Sensory Team

What is the Sensory Team?

The Sensory Team provides services to Islington residents over 18 years old who are:

• Blind or partial sighted
• Deafblind and dual sensory loss
• Deaf or Hard of Hearing

What does the Sensory Team do?

The Sensory Team offers three key services:

• Deaf / Hard of Hearing (HoH) services
• Visual Impairment (VI) services
• Deafblind services

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

If you wish to arrange an assessment to find out if you are eligible to receive specialist support from the Sensory Team then please get in touch via one of the points of contact listed at the bottom of this page. A Social Worker for Deaf people or a Care manager for Hard of Hearing people can assess your needs in order to provide you with the services you require. The following services are available:

• specialist assessment
• care management support
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing equipment to help you live independently.
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing registration
• communication support ( Sign Language interpreters Interpreters,)
• Freedom Pass
• fact sheets providing information and details of local services
• information and advice
• access to Weekly Advice drop in sessions

You can make an appointment to see the Social Worker for Deaf People or the Hard of Hearing Services Care manager on the times below:

Monday 9.30am-12.30pm, Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm

Visual Impairment (VI) Services

The following services are available from the Sensory Team. A Rehabilitation Worker is available to provide an assessment to people with a visual impairment. To arrange an appointment please get in touch via one of the contact points listed at the bottom of the page.

• low vision assessment
• specialist care management assessment
• rehabilitation and mobility training
• Blind and partially sighted equipment Visual Impairment registration on receipt of a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
• Freedom Pass
• Low Vision Centre
• visual Impairment handbook of useful information and local services
• information, advice and access to a network of agencies providing support and services to blind and partially sighted people.
• access to RNIB services

You can make an appointment to see a Rehabilitation Worker from the Sensory Team on:

Mondays, 2-4.30pm and Fridays, 2-4.30pm

Deafblind Services

A dedicated Deafblind Worker can provide an assessment to people who are Deafblind or have Dual Sensory Loss. The following services for Deafblind people are available from the Sensory team:

• specialist care management assessment.
• Deafblind rehabilitation and mobility training
• specialist equipment.
• visual Impairment registration on receipt of Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI)
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing registration on receipt of audiogram
• Freedom Pass
• visual Impairment handbook of useful information and local services.
• a range of fact sheets
• information and advice
• access to other organisations providing support and services

You can make an appointment to see the Deafblind Worker on:

Mondays 2-4.30pm and Fridays 2-4.30pm

For professionals/ referrers within Islington NHS and Social Services

All referrals must come through the Single Assessment Process (SAP) system. Please contact us if you don not have access to SAP.

FACS (Fair Access to Care Services)

All Community Care Assessments carried out by Islington Council are done in accordance with the "Fair Access to Care Services criteria" (FACS) which came into effect in April 2003.

The FACS criteria are a set of guidelines which Councils must adhere to when assessing an individual to decide their eligibility to receive support from community care services. The criteria include four categories:

• critical
• substantial
• moderate
• low

The council officer providing the assessment will decide which category the person being assessed should be placed in.

Contact Details for Appointments, Referrals and General Enquiries

Sensory Team
Housing and Adult Social Services
Islington Council
23-26 St Albans Place, London, N1 0NX

Voice: 020 7527 4443
Fax: 020 7527 4345
Minicom: 020 7527 3282
Email: sensoryteam@islington.gov.uk
Mobile/SMS: 07825 098 053

St Albans reception mobile/SMS: 07825 098 053
St Albans reception email: stalbans.reception@islington.gov.uk

Directory of Services for People With Sight Problems

A free directory has been launched by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) to help blind and partially sighted people in the boroughs of Camden and Islington find out what services are available to them.

The directory of services for people with sight problems living in these boroughs has been produced and jointly funded by RNIB, Camden and Islington Social Services and the local Health Authority on behalf of The Camden and Islington Low Vision Group.

There are over 2,500 people registered as blind or partially sighted in the area, and an even larger number who have not made contact with the medical or social services.

The directory provides contact details for both local and national organisations. It also lists facilities aimed at ensuring that people with sight problems can maintain their independence, find specialist assistance to meet their needs and obtain advice on a range of topics.

The directory is available from RNIB, local libraries, local specialist teams of Social Services and a number of other outlets. It is available in braille, tape, electronic and print formats.

Download the Service Directory by clicking the link below.