Specialist Information Advice & Support Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

The Service shall support the Council to achieve its vision as identified in The Council Plan 2018 - 2022:
“A Council that works with residents, businesses, communities and other organisations to deliver the best services possible within the available resources.”

The three outcomes the Council wants for the people of Cumbria are:
- people in Cumbria are healthy and safe;
- places in Cumbria are well connected and thriving;
- the economy in Cumbria is growing and benefits everyone.

Our Vision is to ensure that resources are allocated in ways which promote health and wellbeing, and independence; and reduce the needs for higher levels of care, while ensuring we can always provide compassionate care for those with the highest level of need (Commissioning Strategy for Care and Support delivered by Adult Social Care 2016 – 2020).
The aim of the Service is to ensure the provision of high quality, safe, best practise, and value for money Services that meet the quality outcomes and safeguarding responsibilities of the Council. For our Service Users this shall mean that they are supported to:
a) Live independently within their community;
b) Improve and maintain health and wellbeing;
c) Exercise maximum choice and control over their own life and where appropriate the lives of their family members;
d) Sustain a family unit which avoids children and adults being required to take on inappropriate caring roles;
e) Participate as active and equal citizens, both economically and socially;
f) Have the best quality of life and wellbeing, irrespective of illness or disability;
g) Delay and reduce the need for care and support;
and
h) Retain maximum dignity and respect.
The Service shall complement existing Council statutory duties delivered under The Care Act 2014, The Children and Families Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, for people who are d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and their Carers, ordinarily resident and living in Cumbria.
The Service comprises the provision of a One Stop Shop, to include a single point of access and outreach, for specialist information, advice and support for d/Deaf and hard of hearing people living across Cumbria, as to what is available and how to access this, and self-direct and/or support with referrals to statutory services and non-statutory community based support.
A Specialist Advice and Support Service contract has been delivered since 15/01/18 and is due to cease on 14/01/19. The scope of this service has been refined and the Service Specification should be referred to as provided within the ITT documents.