Are you interested in working as a counsellor with deaf people? Now you can train to be a qualified counsellor in British Sign Language (BSL). Inter-Psyche are a counselling and psychotherapy training centre based at the Kent and Medway NHS that trains students to British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) accredited diploma standard. Inter-Psyche are offering two courses delivered in BSL:

 

• 1 Year Certificate in Counselling Skills,  in Doncaster starting in  November  2008

• 2 Year Diploma in Integrative Counselling, starting in October 2009

 

If you want to know more about the courses contact SignHealth Counselling on [email protected]

 
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UK Council on Deafness Annual Deafness Conference - Birmingham 6 November 2008

Deaf Cultural Centre, Ladywood Road, Birmingham, B16 8SZ. Thursday, 6th November 2008. 10.00am – 4.30pm
 
A one day multi-disciplinary conference for all professionals working with deaf people
 
The Fifth Annual Deafness Conference is an opportunity for all professionals working with deaf people to meet and network with colleagues and to gain a greater understanding of developments taking place across the country and across the spectrum of deafness. Delegates at previous Annual Conferences have commented:
 
“A great networking opportunity and a chance to learn about new projects”
 
“Opportunity to meet and chat with other people from the sector. Get updates on other activities. Chance to publicise our own work”
 
“Great to hear about all that UK Council on Deafness and their members are doing. Encouragement and enthusiasm to take things forward in our area and determination to network and co-work more with other organisations”
 
Keynote Address: Challenging perceptions of deafness and hearing loss – RNID’s new approach. Jackie Ballard, RNID’s new Chief Executive, discusses RNID’s new strategy in the light of the changing political, scientific and public context.
 
Primary Presentation:

Working together to improve access to health services. Steve Powell, Chief Executive of SignHealth and Phil Murden, Managing Director of SignTranslate. Surveys carried out by the NHS and by voluntary sector organisations consistently show that deaf people are denied equitable access to health services and yet the solutions are often simple to implement and cost effective and would have a significant impact on the health of deaf people. In the context of the most recent GP Patient Survey, this is a call to action for all organisations working with deaf people to work together to achieve equal access to health services for deaf people.
 
Supporting Presentations
 
Promoting Good Relations. Rob Wilks, Legal Services Manager, and Des Masterson, Social Policy Officer, Royal Association for Deaf People. Funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission this research project will identify the barriers and social exclusion experienced by all sectors of the deaf community. Deaf organisations throughout England and Wales can be involved in collecting evidence and sharing the findings to inform their work to challenge the discrimination experienced by deaf people in employment and from service providers.
 
Recovery and Care Programme Approach: Making CPA work for deaf people. Denise Brown, Social Worker, John Denmark Unit, Manchester. Exploring how deaf people can be included within the Care Programme Approach in order to promote and sustain their recovery through mental health services, including examples of collaborative working throughout the sector to prevent readmission and promote recovery and inclusion.
 
Use of genetics services in the NHS: thoughts from deaf and hard of hearing people. Dr Anna Middleton, Consultant Research Genetic Counsellor, Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University. Genetic deafness affects more than 1 in 2000 people and yet deaf people rarely access genetic counselling. This research project analyses 1000 completed questionnaires from deaf people and 30 interviews in sign language to determine why this should be and seeks to make genetic counselling more accessible to deaf people.
 
Changing Communication After Cochlear Implantation: The Communication Journey. Alexandra Wheeler, Research Coordinator, The Ear Foundation. Examining the choices of communication mode that parents make before and after cochlear implantation through written questionnaires and in-depth interviews, this research finds that parents choose the most effective way of communicating with child whilst retaining their goal of developing oral communication skills.
 
The Deafblind International guidelines for service development. Malcolm Mathews, Director of Community Support & Information, Sense. The Deafblind Guidelines outline Deafblind International’s recommendations for service provision and is intended as a statement of the particular needs of deafblind people. It aims to contribute to deafblind people receiving and achieving their rights, which requires recognition of deafblindness and access to specialised services and support. 

 For further details or to book your place go to www.deafcouncil.org.uk or contact Clare Long on [email protected]

 

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An Evaluation of Specialist Mental Health Services for Deaf Children and Young People

Ms. Sirpa Ruuskanen
Sign Language Interpreter
[email protected]