When carrying out an assessment, a local authority must consider whether the nature of the needs calls for the involvement of person’s a person who has specialist skills, knowledge or expertise (3(2)). If the local authority decides that such involvement is called for, it must either consult with a person who it considers will be able to provide those skills or that knowledge or expertise or arrange for the assessment to be carried out by a person with the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise (3(3)). The Deafblind duties included in the Code of Practice on Assessment note: When an assessment of the needs of a deafblind person is required or requested, it must be carried out by a specifically trained person/team, (Code 3, 31). equipped to assess the needs of a deafblind person This means that local authorities must always arrange for the assessment of a deafblind person to be carried out by a person with the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise. The Code also notes: Where a specialist assessment has been carried out, the presumption is in favour of the expert opinion in cases where the expert and generalist practitioner do not agree (Code 3, 30). This means that, in the case of conflicting observations, the opinions and recommendations of the specialist assessor carrying out the assessment of a deafblind person will carry greater weight than supporting information from other generalist practitioners contributing to the process. What level of training is appropriate to ensure that an assessor has the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise? The Code sets out what level of training is appropriate: The type and degree of specialism required for assessing a deafblind person should be judged on a case by case basis according to the extent of the condition and their communication needs. person’s Specialist assessors for deafblind people should be trained in deafblindness at a minimum of OCN or QCF level 3 or above where the person has higher or more complex needs (Code 3, 53). This means that, for instance, a deafblind awareness course would not give sufficient knowledge of deafblindness for assessing a deafblind person. Nor would a Level 3
When carrying out an assessment, a local authority must consider whether the nature of the person’s needs calls for the involvement of a person who has specialist skills, knowledge or expertise (3(2)). If the local authority decides that such involvement is called for, it must either consult with a person who it considers will be able to provide those skills or that knowledge or expertise or arrange for the assessment to be carried out by a person with the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise (3(3)). The Deafblind duties included in the Code of Practice on Assessment note: When an assessment of the needs of a deafblind person is required or requested, it must be carried out by a specifically trained person/team, equipped to assess the needs of a deafblind person (Code 3, 31). This means that local authorities must always arrange for the assessment of a deafblind person to be carried out by a person with the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise. The Code also notes: Where a specialist assessment has been carried out, the presumption is in favour of the expert opinion in cases where the expert and generalist practitioner do not agree (Code 3, 30). This means that, in the case of conflicting observations, the opinions and recommendations of the specialist assessor carrying out the assessment of a deafblind person will carry greater weight than supporting information from other generalist practitioners contributing to the process. What level of training is appropriate to ensure that an assessor has the required specialist skills, knowledge or expertise? The Code sets out what level of training is appropriate: The type and degree of specialism required for assessing a deafblind person should be judged on a case by case basis according to the extent of the person’s condition and their communication needs. Specialist assessors for deafblind people should be trained in deafblindness at a minimum of OCN or QCF level 3 or above where the person has higher or more complex needs (Code 3, 53). This means that, for instance, a deafblind awareness course would not give sufficient knowledge of deafblindness for assessing a deafblind person. Nor would a Level 3
Practical_Guide_to_Implementing_the_Act_for_Deafblind_People.docx