The Sensory Support Team is based in Wilson House in Broughshane and covers the entire Northern Trust area.
The team consists of:
- Rehabilitation workers for people who have a visual difficulty
- Environmental technical officers who assess for equipment that may help someone who has a hearing difficulty or is d/Deaf and administrative support staff.
The team work with people over the age of 18 who are:
- d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have an acquired hearing loss
- Have difficulties with tinnitus
- Certified severely sight impaired or sight impaired and visually impaired service users
- Service users who have a dual loss (both sight and hearing)
The team will do this through specialist assessment and person-centred care planning. They support people to overcome the obstacles that everyday environments can place in their way.
Deaf, hard of hearing and tinnitus service users
By offering:
- Individual assessment of needs including a risk assessment
- Free information and advice
- Provision of some specialist equipment following assessment
- Sign language communication available both in person interpreters and also using the remote interpreting service.
- Referral to other agencies/organisations that may be able to help you
- Information and advice for families and carers.
Visually impaired service users
Services include the following:
- Individual assessment of needs including risk assessment
- Free information and advice
- Rehabilitation support for individuals, families and carers
- Mobility and orientation training
- Managing safely in your own home
- Low vision training- using magnifiers and other low vision aids
- Advice on certification as Severely Sight Impaired (Blind) of Sight Impaired (Partially Sighted)
- Referral to other professionals or agencies who may be able to help you.
How to contact us
Sensory Support Service, Wilson House, Broughshane, BT42 4JL
- Telephone: 028 2586 3800
- Email: sensorysupport@northerntrust.hscni.net
How to access the service
To make a referral to Sensory Support please use the Central Referral Management System.
The Northern Health Trust has some services which you can access through the Central Referral Management System (CRMS). These include the Physical Health and Disability Team, Community Nursing, Learning Disability, Continence Advisory Service and Sensory Support.
How to contact the CRMS
Telephone
SignVideo (free)
You need to register for this service.
By App
Available on the App Store, Google Play and Microsoft Store.
Please download the SignVideo app from www.signvideo.co.uk/download
By PC/Laptop
You will need access to:
- Internet connection
- Web camera – built-in or plugged in.
- Microphone or speakers – for VRI only
Relay UK (free)
This is a free service enabling deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired individuals to communicate over the phone via a live relay assistant. Using an app on smartphones, tablets, or computers—or a textphone—a relay assistant types what the hearing person says and/or voices the text-user’s messages in real-time.
You can download the app in the app store.
If none of these options are suitable, you can contact the Trust’s Equality Unit and a member of staff from the Equality Unit will make the referral on your behalf.
Equality Unit, Route Complex, 8E Coleraine Road, Ballymoney, BT53 6BP
- Telephone: 028 2766 1377
- Text mobile: 078 2566 7154
What information do you need to give them?
When you contact the CRMS, they will ask you for some information so they can refer you to the right service. They will ask you:
- Personal details for patient e.g. name, address, date of birth, GP, Next of Kin
- Which service you need
- Is it urgent or routine?
- Medical condition?
- Who is making referral?
- Other possible information depending on situation?
- Don’t forget to tell them you are Deaf and need an interpreter. For example, if you have a home visit by a social worker, you may need an interpreter. Don’t forget to tell them if you want a BSL or ISL interpreter.
What happens next?
CRMS make sure that the team receive your referral and a member of staff from that service will contact you.
Useful resources
British sign language video:
Irish sign language video: