Sensory Support Team - Hearing

What our service does

We aim to improve the educational and life outcomes for deaf and hearing impaired babies, children and young people.

We provide information, advice and support regarding educational management and all aspects of deafness/hearing impairment, including language and communication, listening equipment and social and emotional wellbeing.

We work closely with babies, children, young people, their families/carers, staff in educational settings and other key professionals in the NHS and Social Care.

The support we offer ranges from weekly to occasional visits throughout the year.

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Where service is located and the areas it covers

The team offers visits to pre-school children and their families/carers in their home, their local Children’s Centre or at another place of their choice.

All primary, special and secondary schools in Haringey have an allocated Advisory Teacher who will meet regularly with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to manage a caseload of identified children.

Parents can access advice or support either by contacting the service directly on 020 8489 8338 or by asking the SENCO in their child’s setting to contact us.

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Who our service provides for

We provide advice and support to hearing aid wearers of all ages in their home, in pre-school, special and mainstream settings following diagnosis of hearing loss. Hearing loss can range from a mild to a profound level and may involve one or both ears.

We provide advice and support for children with permanent deafness, but also children with a temporary hearing loss if its impact is significant.

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How a child or young person can start using the service

Most referrals come to the service either through the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme or from the Audiology Departments at St Ann’s Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital or the Royal Free Hospital.

Referrals can also be made directly by other professionals with family/carer consent.

Parents are able to access the service by telephoning, texting us or sending an email.

• Deborah Israel - Sensory Support Team Manager
  • Email: sensorysupport@haringey.gov.uk
  • Tel: 020 8489 8338

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How decisions are made about eligibility for our service

The service uses the agreed NatSIP Eligibility Framework to decide on support levels for each individual child.

The level of support is reviewed and adjusted regularly in consultation with the Advisory Teacher of the Deaf, families/carers and other professionals.

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How we communicate with service users and how they are involved in decision making/planning

We have leaflets and flyers entitled ‘The Hearing Impairment Team’, ‘Children’s Hearing Services in Haringey’ and our weekly ‘Toddler Group for the Deaf Community’ which are available in hardcopy from the team or in the audiology departments.

We communicate with families/carers in a number of ways including, individual face to face meetings, Team around the Child meetings, education planning meetings and Annual Review meetings, email, letter, by providing hearing profiles, support plans and progress reports.

We use questionnaires/surveys to obtain the views of parents and carers and to improve our service.

We work with interpreters whenever needed.

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How accessible our service is

Families have access to support from a Deaf Educational Instructor, who is a native British Sign Language user.

Advisory Teachers on the team have British Sign Language qualifications.

The Advisory Teachers offer visits in a range of places in the Local Authority, including homes, educational settings and hospital clinics that all have disabled access.

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Training our staff have had in supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities

All members of the team have qualified teacher status and have an additional ‘Teacher of the Deaf’ qualification.

All team members are required to regularly update their knowledge and skills through attending specialist training for Teachers of the Deaf.

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Who a service user should contact if they want to raise a concern or complain about something

A service user who wishes to raise a concern or complain about something can contact us directly by telephone, email, and letter or if a parent prefers they can ask the SENCO to contact us or arrange to meet with the Advisory Teacher when they are in the setting.

• Ellika McAuley (Education Support Lead Integrated Service for SEND)
  • Email: ellika.mcauley@haringey.gov.uk
  • Tel: 020 8489 1408

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Who a parent carer/young person can contact for further information

The allocated Advisory Teacher or Deborah Israel - Sensory Support Team Manager:

• Email: sensorysupport@haringey.gov.uk
• Tel: 020 8489 8338

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