SRSB has a team of 9 Community Advice Officers (CAOs) who offer a comprehensive support service for our clients. Their main responsibility is to visit visually impaired people in their own home. They provide a full needs assessment for newly registered blind or partially sighted people, whilst offering support to existing clients who require assistance with a variety of issues. Our team will assess the requirement for equipment to help clients with everyday tasks and any other issues with the aim of enabling visually impaired people to live as full and complete a life as possible.

On behalf of Sheffield City Council Sensory Impairment Team, we also undertake a formal needs assessment for all people aged 75 and over when they are first registered blind or partially sighted.

Our CAOs have received specialised training in order to offer a full Welfare Rights Service. Benefit claims such as Universal Credit can be a complex area and the team are important support for many of our clients as they can assist with completing forms and attending tribunal hearings if appropriate.

They are also a vital link to refer our clients to other appropriate services, for example, SRSB’s own services or other support available through organisations such as Social Services and Health.

We also employ an Emotional Support Officer.