ECLO support for blind and visually impaired (360G-tnlcomfund-0045381564)

Funding will be used enable the group to support visually impaired people at the critical point of diagnosis. Based in Northampton but delivering their services throughout Northamptonshire NAB are a registered charity which established in 1896. They provide a wide range of services to support people with sight loss including a home visiting befriending service a social activity programme a curriculum-based education programme delivered to primary schools awareness training throughout the community a mobile sight centre that visits villages and towns across the county a telephone helpline and a specialist charity shop supplying specialist equipment to aid blind and visually impaired clients. NAB have more than 5000 clients on their database and are the leading provider of advice and support for visually impaired (VI) or blind adults and children and their families. They provide practical support for those with sight loss and through their services address issue of loneliness and isolation amongst the VI community. Proposal NAB will recruit train equip and support two ECLO’s to be based at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital (and intermittently at NAB’s Sight Centre) with a remit to support Ophthalmologists and hospital staff GP’s Health Centres Residential and Care Homes and Opticians across the county.An ECLO is the first contact after clinical diagnosis and highly valued by ophthalmologists other hospital staff GP’s and opticians. They will provide immediate consultation and advice at the critical point of need and will work closely with medical and nursing staff in the eye clinic and the sensory team in social services. They will provide those newly diagnosed with an eye condition with the practical and emotional support that they need to understand their diagnosis deal with their sight loss and maintain their independence. Most importantly ECLOs have the time to dedicate to patients following consultation so that they can discuss the impact the condition may have on their life.ECLO’s are active in other areas of the UK employed by sight support charities to work with people on diagnosis then referring them to Community Support Workers (CSW’s) who will arrange a regular series of visits introduce support packages encourage people to continue with their passions hobbies and interests and try new challenging activities. CSW’s provide befriending programmes for individuals families and friends. They help overcome isolation anxiety and depression. However the service relies on referrals and referrals originate with ECLO’s.It’s recognised that hospital eye clinic staff are often unable to provide adequate amounts of information emotional and practical support. At what can be an emotionally traumatic time the ECLO service can help provide this essential support in the clinic. They will act as advocates for patients in the outpatient clinic as well as within the wards to ease anxiety and ensure an easier patient journey. Support will include helping to plan a patient’s journey home working closely with CSW’s to ensure home visits are planned and any adaptations are underway ensuring the family is involved and supported explain refer advise and demonstrate equipment that can enhance quality of life. There are currently 24500 registered visually impaired people within the county. A council statistician has reported a huge gap in those registering as visually impaired meaning there are many people who are not reaching out for support and not receiving appropriate benefits or resources. There are currently no ECLO’s within Northamptonshire and in other counties where they have been employed by charities to work within hospitals impact is high. This is not an NHS role and would be in addition to any statutory services. This project will run in partnership with both Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals with the Chief Executive of both engaging in conversations about the proposal and giving full support. A space for the pods has been discussed and arranged and the project is ready to go ahead once funding is secured. A summary of project delivery is as follows:• Recruit employ induct and train two full time ECLO’s.• Establish two confidential consultation pods at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital where ECLO’s will be based.• Equip both ECLO’s and their pods• Promote the ECLO service via the NAB website social media email marketing and Viewpoint magazine to reach out to GP's health centres BAME communities VCSE organisations opticians etc.• Work with the DWP companies volunteer groups and charities to diversify services - identify dual sensory impaired clients and work together with Deaf Connect to provide equipment support and advice.The role of the ECLO would include: • Being a contact point for patients providing impartial relevant and high-quality information.• Providing emotional support to patients their families and carers advocating for patients and helping them to make their own views known. • Attending appointments with patients (if required) • Working with the patient to identify what is important to them and to work towards finding a solution.• Referring onto relevant services both within and external to the hospital for example low vision fall clinics NCC rehabilitation support and NAB’s community-based re-enablement and wellbeing services • Supporting the certification and registration process.• Monitoring and following up patient progress. • Providing visual awareness training to staff across all departments. • Providing a presence on the wards eg. stroke or A&E and developing referral mechanisms to allow patients to access the support service as necessary.• Seeking to improve the patient experience and best use of the hospital’s resources by: - Assisting patients as they navigate their way through the hospital system liaising with and making effective use of the hospital’s existing patient support services to avoid duplication. Promoting initiatives to improve patient care and the eye health pathway. • Collecting data on patient outcomes and experience.If they do not already possess it the newly appointed person would receive professional training through the Eye Clinic Support Studies Course accredited by City University London. This qualification equips ECLOs to competently address the emotional and practical needs of people experiencing sight loss.