RNIB Visibly Better accreditation scheme for sheltered housing
The Royal National Institute for the Blind is offering ERoSH members a 10% discount off the price of its Visibly Better accreditation scheme and a further discount if members have more than three sheltered housing units to accredit.
Visibly Better is a comprehensive accreditation scheme developed by RNIB to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of people with sight problems who live in sheltered housing.
While RNIB assumes that tenants living in sheltered housing receive a quality service in all aspects of life within their housing environment, Visibly Better is focused on improving the service and equality of rights for clients who are blind or partially sighted.
It involves achieving a set of standards based around three areas:
- Staff training
- Communication and information
- Environment (internal and external)
To join the scheme costs 300 pounds usually for each sheltered unit. This includes a training manual, standards and information sheets and support from us to achieve the standards. When all of the standards have been met, then RNIB can accredit each individual scheme. This includes a plaque to say that this is an RNIB accredited sheltered scheme.
"I have scheme managers letting me know how they have changed handles on cupboard doors to make them stand out. They also let me see how they have used electricians tape to highlight a door frame. As you can imagine, this might enable those 'hard to let' sheltered housing to be occupied.
"Also with sufficient staff training on visual awareness then the sheltered housing scheme can advertise itself as meeting the needs of blind or partially sighted people," said Julia Barrand, Training and Practice Development Officer - Care Services at the RNIB.
Through staff understanding more about the needs of older people with
sight loss, clients can be enabled to regain some independence, therefore needing less assistance with everyday tasks. For example, tenants finding their own way around the communal areas of the scheme will result in carers having more time to spend on other aspects of their work. The knowledge and information gained through the training give people confidence to handle problems and take responsibility.
For more information, telephone the Visibly Better Accreditation scheme on 0121 665 4243
