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THE

SENSORY INCLUSION SERVICE

AT-A-GLANCE

The key purpose of the Sensory Inclusion Service (SIS) is to provide seamless multi-agency services to children and young people with sensory impairment and their families/carers. 

SIS is a ‘joint arrangements’ service between the Borough of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire County Council.  It is a ‘centrally retained’ service which is free at the point of delivery; however services to further education establishments and non-maintained schools are chargeable.

The main partner agencies of SIS are:  the NHS, the Children with Disabilities Teams, Connexions, regional specialist NHS centres dealing with sensory impairment and local settings/schools/colleges.  Also SIS has well-established partnerships with local and national voluntary organisations supporting the needs of children and young people with sensory impairment and their families/carers.

SIS acts as an advocate for children and young people with sensory impairment and their families/carers. Service planning and development is based on intensive ‘client’ consultation processes.

The majority of children with sensory impairment are identified at the pre-school stage.  Support commences from the point of diagnosis in a multi-agency programme between SIS and the local NHS Primary Care Trust.  The advent of neo-natal diagnosis has meant that many children now come under the care of SIS within the first few weeks of life.  SIS is accessed by families/carers, settings, schools and partner agencies in the first instance, following referral from the local NHS.

core functions

1. Supporting families/carers.
2. Acting as an advocate for children and young people with sensory impairment and their families/carers.
3. Multi-agency work to ensure seamless service delivery.
4. Promoting the inclusion of children and young people with sensory impairment.
5. Delivering highly specialised services to children and young people with dual sensory impairment.

1. Provision of visual services including mobility, social inclusion services and the teaching of specialist skills such as Braille and touch-typing.
2. Provision of audiological services.
3. Assessment and ongoing monitoring of developmental needs of children and young people with sensory impairment.
4. Provision of professional development opportunities for setting and school based staff and colleagues from other agencies on all aspects of hearing and visual impairment.
5. Provision, evaluation, monitoring, and maintenance of specialist equipment in homes, settings and schools.  In schools particular emphasis is placed upon equipment which facilitates ‘access’ to the National Curriculum.
6. Provision of services which facilitate access in homes, settings/schools/colleges and the wider community.
7. Provision of counselling and guidance services.
8. Monitoring the provision and needs of children and young people with sensory impairment in Out-Local Authority placements in partnership with families/carers.
9. Working with local special schools to optimise development, learning and curriculum access for children and young people with sensory impairment and additional/multiple difficulties.
10. Liaising with Connexions and Further Education providers to establish and deliver services to students with sensory impairment and to facilitate transition to adult life.

contact details

The SIS is based at The Glebe Centre, Wellington and contact details are:

Sensory Inclusion Service
Borough of Telford & Wrekin and  Shropshire County Council
The Glebe Centre
Glebe Street
Wellington
TELFORD
TF1  1JP