Who can get it?
Help is available for people with a hearing impairment, visual
impairment, or a combined hearing and visual impairment.
As part of a Sensory Assessment, we can provide advice
about suitable equipment to help with your sensory loss. Some
items, which are in common use, can be obtained from the Sensory
Team.
Sensory Assessments
In its simplest form, a sensory assessment is the time when we
listen to you and talk with you about how your sensory impairment
is affecting you. There are two types of assessments within
the Sensory Team:
People with a hearing impairment, visual impairment, or a
combined hearing and visual impairment may request a social work
assessment.
This may result in other agencies or organisations becoming
involved and will incorporate the following issues:
- an individual's care needs
- needs of carers
- how sensory impairment affects daily living
- an assessment of risks
- information and advice on issues such as communication,
benefits, etc.
People with a hearing impairment,
visual impairment, or a combined hearing and visual impairment may
have a rehabilitation assessment.
There are two rehabilitation
workers, one for visual impairment and one for hearing
impairment.
The rehabilitation worker can assist
with mobility, communication and daily living skills and they
can also advise on education and employment. They
can provide equipment to improve everyday living.
Both assessments are carried out to find the best way of
assisting you in managing your sensory impairment and how we may be
able to help.
More information about the services available to help with Sensory
Disabilities and some useful links
People with hearing loss can also get support from Action on
Hearing Loss (formerly known as
RNID). Their website is: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk
How much does it cost?
Both the rehabilitation service and any equipment supplied as a
result of the rehabilitation assessment are free of charge. If any
additional services are supplied as a result of a social care
assessment, there will be some cost but the actual amount you pay
will depend on what services you receive.
Blue Badge Parking Permit
You can get a Blue Badge automatically if you
are registered blind or severely sight impaired with the Local
Authority or have a Certificate of Visual Impairment
(CVI) from a Consultant.
More information about Blue Badge
Parking Permits
Can I get help with the cost of any Social Care services?
It is possible. We will help you fill out a financial assessment
form to see if you qualify for financial help. To get a rough
idea of costs you can call us and we'll work out a rough idea for
you over the phone. To see what some of the fixed charges are and
what sort of things are taken into account when working out your
costs, have a look at the page:
Paying for
Social Care Services provided in the Community
We may provide or arrange services for you but there are other
ways of getting the support you need. You can choose to have a
Personal Budget and use the money that you receive from us to
arrange your own support.
What are Personal Budgets?
How to get in touch
The Wigan Council Sensory Team is the first point of
contact for all referrals and general enquiries. See 'Useful
Contacts' below for contact details. You can contact them from
8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
When you contact the Sensory Team, they'll discuss your
situation over the phone, check that they've got all the facts
straight and then follow this up with a visit to your home to talk
about your personal situation and to discuss what help is
available.
Useful contacts
Wigan Council Sensory Team
Address: Wigan Council, Hyndelle Lodge, King Street, Hindley, Wigan, WN2 3AW
Phone: 01942 828787
Web: www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/HealthSocialCare/Disabilities/SensoryDisabilities
Email: ssdsensory@wigan.gov.uk