The Scottish Vision Services Steering Group

Members

Visibility Scotland, Sight Scotland, Rehabilitation Workers Professional Network (RWPN), Thomas Pocklington Trust, RNIB Scotland, Guide Dogs and the Sensory Hub – Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE).

SVSSG Background

The Scottish Vision Services Steering Group (SVSSG) is a consortium of organisations that formed in 2021 and successfully campaigned to reinstate the Low Vision Rehabilitation Course. Scotland does not have a formal educational path for vision specialists, which is negatively impacting the lives of people with vision impairment.

SVSSG Purpose

To convene a group of stakeholders from the Vision Impairment sector to focus on matters relating to the provision of rehabilitation in Scotland.

 

Vision Rehabilitation Update

The Graduate Low Vision Rehabilitation course was reinstated in January 2023. This was only possible due to the funding sourced by SVSSG, provided by Thomas Pocklington Trust and the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE).

The funding enabled 50% reduction in the overall course cost; the 50% reduction filtered to each studentship.

Almost all of the cohort will graduate in early July 2024.

Professional Training

SVSSG is committed to creating a sustainable course that caters for all the workforce training needs and funding, enabling a career pathway aligned with that of other Allied Health professionals such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists. The overarching aim is to improve service provision and access for people living with vision impairment in Scotland.

The Scottish Vision Services Steering Group (SVSSG) commissioned Visibility Scotland, a national sight loss charity, to research and review the current workforce supplying specialised support in Scotland to people of all ages living with vision impairment and their family carers. The review also investigated professional roles, responsibilities and training opportunities.

Download the report here: VI Support Workforce Review and Feasibility Proposal for a New Professional Training and Service Delivery Framework (DOCX, 88 KB)

 

International Research on the Impact of Vision Rehabilitation and Habilitation.

Does your organisation provide vision rehabilitation and/or habilitation? Are you based in Scotland?

 

If your organisation is willing to participate, please complete the following Microsoft Office Form questionnaire.

SVSSG Research Registration participant link

Participation must be conducted by qualified or soon-to-be qualified vision rehabilitation specialists and or habilitation specialists.

Back to top