Communication Support Workers
Communication Support Workers work with people who experience hearing loss at any level. They may be profoundly deaf BSL users or have an acquired hearing loss. This role assists by making spoken and written language accessible.
British Sign Language has a different grammar to English and therefore sometimes written information is not clear for people who have BSL as their preferred language.
People with an acquired hearing loss may struggle to hear different tones of voices or process accents. People without hearing loss can be very quick to move a conversation on or say “I’ll tell you later”. Using a communication support worker to repeat, rephrase or write down what the speaker is saying can improve communication and help keep the deaf person fully informed. We do not make choices for the person, but provide access to the information so they can make those decisions.
Our service helps people who are deaf keep in control of their day to day lives. We visit people in their home. Additionally, we provide communication access for deaf people in the community. Deaf people can then choose which services they want to use. Moreover, they have more choice as to when they can use it.
Deaf people can use our service to take part in exercise classes. Other people use us to explain their letters and relay telephone conversations. We make all clubs, groups, activities and services accessible.
In effect we provide that reasonable adjustment required for goods and services to be accessible to d/Deaf people. However, we do it in a flexible person-centred manner. Using our service ensures you have access to information in a format that you prefer.