Sensory Support Team

The Sensory Support Team is based in Wilson House in Broughshane and covers the entire Northern Trust area. The team consists of social workers, 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 and administrative support staff.

They can help with:

• Hearing loss
• Sight loss
• Dual sensory 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

If you have difficulty with any of the following the Team may be able to help or advise you regarding:

• Communications
• Hearing the television
• Hearing the doorbell
• Hearing alarms, for example, smoke alarms, alarm clocks, baby alarms
• Hearing the telephone
• Tinnitus

By offering:

• Individual assessment of needs
• Free information and advice
• Provision of specialist equipment
• Social work support for individuals and families
• Sign language communication available
• Referral to other agencies/organisations that may be able to help you

Remote Interpreting Service

A free remote interpreting service for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) users in Northern Ireland has been introduced to provide the Deaf community with access to NHS111 and all non-emergency health and social care services.

A Sign Video Relay Service  is available to service users.

Visually Impaired Service Users

Services include the following:

• Individual assessment of needs
• Free information and advice
• Rehabilitation and social work support for individuals, families and carers
• Provision of specialist equipment
• 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.