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.
Currently there are two providers for the on-training component of the Standard. One 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. 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
The other on-training provider is Vision Rehabilitation Training. To find out more about this apprenticeship route click here.
Essex Cares has allowed us to share the JD for their Vision Rehabilitation apprentices. 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
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.
The EPAO for this Standard is Occupational Awards Ltd. https://www.oawards.co.uk/end-point-assessment/epa-with-oal/ RWPN will be working with Occupational Awards Ltd to ensure continuity with delivery of the EPA.