First Predominantly Deaf Peer/Social Group in Halton

Mental Health Care Navigator, Fran Stulberg, is embedded within Halton Recovery Team and supports service users to access the wide range of services provided by the voluntary sector, dependent on individual needs and goals.

Fran began working with a service user with mental health difficulties who is also predominantly deaf. This combination meant the service user was socially isolated and lonely. They agreed a plan for Fran to attend the Weaver Arts Group in Runcorn with the service user, which was highly successful and helped the service user to socially interact and feel part of a group.

Fran and the service user began to print off left and right hand sign language alphabets and shared them with the group asking if they would like to take them home to try to learn basic words. This gave the group pride in developing new skills and being able to communicate, now greeting the service user and communicating in the group using British Sign Language.

While supporting the service user, Fran also established that mental health services were unable to access her flat as she lives on the seventh floor and was unable to hear the buzzer and use the intercom system. Fran contacted Halton Sensory Services Deafness Resource Centre to inspect and install a working buzzer, a specialist alarm clock and a smoke alert alarm that is specifically designed for people with hearing difficulties. Fran also arranged for the Cheshire Fire Safety Team to visit the flat and install the safety equipment needed.

Fran then liaised with the Deafness Resource Centre and the manager of the Grangeway Community Centre to discuss the development of a predominantly deaf peer/social group, as Fran and the service user had identified there was a need in Halton.

This suggestion progressed and the first Predominantly Deaf Peer/Social Group was launched on 22 October, held in the Grangeway Community Centre. Six people attended the first session that the Mayor opened alongside the CEO of the Deafness Resource Centre and Halton’s Deafness Advocate.