SignHealth
 | |
| Formation | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | Charity |
Region served | United Kingdom |
| James Watson-O’Neill | |
| Website | https://signhealth.org.uk |
SignHealth is a Deaf-led charity with the purpose to improve the health and wellbeing of Deaf people. SignHealth's services aim to reach Deaf people in their moment of need, through a crisis text line, domestic abuse support, therapy, advocacy and residential services. The charity also campaigns to raise awareness of the barriers Deaf people face when trying to access health services.
The majority of SignHealth's staff are Deaf people, making it one of the largest employers of Deaf people in the UK.[1]
History[edit]
SignHealth was founded in March 1986 by Lady Annaly. Initially called The Anastasia Trust[2], the charity was the only organisation working specifically towards the provision of facilities for Deaf people with additional needs. It then re-launched as Sign in 1991 and later SignHealth in 2005.
Over the years SignHealth has carried out research about Deaf people's health and wellbeing in the UK. The first was funded by the Department of Health to assess the needs of Deaf people with mental health conditions.
The Sick Of It Report[3] was published in 2014 about the significant health inequalities experienced by Deaf people in UK. The results and recommendations for the report contributed to the establishment of the Accessible Information Standard, which is a legal requirement ensuring the provision of accessible information and communication in NHS services.
SignHealth was awarded the Board Diversity and Inclusivity Award at the 2019 Charity Governance Awards.[4]
In 2020, SignHealth launched BSL Health Access in partnership with the interpreting company InterpreterNow.[5] The service was created in response to the sudden increase in remote appointments and reliance on phone calls in health settings due to measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19. BSL Health Access provided a British Sign Language interpreting service 24 hours a day to facilitate communication between deaf people and any health service, pharmacy or dentist. Originally funded by SignHealth to avoid significant disruptions in access to healthcare during the pandemic, the service was eventually funded for a short period by NHS England.[6] On 31 March 2021 the service closed due to funding not being renewed.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees at SignHealth, Jackie Driver, was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2021 Birthday Honours for services to deaf people, equality, diversity and inclusion.[7]
Activities[edit]
SignHealth has a range of projects and services aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Deaf people.
Psychological Therapy[edit]
SignHealth provides an IAPT compliant Psychological Therapy Service[8] to support Deaf people facing mental health challenges. Therapy is delivered in British Sign Language (BSL) and all SignHealth therapists are Deaf, or hearing and fluent in BSL.
Based on a survey conducted by SignHealth, more than one in three deaf people reported struggling with their mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.[9]
Domestic Abuse Support[edit]
SignHealth provides support and advice in British Sign Language to Deaf adults and children at risk of, or experiencing domestic abuse.
The team of Deaf staff are trained Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs)[10] and Young People Violence Advisors (YPVAs). The team provides culturally sensitive services supporting Deaf women and men through the process of escaping abuse.
Social Care[edit]
SignHealth supports Deaf people with mental health challenges or complex needs to move on from long-term hospital care by providing residential homes. Residents are given the support they need and opportunities to learn new skills and grow in their independence. The charity currently manages five Care Quality Commission registered residential homes[11], with another opening in 2021.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Sign Health". Surrey Information Point. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ "SignHealth". Action for Deafness. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/4149/files/Sick_Of_It_Report.pdf?5194275110698063089/
- ↑ "SignHealth". Charity Governance Awards. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ↑ Whitehead, Harriet (23 March 2021). "SignHealth to close interpreting service after NHS funding dries up". Civil Society News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ↑ Betteley, Carys (1 May 2021). "Covid: Plea not to end funding for BSL Health Access". BBC News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ↑ Vickery, Kit (11 June 2021). "All the people from Greater Manchester recognised on the Queen's Birthday Honours list". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ "SignHealth BSL Psychological Therapies Service". Live Well Directory. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ "Covid-19: Testing could replace self-isolation, and the impact of being deaf during the pandemic". BBC. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ "DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THE DEAF COMMUNITY - A CONVERSATION WITH SIGNHEALTH". Oasis Domestic Abuse Services. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ↑ "Provider:SignHealth". Care Quality Commission. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Charity Commission. SignHealth, registered charity no. 1011056. Search this book on
This article "SignHealth" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:SignHealth. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
