The Adult Services team offers a specialist, confidential and dedicated service for all deaf, hard of hearing and deafblind adults from aged 18 upwards across Northamptonshire.

Our officers can offer appointments for one to one support and advisory service at your home, work, in a neutral environment or at Deafconnect’s offices. You do not need an appointment during our drop in times.

Our officers will provide you with confidential and dedicated information, advice and support services. All our services are fully accessible via British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE) or English and are available to Deaf, Deafened, hard of hearing and Deafblind people, their families, friends and carers.

We  offer an appointment service or you can visit us during our drop in times without an appointment in Northampton. If you need to see a particular member of staff it is advisable to make an appointment with them.

We provide information, advice and support in the following areas: education, reading and understanding forms, benefits, making phone calls on your behalf, health issues including Doctors and Hospitals, assistive equipment,  social and leisure activities, social services, housing, work and employment, interpreters including deafblind and lip speakers, criminal justice system and family courts and crime prevention

Please see Hard of Hearing tab for information. Click Here

What is the Care Act Advocacy?

Northamptonshire local Authority is responsible for ensuring that all information is accessible and that you are involved in any decisions regarding your care and support package.

Deafconnect is working with Voiceability Northamptonshire to ensure that Adults/ Children (over 16 years) and carers are supported through the process under the Care Act (2014).

What does independent Advocacy provide?

All individuals are entitled to support from a qualified independent advocate to explain your role and the outcomes of any meetings/assessments regarding your care. To ensure that the support/care offered to you meets your individual needs you will be involved in the following assessments and meetings with the local Authority.

1. Care assessment
2. Care and Support planning
3. Care and support reviews
4. Safeguarding enquires
5. Safeguarding Adults review.

If you have already made a referral to the Social and Health services team and would like an independent advocate to assist you please contact Deafconnect or Voicability.

What is Job Club?

The aim of the Job club is to help those who have been out of work for a long time and on JSA – Jobseeker Allowance or ESA – Employment and support allowance to gain employment.

To join the Job Club you must:

Be unemployed, UK resident living in Northamptonshire, Be eligible to work in the EU.

Why join the Job Club?

Support finding Training, Work Experience and a Job, You want to earn money, To be independent, To become a role model for your children, families and friends.

What will you do at Job Club?

At Job Club you will be supported to decide on an area(s) of work you are interested in and pursue it! We also provide a range of essential training to help you gain employment and other important skills needed in the workplace.

Whether you are interested in finding a job straight away or learning some new skills before applying for a job we can support you to achieve the following:

Employment, Training, Work Experience, College or attend an Open University course.

Topics we cover in Job Club include:

Learn to write and update your CV · Develop your individual identity / Confidence building · Learn how to apply for jobs · Training courses · Submit job applications, Interview practice · Manage your stress · Health, Wellbeing and Exercise · Independence in the workplace ·  Benefits of going to work · Time management skills · Using social media safely · First day’s at work · Understand HR policies like the difference between grievance and disciplinary procedure · How to deal with conflict or arguments at work · Debt Management

Deafconnect will support you and guide you in the right direction.

Deafconnect employs Personal Assistants to support and encourage Deaf and Hard of Hearing people to improve their well-being.

The role of Personal assistant is to offer one to one support to promote independence, acquire life skills and develop the confidence to engage with the local community.

We employ a number of male and female Deaf personal assistants and have run this service over a number of years in and around Northamptonshire.

Who can apply to be a PA?

Deafconnect encourages adults, family members/friends, professionals and anyone who has permission on behalf of the adult to apply for the position of PA. All applicants will be required to have an enhanced DBS.

How to apply for PA support?

If you require the support of a PA you will need to complete a referral form and return this to Deafconnect. Deafconnect will then meet with you to discuss your specific needs and ensure that the necessary funding is in place for PA services.

Assistive Equipment for Deaf and hard of hearing people helps with recognising the sounds that hearing people take for granted e.g. the door bell ringing, the baby crying, the telephone ringing, the alarm clock.

Deafconnect is able to advise Deaf and hard of hearing people their family, friends and carers about the equipment available. We have a small number of demonstration items and would be happy to show you.

Please contact us for an appointment or our drop in times.