Social care pre-assessment letter review - People Bank involvement

1. For more clarity, use bullet points:

You may require reasonable adjustments to take part in this process. For example:

• Meet at a specific time of day

• Have someone with you for support

• Have information in a different language or format

Please discuss these options with the worker assigned to you.

1. Thanks for this suggestion. We will make the suggested change.

2. Put a comma before the "such as" clause, i.e.:

(...) in a different language or format, such as Easy Read, please (...)

2. Thanks for this suggestion. We will make the suggested change.

3. To make wording consistent, and to make clear that support of another individual is important, change to:

If you require any adjustments to take part in the assessment/review, such as having a family member/friend or advocate with you for support, having the meeting at specific time of day or having information in a different language or format such as Easy Read, please discuss them with the worker when they contact you to arrange the meeting.

3. Thanks for this suggestion. We will make the suggested change. The letter will also be used for those with dementia.

4. You’re not offering a different format if someone’s reading of documents is via braille due  to sight loss. You also don’t offer any different format if someone is very independent and hard of hearing and their first language is British sign language.

British sign language Service could cost the person; they might be unable to afford an interpreter for BSL and miss out on pre-assessment for care package.

They could have a specific day and time along with their supporter if they feel they wish they need to have someone social services need to offer also the letter in braille and also offer British sign language interpreter -so the letter could be interpreted back to them.  Also offer a BSL service so when staff comes to do a pre-assessment with the person they will feel comfortable understanding the questions asked.

Details of BSL should be included every time ESCC sends a letter out which includes having different formats like easy reading if the person has difficulty understanding the letters.

The letter should offer the service at the best time and place for the person. Offer to send the letter out in braille and offer a BSL service so everyone is included and don’t feel left out.

4. While we appreciate this feedback, we have a specialist sensory team and would already be aware if someone needs Braille or BSL.

We can confirm that the cost of interpreting or translation services for an assessment would be covered by us. 

For this reason, we haven’t made any changes in response to these comments.