Sensory Services
part of the Community Resource Team, BCBC
Specialist advice, information, practical support and rehabilitation for adults and children with sensory loss. Sensory Loss includes:
- Deaf people – people who are culturally Deaf and who generally use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language.
- Hard of hearing people – people who have an acquired hearing loss and generally use speech as their main form of communication.
- People with varying degrees of visual loss – blind, partially sighted or losing their sight.
- People with a Dual Sensory Loss, also known as Deafblind. Deafblindness can develop over time (acquired) or can be present from birth (congenital).
Who can refer to the service?
General public, NHS professionals, Optometrists, carers, relatives
Referral criteria/Exclusion criteria
- Based on Equality Act definition: a physical (ie sensory loss) or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
- We are required to offer assessments for people with a formal medical Certificate of Visual Impairment from the hospital Eye Consultants, but ‘registration’ is not essential for a specialist sensory assessments.
- There is no one specific level of sensory loss for access for referrals and support – generally we are contacted when problems with eyes and / or ears can no longer be corrected by glasses or contact lens or hearing aids and there is a subsequent effect on day to day activities.
- Referrals for people with a dual sensory loss/deafblind – people who have sight and hearing impairments which, in combination, have a significant effect on their day to day lives.
Who will they be seen by?
Rehabilitation Officers, Social Workers , Sensory Assistants
What can people expect from the service?
Specialist advice, information, practical support and rehabilitation for people with sensory loss.
Specialist Rehabilitation Assessment and / or Social Work Assessment / Sensory Assistant support
Who does the service signpost/refer on to?
Third Sector organisations representing sensory loss eg RNIB, Action on Hearing Loss, Sense, Deafblind Cymru.
Local organisations and support such as Care and Repair, Eye Clinic Liaison Officer at POW, community sensory groups, Low Vision Optometrists.
Contact details
Email: ContactAssessmentReviewTeam@bridgend.gov.uk
Letter: Common Access Point (Sensory Services) Trem Y Mor, Bettws Road, Bettws, Bridgend CF32 8UN
Telephone: 01656 642279
Mobile Text: Text ABC followed by 07976322473
Fax: 01656 642300 Please write ‘Social Work Support/Referral’ on Fax Heading.
Fax: 01443 849955
