Sensory Services

The Sensory Impairment team provides services to residents with significant sight and/or hearing loss.

The team specialises in sight impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory loss. Together they provide an efficient and dedicated service promoting independence and wellbeing.

The team provide services for:

• Dual Sensory Loss (sight and hearing loss)
• Sight Loss
• Deaf (e.g. Sign language users, oral communication etc.)
• Hearing impairment (hard of hearing)

To refer yourself please contact Access Harrow on 0208 901 2680 or email AHadults@harrow.gov.uk

Dual Sensory Loss Service

The Dual Sensory Loss Service has a Specialist Deafblind Service Officer. They carry out assessments and commission services for individuals living with sight and hearing loss. Their aim is to increase independence for anyone with sight and hearing loss. It's for anyone living with sight and hearing loss in the London Borough of Harrow. Please note that they must have a medically diagnosed eye condition. There must be permanent and significant sight loss in both eyes to meet our criteria.

You do not have to be registered sight impaired (partially sighted) or severely sight impaired (blind) to receive a service. This does not include individuals whose sight is corrected through spectacles or contact lenses.

If hearing loss is having a significant impact on daily living, this may be improved by the use of a hearing aid. This would be following an assessment from an audiologist. Referrals to the audiologist can be made through the GP referral system.

Sight loss services

The sensory team provides specialist support if you are registered with sight loss. However you must be resident in Harrow. This includes those who are severely sight impaired, blind and sight impaired partially, or sighted. We also provide advise for people who have a significant sight loss who are not registered. 

Our support enables those with sight loss to maintain as much independence as possible. Following a home visit we may provide:

• guidance
• equipment
• counselling
• adaptations
• mobility training
• support with technology
• a rehabilitation programme
• and sign posting to other departments or organisations.

We work with people with a sight loss and their families, to achieve positive outcomes at what can often be a difficult and worrying time.

We work with other departments ensuring people’s sight loss is taken into consideration when care services are needed.

Deaf Service

The Deaf Service has a Specialist Worker, fluent in British Sign Language to level 6 standard. They work with colleagues who assess residents who are profoundly deaf. This promotes independence and wellbeing. This service is available to anyone who is profoundly deaf living in Harrow. There are different degrees of hearing loss which determines the level of help needed. For this reason it is necessary to carry out an assessment.

Services include:

• Specialist assessment of needs. These provide service users the opportunity to talk about their needs and to make sure they are provided with the right level of support for them
• Specialist information and equipment to help service users to manage in their own home
• Advice and information about organisations, agencies, and activities available locally
• Support from a Specialist Deaf Service Officer for the Deaf to assist with practical and social challenges
• Referrals on to other appropriate services/NHS teams
• Weekly Deaf BSL drop-in service (Currently suspended until further notice)
• Assessment for support and promote joint working with all social services teams. This includes Housing teams, recommendations on specialist care packages, and sensory support needs.

Hard of hearing service

The Sensory Services team also provide specialist equipment and advice for hard of hearing. They provide support and guidance through the registration process. To receive this service you must be resident in Harrow.