Barnet council's sensory team supports adults over the age of 18 living in the London Borough Barnet who are deaf and hard of hearing. We assess your sensory impairments to provide special equipment, ensuring your independence and safety.
This video explains the services and support available in British Sign Language.
How we can help you
To access support, you'll need to have a formal diagnosis from your audiology department.
Our assessment and enablement officer will assist you in understanding your hearing loss. Together with your family, we'll find the most effective ways to maintain your independence and overcome any challenges you may face.
We will arrange to visit you and carry out an assessment of need. If your first/preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL), please let us know so we can accommodate your communication needs on the day.
After the assessment of your sensory needs, we can provide information and advice on the following:
- Information on hearing loss and tinnitus
- Specialist equipment to help at home
- Disability benefits
- Information about the Access to Work Scheme
- Registering your hearing loss with local authority
- Signpost to relevant services
We also work closely with local organisations, including The Jewish Deaf Association in North Finchley. For more information about The Jewish Deaf Association and the services they provide, please visit their website JDA (jdeaf.org.uk)
How to access our service
You will need to contact Social Care Direct and speak to a duty worker on 020 8359 5000. Alternatively, you can email socialcaredirect@barnet.gov.uk
If your first/preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL) you can contact Barnet Council via the InterpretersLive services at Contact us using British Sign Language (BSL) video calls | Barnet Council and have access to a BSL interpreter. When accessing the service, please select which department you would like to speak to.
Communication support for emergency services
999 BSL emergency video relay service for deaf people
You can use 999 BSL app or Website to make a call to 999, it will go to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter first, who will appear on the screen. The BSL interpreter will then call the 999 operator through landline and will relay the conversation.
Find out more information about this service on the 999 BSL website.
EmergencySMS for people with hearing loss or difficulty with speech
You can send an SMS message to 999 to call for help and the emergency services will be able to reply to you. You will need to register your mobile phone before using the emergency SMS service.
Both these services are free to use.