News

We are pleased to launch "Physical Activity and Vision Rehabilitation - A Guide for Vision Rehabilitation Workers Supporting Blind and Partially Sighted Adults Through Physical Activity".   This project has evolved out of some great partnership work with Visionary, Metro Blind Sports, British Blind Sports and RWPN.   Rehab FINAL PDF.PDF  (A rich text version is also available to members within our members' section).

An interesting development in a more distanced approach to guiding.  https://www.traveleyes-international.com/product/companion-cane/?fbclid=IwAR3JVYj328OL0a9uK1KSwl7Y2SMF2PoHpinQ-wjDFOJ5L8PYku6C2y35LUA

Read RNIB CEO, Matt Stringer's letter to Michelle Dyson setting out the case for NICE best practice guidelines for vision rehabilitation and for better collection of data about rehab outcomes for clients.

210517 CSA meeting - letter to Michelle Dyson letterhead.docx

At the beginning of May RWPN submitted its application to join the PSA's assured voluntary register programme.  As part of the process of strengthening our current professional register, we are now putting in place a Concerns and Complaints policy.  This will go live in the autumn of 2021.   

It is vital, for the protection of the people we work with and for the credibility of the register that our registrants uphold professional standards and are accountable for their practice.

RWPN's new Registration and Professional Standards Committee met for the first time in March this year (see About Us on our website).

The Professional Standards Authority is consulting on the future of the assured voluntary register scheme.  RWPN is applying to have our own register of Rehabilitation and Habilitation specialists assured.  The proposals look at widening the number of occupational groups who might seek to be registered but also holds open the door to future statutory registration for some occupations where it is deemed appropriate and the government agrees.

Below is a link to our submission and also the link to the consultation.

consultation-on-the-future-shape-of-accredited registers RWPN response.docx

https://www.professionalstandards.org.uk/docs/default-source/publications/consultation-response/our-consultation/2020-accredited-registers-consultation/authority-consultation-on-the-future-shape-of-the-accredited-registers-programme.pdf?sfvrsn=69067620_11

RWPN has co-signed the attached letter to local authority chief executives in England re early vaccination for Rehab and Hab workers

Letter to Chief Exec in England re vaccinations.pdf

We were thrilled with the response to our recent survey.

You can read the results in the attached document

COVID survey response

Shortcoming in the vision rehab services at two local authorities have come under scrutiny in 2020.  The local government and social care ombudsman issued a report on the experiences of a service user in Hammersmith and Fulham, and Birmingham Healthwatch consulted with local service users to help the local authority draw up plans to meet recognised problems in their service.  Both reports shine a light on the statutory position of vision rehab and the direction given by ADASS in providing services.

18 019 465 - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.pdf

Healthwatch Sight Loss report - Birmingham vision rehab.pdf

Guidance was issued on 2nd September by the RNIB, Guide Dogs and Thomas Pocklington Trust about guiding someone with a visual impairment during the pandemic

https://www.rnib.org.uk/sites/default/files/Sighted-guiding-%28England%29-v1.0.docx

We thought it might be useful for people who need regular guiding e.g. from a PA or carer.

The local government social care ombudsman has found against a local authority's sensory needs service in the way it assessed the needs and provided a service for one of its visually impaired citizens.  The judgement invokes the ADASS guidance on visual impairment rehabilitation and the role of assessment and rehabilitation in the Vision UK's Eye Health and Sight Loss pathway.   This pathway and the ADASS guidance should be seen as the bedrock of ensuing blind and partially sighted people receive the services they need in England.  Read the full judgement here https://www.lgo.org.uk/decisions/adult-care-services/assessment-and-care-plan/18-019-465#point4