Disabilities

The Physical and Sensory Impairment Team may be able to help if you:

Live in the London Borough of Barnet, and
Are over 18 and under 65 years, and
Need help because of an illness or disability, or
Have a sensory impairment and require a specialist rehabilitation service (no age limit).

The Physical and Sensory Impairment Team is a specialist team that works with people who have a physical and/or sensory impairment, chronic health condition, or HIV, and their carers. The aim of the team is to promote independence and social inclusion for disabled people.

The team includes social workers, specialist rehabilitation officers for people with a visual impairment and technical staff, who are trained to be able to respond to the different needs of disabled people and their carers.

What can we help you with?

We want to help you live safely and independently in your own home for as long as you can and want to.

If you look after a relative, friend or child who cannot manage without help because of an illness or disability or because of their age, then you are a carer and we may be able to give you some help.

If it is no longer possible for you to stay at home, we will provide information and advice about moving to different accommodation. This might be in a residential care home or in supported housing.

What happens when you ask for a service?

We will gather initial information about the help you need. If it is the first time you have contacted us, you may also be asked general questions about your ethnicity, language and religion and the name of your GP.

We will then carry out an assessment of your needs with you. You are welcome to have a friend, relative, carer or advocate with you when we carry out your assessment.

How can we help?

We work with you to find out what services you need. The types of services that can be provided include support to maintain and/or increase your independence including:

Direct Payments to enable you to purchase your own social care services
Home care for personal care tasks
Help to develop new skills if you are visually impaired
Provision of equipment if you are deaf, hard of hearing or visually impaired
Home meals
Day activities - this can include:

Accessing services from the Flightways Resource Centre
Help to take part in social or educational activities in the local community
Advice on employment or retraining and support to find a job.

Breaks and support for carers – offering the opportunity to meet other people and take part in activities away from home or give a member of your family some time off
Support groups for people who have HIV
Social work support
Information and advice
Helping you to contact other services, for example, welfare benefits or housing and with other organisations to enable you to access the right services, such as equipment and adaptations.

Will I be charged for services?

You may be required to pay for some of the services you receive. How much you pay will depend on your income and the amount of help you need. We will ask you to complete a financial assessment form. You may be entitled to benefits, and if so we will help you to claim them. We will give you advice about this.

How do I access services?

If you think you need a service or have a general enquiry you can contact the Physical and Sensory Impairment Team using the contact details opposite.

'Your Call' - a new service (as of February 2008)

If you are under 65 and have a physical or sensory impairment and need support, but are not currently receiving any social care services, ‘Your Call’ may be able to help you.

We offer:

a telephone assessment
advice and signposting
information on local organisations that could support you
a review service

We can also give you advice to help you plan for the future.

Depending on your circumstances and needs, Your Call can also arrange a small one off payment to help you stay independent and connected to your local community.

After your initial contact we will keep in touch to see if we can provide any further support. Why not contact us to see if you qualify

To find out how Your Call can support you, please contact:
Tel: 020 8359 3752
Email: your.call@barnet.gov.uk

Services for people with a physical and /or sensory impairment

We have information about services available in the London Borough of Barnet to help people with a physical or sensory impairment. It also gives information on the services provided jointly by us and local health services.

Services for people with a physical or sensory impairment - July 2007 (PDF: 624KB)

Essential guide for disabled people living in Barnet - 2007

The Essential Guide for Disabled People 2007 (PDF: 707KB) is a free guide for disabled people living in the borough of Barnet. It is full of information on a wide range of topics including leisure activities, health, money matters and support for carers.

Alternatively, for a copy of the guide in your preferred format, please make your request to the Communications Officer for Adult Social Services on:

Tel: 020 8359 4579
Typetalk: 18002 020 8359 4579
Fax: 0870 889 5476
Email: adultsocialservices@barnet.gov.uk

Physical and Sensory Impairment Partnership Board (PSIPB)

In 2003, we established the Physical and Sensory Impairment Partnership Board to improve health and social care services for people with a physical or sensory impairment. Disabled People, carers and the voluntary sector are members of the Partnership Board together with health and Adult Social Services.

Physical and Sensory Impairment – satisfaction survey 2007

In January 2007, a survey was conducted of all Barnet residents aged 18-64 who have a physical or sensory impairment and who receive a service through Adult Social Services. The survey aimed to find out how satisfied they are with the service they receive from the council. 366 postal surveys were sent out with a prepaid envelope.

A number of people were contacted by an independent person by telephone. 188 surveys were completed before the deadline (51 by telephone) – a return rate of 51.4%.

The full results of the survey have been included in the factsheet (PDF:1MB).

‘Our Life, Our Services, Our Say’ - A commissioning strategy for Physical and Sensory Impairment Services in Barnet

This is the first Barnet commissioning strategy for people with a physical or sensory impairment (PDF: 453KB). It sets out the three year modernisation strategy and plan across health and social care.

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