CEO Chat #17
With another bank holiday Monday the week seemed short but at the same time there was much work done in carrying out client and staff reviews.
I met with Suzie, a BSL student from Heriot-Watt University, who has requested to complete a work placement with us starting in September. The university students and work experience placements have been a real breath of fresh air for us, helping us to adopt new practices and learning new terminology. Suzie will be the fourth student from Heriot-Watt to spend a term with CDA. This term we have Barb from UCLAN with us on placement. You never know, one day these students might be working with CDA.
There is a great project in the pipeline for summer 2024, led by Fell Foot National Trust. Unfortunately, I can’t say too much now but as soon as I can share the exciting idea they have, I will be letting you all know.
On Friday I had an appointment with the eye clinic at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal. The joy of having an odd right eye that developed a stigmatism in my mid-40s. Some days, especially when my migraine flairs up, I can’t see very well in my right eye. It’s just as well I work in an organisation who are well versed in supporting deafblind clients because the team understand if I need frequent screen breaks or shut the blinds, even on the dullest of days.
Whilst at the hospital I was delighted to see that on the information screen there was a video playing explaining the Accessible Information Standard. The Accessible Information Standard is in place to make health and social care information accessible. From 1 August 2016 onwards, all organisations that provide NHS care and/or publicly funded adult social care are legally required to follow the Accessible Information Standard. The Standard sets out a specific, consistent approach to identifying, recording, flagging, sharing and meeting the information and communication support needs of patients, service users, carers and parents with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.
It means that if you need a BSL interpreter at your medical and health appointments, then one should be booked for you. If you need your appointments sent to you, or someone else who can help you, then letters can be posted or emailed.
We have forms at CDA that you can fill in and it will be put on your medical records, so that NHS staff can make sure that they communicate with you properly. Ask any CDA staff for a copy of the form to fill in.
