VISION 2020 UK Rehabilitation and Low Vision Committee
Attachment 2
VISION 2020 UK Rehabilitation and Low Vision Committee
Draft Minutes of Meeting, 21/02/17, 12:30 – 15:30 in Meeting Rooms 2 & 3, Lower Ground Floor at RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE
Present:
JP Chair – Jenny Pearce, VISION 2020 UK
ES Emma Sands, RNIB Cymru – left 14:00
JF Joshua Feehan, RNIB
KR Ken Reid, Scotland VS Group
LB Liz Bates, DeafBlind UK – teleconf
MBa Mary Bairstow, VISION 2020 UK
MBr Matt Broom, VISION 2020 UK – arrived 12:50
MC Matthew Costello, British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)
MJ Mercy Jeyasingham, VISION 2020 UK
MB Mike Bell, RNIB – teleconf
PL Peter Locke, Blind Children UK (representing NI)
PS Philippa Simkiss, RNIB – parts of meeting
SM Simmone Miller, RNIB
SB Sharon Beckett, Sight Cymru – teleconf
SL Simon Labbett, Rehab Workers Professional Network (RWPN)
In Attendance:
TK Secretary – Tayyaba Kamal, VISION 2020 UK
Apologies:
Andy Fisher, Focal Point UK
Barry Duncan, ABDO
Ben Kitching, RNIB (left committee as moved to different team)
Bob Hughes, Sight for Surrey (representing Visionary)
Catherine Smith, Blind Veterans UK
Marsha de Cordova, Thomas Pocklington Trust
Paul Bowerbank, ADASS
Will Thornton, Blind Veterans UK (replacing Julie McCarthy)
1. Welcome, introductions and apologies for absence (JP)
· All attendees were welcomed, especially newcomer MC. Introductions were given.
· Apologies were read out.
2. Minutes of meeting on 24 November 2016, matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda, and progress against Action Log from last meeting (JP)
Minutes of meeting on 24 November 2016
· The following corrections to be made were highlighted:
o page 7, item 4.2(d) Mentoring programme for training providers – progress – To be a member, one ‘must’ be a member of RWPN, ‘but this is not the case to be a mentee’.
o page 11, item – item 7 Any other notified business, Boots Opticians Green Paper on children’s eye health – This statement ‘may’ panic parents.
· The minutes were otherwise approved.
Matters arising
· Item 6.2, Integrated Care update – Feedback following workshop re. establishing a Programme Board – All to send suggestions for integrated care models to review to MBr. No comments were received. This item is now closed.
· Otherwise, all actions from the Action Log from the last meeting were complete or were covered on the agenda.
Actions:
2.1 TK to amend minutes and circulate to all.
3. Feedback from working group to discuss Dr Margrain’s research and what is needed from a larger study on effectiveness of rehabilitation
· Papers were received from JP and discussed.
· JP reminded everyone Dr Tom Margrain presented his research 'Effect of a Home Visit-Based Low Vision Rehabilitation Intervention on Visual Function Outcomes: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial’ (http://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2592947) to the committee in September 2016. He also informed the committee he would like to follow up this research with a larger study and would need funding for this.
· A working group was set up and Chaired by JP to discuss areas of interest for a larger study. The notes from this teleconference meeting in January 2017 had been circulated to all.
· The working group highlighted similar discussions had been held previously at RNIB’s Research Day in 2014 which focussed on rehabilitation and social care.
· The main themes identified by the working group and the RNIB Research Day were as follows:
o economic impact;
o quality of life and social isolation outcomes;
o long term impact; and
o impact on informal carers / family and support networks.
· It was agreed Dr Margrain’s study was difficult to read and a plain English version would be useful. SB agreed to speak to the researcher to request this.
· It was highlighted that Visionary are carrying out research on cost effectiveness of rehabilitation as well as RNIB. JF and SM agreed to contact Alexa Sage about the research to join up and strengthen their research and avoid duplication.
· SM informed she has a meeting in March with Dr Parvaneh Rabiee, The IRIS project at The University of York and Catherine Dennison, RNIB to discuss the functional outcomes study which shows good outcomes. SM agreed to feedback to SB and TM about the study.
· It was stated Dr Margrain’s research did not show much benefit for wellbeing. It was agreed that, although quality of life and wellbeing are the right areas for research, it is not realistic to measure at the same time as looking at rehabilitation, as this will take time to develop and it would therefore need to be a longitudinal study. Also, it is difficult to pinpoint a specific cause for change in quality of life and wellbeing.
· It was suggested the research team at Birmingham City University may do research in rehabilitation. MJ and MBr agreed to draft a letter on behalf of the committee to Birmingham City University to ask if they have considered gaps in research of rehabilitation.
· PL reported he is involved in research in Northern Ireland with 0 – 4 year olds and how well they are doing with habilitation as well as a movement deficit in children study who have vision impairment from birth – http://www.vision2020uk.org.uk/queens-researchers-collaborate-guide-dogs-ni-pioneer-new-study-children-sight-loss/.
· MC reported the University of Nottingham are doing a study on the incidence of vision causing falls. MC agreed to find out more information about this including names of researchers to be circulated to everyone.
· It was agreed that, at this stage, we do not have any clearly defined areas of possible enquiry to report back to Dr Margrain, for inclusion in a larger study on rehabilitation.
Actions:
3.1 SB to contact researcher to request plain English version of Dr Margrain’s study 'Effect of a Home Visit-Based Low Vision Rehabilitation Intervention on Visual Function Outcomes: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial’.
3.2 JF / SM to contact Alexa Sage, Visionary about joining up and strengthening their cost effectiveness of rehabilitation study and avoid duplication.
3.3 SM agreed to feedback to SB and TM about the functional outcomes study following her meeting in March with Dr Parvaneh Rabiee, The IRIS project at The University of York and Catherine Dennison.
3.4 MJ and MBr to draft a letter on behalf of the committee to Birmingham City University to ask if they have considered gaps in research of rehabilitation.
3.5 MC to contact researchers at University of Nottingham for information about their study on the incidence of vision causing falls as well as names of researchers and send to TK to be circulated to all.
4. Work plan – reports on progress against objectives:
4.1 Local Authorities
a) Progress report on RNIB’s 'See, Plan and Provide' campaign (MB)
· ‘See, Plan and Provide’ campaign update
o Local Authorities have been called on to ensure that rehabilitation is adequately funded and meeting the three steps of ‘See, Plan and Provide’ in the budget.
o There is engagement with specific Local Authorities that are under performing. There are 31 Local Authorities that are being worked with closely.
o Around 50% of blind and partially sighted people are not receiving rehabilitation, so there is more work to be done, although good progress is being made.
b) Action to enable local societies to monitor Local Authority Care Act compliance and hold commissioners to account (MB / SM)
· See above, item 4.1(a) Progress report on RNIB’s ‘See, Plan and Provide’ campaign.
· SM reported she met with Marsha de Cordova (MdC) further to the action at the previous meeting for them to discuss mutual areas of interest in their work. Marsha agreed to provide SM with a list of Local Authorities she has approached so that duplication can be avoided.
· It was suggested it may be useful to have regular meetings with MB, SM, JF, MdC, someone from TPT/EVS such as Sharon Billingham, someone from Visionary such as Emma Cruickshank and someone from Guide Dogs. MBr agreed to contact Shaun Basham for his recommendation about someone being represented from Guide Dogs in this meeting and on the committee.
· It was also suggested it would be useful to find out how rehabilitation is being drawn into Local Eye Health Network plans. SM agreed to contact Phil Ambler at Thomas Pocklington Trust about this.
· SM also stated MdC will be creating a one page document to explain rehabilitation. It was agreed by all the document should be reviewed by the committee.
Actions:
4.1(b).1 MBr to contact Shaun Basham, Guide Dogs to request a representative from Guide Dogs join regular meetings with; MB, SM, JF, MdC, TPT/EVS and Visionary as well as this committee.
4.1(b).2 SM to contact Phil Ambler at Thomas Pocklington Trust to find out how rehabilitation is being drawn into Local Eye Health Network plans.
4.1(b).3 MdC to show the committee her one page document explaining rehabilitation, so that the Committee can comment before it is finalised.
c) Any reports of interest in this area from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland / Isle of Man (NI) (KR / SB / ES / PL)
Isle of Man
· There was no report for Isle of Man.
Northern Ireland (PL)
· There is a huge deficit in Northern Ireland’s health budget.
· There are 10 Rehabilitation Workers completing a Deaf/Blind Online Diploma (2-year online course) by Gerard Swan.
· There is work to be done on the children’s eye health and sight loss pathway.
· There is approximately 4 – 5 months waiting list but people are being seen.
Scotland (KR)
· Local Authorities are experiencing budget cuts but they are being encouraged to keep rehabilitation services. West Scotland has good coverage.
· Most Local Authorities are commissioning joint/bi-sensory rehabilitation services.
· There is a good dialogue with ministers but this is not true at the local level as most local societies lack a campaigns team.
· MJ mentioned the Visual Impairment Network for Children & Young People (VINCYP) have highlighted there is a lack of paediatricians in Scotland and ophthalmology is under great deal of strain.
· SL reported he met with the Course Co-ordinator and students enrolled on Glasgow Caledonian University’s graduate diploma in Rehabilitation Studies course.
· SL will go back in one year to provide additional training.
Wales (ES / SB)
· Welsh Government is still looking for the next Chief Optometric Adviser.
· Newport lost their rehabilitation officer but with assistance and pressure from charities including Guide Dogs and RNIB, a rehabilitation officer has been recruited. However, the post is split with hearing loss.
· The Health Care Inspectorate report on ophthalmology has highlighted capacity issues, including failure for clinic treatment times, especially for second appointments, which means people are probably losing their sight. It also picked up on the importance of the Eye Clinic Liaision Officer role.
· MJ reported VISION 2020 UK has agreed to host on the website the updated eye health and sight loss pathway for children.
4.2 RNIB early intervention and rehabilitation project (JF / SM / SL)
a) ‘Principles of Good Practice in Rehab’ – anything further to report
· JF reported the the ‘10 principles of good practice in rehabilitation’ (http://www.rnib.org.uk/rehab-principles) was delivered last year and work is ongoing to promote it.
· There have been 12,000 downloads of the principles.
· JF will be presenting the principles at the Visionary conference.
· Case studies demonstrating the principles and good aspects of service will be finalised in the next few months.
b) Progress with ‘Sight loss: what we needed to know’ Information pack
· There have been more than 3,000 downloads of the information pack.
· A survey of the pilot was carried out between September 2016 and January 2017. A cohort of 134 people were contacted four weeks after being given the information pack.
· The information received has been positive with most people stating the language and tone of the information pack are easy to understand, they understood the benefits of certification and they have sought support after reading the information pack. On average, people spent 46 minutes reading the information booklet.
· The next step is to gain funding from the Department of Health in order to roll out the information pack across the country.
c) Cost avoidance study – progress
· Cost avoidance study is being commissioned with Office for Public Management (OPM) to demonstrate the value of Vision Rehabilitation services.
· The second draft of the report has just been completed.
· OPM will run a session with RNIB on how to present the report.
d) Mentoring programme for training providers – progress
· SL explained that the mentoring programme was launched in January 2017.
· There are mentors on the programme and Visionary is assisting to identify mentees.
· Peer group discussions have begun.
· JF informed the Sensory Managers Network which is managed by Occupational Therapists is now open. The aim is to increase quality and inform them of continuing professional development. JF agreed to send MBr details for this to be promoted via the Association of Directors Adult Social Services (ADASS).
Actions:
4.2(d).1 JF to send MBr details for the Sensory Managers Network to be promoted via ADASS.
4.3 The Workforce
a) Progress with development of Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standard (SL / JF)
· There was a delay in submitting the standard in January but it was submitted the previous day.
· The next step will be to develop an assessment framework.
· The qualification of level 5 is strongly recommended but it is not mandated.
· There is a possibility students can enrol from September 2017 but this is a tight deadline.
· Organisations have already expressed an interest in enrolling people on the course, including SB who it was recommended speak to Peter Cooke at Birmingham City University to flag up her interest.
b) Proposals for continuing professional development (CPD) (SL)
· See above, item 4.2(d) Mentoring programme for training providers – progress.
· SL stated mostly younger people are joining the RWPN and some organisations are sending staff. It would be good to get Guide Dogs on board too. It was suggested SL speak to Carl Freeman, Guide Dogs to get them on board.