This is a new law that requires organisations that provide health and social care services (such as Councils, GP's and Hospitals) to make sure that people with a disability, impairment and sensory loss receive information in a way they understand.
Organisations need to be fully compliant with the standard by the 31 July 2016.
The standard tells us how all organisations that provide health or social care should make sure that people get the support with communication if they need it, that is support from a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, deafblind manual interpreter or an advocate.
The standard also includes making sure that people get information in the different formats that they need such as, braille, large print, easy read or receive information by email. This also applies if you are a carer and have a disability.
However, the standard doesn't cover translating information into foreign languages for those who do not speak or read English.
For more information visit www.england.nhs.uk.
What are we doing towards meeting the Standard?
When you contact us about your social care needs we will ask you whether you have any communication needs that we can help you with and record this in your assessment.
If you need information in Braille, large print, by email, easy read or on audio we can arrange this for you. We can also provide British Sign Language Interpreters. Please tell us if you need this. We can also help you to have an advocate.
We are looking at our leaflets and web pages to make sure that we use plain language and produce them in easy read and other formats.
We have a sensory impairment team who can help you with your communication needs.
We are putting a communication guide together for staff and we will make sure that our staff can access awareness training. NHS England is putting some on line training together for staff to use.
We will work with our partners on how we can best share your information and communication needs, but only if you agree first.
For information, advice and guidance about health and social care see Connect to Support.
The first point of contact for Social Care contact Social Care Direct.