YOURS Sensory loss guide to help staff

A council department has launched a guide to help staff improve the way they communicate with people experiencing sensory loss.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Caerphilly Homes team launched the pocket-sized guide to provide officers with useful tips to consider when communicating with individuals with sight or hearing loss.

Advice contained within the guide includes using descriptive language when talking to a person with sight loss and ensuring adequate lighting when communicating with someone who may need to lip read.

Caerphilly Homes is responsible for a range of housing services throughout the county borough, including the management of over 10,000 council homes, support for private sector housing, housing advice and homelessness. The pocket guide will be issued to frontline staff throughout the department.

The guide was produced in partnership with Caerphilly Homes’ Sensory Loss Group; a group of tenant representatives who work with council staff to improve services for those with sensory loss. The pocket guide has also been endorsed by Action on Hearing Loss Cymru and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Cymru.

Speaking at the launch event, Cllr Lisa Phipps, the council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Places, said: “We are extremely grateful to the tenant representatives on Caerphilly Homes’ Sensory Loss Group for working with officers to compile this guide.

“The guide will help us ensure that the council’s housing department is delivering better, more accessible services for residents. The practical tips and examples will also help officers feel more confident when dealing with individuals with sight or hearing loss.”

Katie Chappelle, communications and campaigns manager at Action on Hearing Loss Cymru, said: “Most of the tips included in the document are simple and inexpensive to carry out, but will make all the difference.

“We’d encourage anyone with sensory loss to tell their housing provider about their needs and let staff know if they’re not communicating in their preferred way.”