Visually Impaired Adults

Date of Request: 31 March 2016                       

Date of Disclosure: 19 April 2016

Request and Response

Please find Devon County Council’s response to each of your questions below;

The questions below relate to rehabilitation provision for visually impaired adults within your local authority.

On notes of terminology, by vision rehabilitation we mean a structured programme of preventative support which is provided for visually impaired people. The programme must provide training and support in the home and/or mobility training to adults outside of the home.

  1. What was the total budget spend by the authority on rehabilitation services for blind and partially sighted adults in
  2. 2015/16 –

£433,777 – includes salaries, travel and equipment

  1. 2016/17 –

no significant change, except inflation

  1. How many rehabilitation officers and assistants of visual impairment are employed by the authority (or the organisation delivering rehab services), and what is their full time equivalent? 

10 Rehabilitation Officers, no assistants. 9 x full time, 1 x 0.9 equivalent.

  1. Does the authority plan to review or to make changes to the structured programme of adult’s vision rehabilitation services? If yes, please provide information on the planned changes.

No

  1. Does the authority operate eligibility criteria in order for people to access vision rehabilitation services? If yes please provide a copy of the criteria.  

Upon referral, an assessment is carried out which includes a determination of overall eligibility. Outcomes are then met in the most appropriate way, which may include vision rehabilitation services.  Criteria as specified in the Care Act 2014 can be found here.