January 2021.  However, until 31st July 2021 we are still the EPAO for any outstanding EPAs from 2020 that have been delayed by COVID-19.  For reference only, RWPN's assessment brief and resit/retake policy that is valid for these particular apprentices can  found here assessment brief .  RWPN's unique identifier as an EPAO is EPA0167.