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Introduction

In this section

  1. 1
    Introduction
  2. 2
    Purpose
  3. 3
    Scope
  4. 4
    Definition
  5. 5
    Legal Context
  6. 6
    Associated policies
  7. 7
    Requirement to identify information and communication needs
  8. 8
    Recording requirements
  9. 9
    Requirement for the record to have a highly visible flag or alert
  1. 10
    Requirement to include recorded data about information and/or communication needs within existing data sharing processes
  2. 11
    Requirement to meet information and/or communication needs
  3. 12
    Commissioned services
  4. 13
    Dissatisfaction/complaints
  5. 14
    Implementation
  6. 15
    Monitoring and Review
  7. 16
    Appendix 1– Exclusions
  8. 17
    Appendix 2– Definitions
  9. 18
    Policy details

1.1    The Equality Act 2010 creates a duty for all service providers to take steps or make reasonable adjustments to avoid putting disabled people at a substantial disadvantage when compared to people who are not disabled. This duty is the primary legal framework for the NHS Accessible Information Standard (the AIS) which was introduced in July 2016.  

Click here to download a copy of the policy: AIS-Policy-2020-under-review.pdf

1.2    The AIS is mandatory for all providers across the NHS and publicly funded adult social care services. This includes care homes, nursing homes and day care as well as providers of adult social care from the voluntary and community or private sectors. 

1.3    AIS requirements are intended to ensure that people who need to have information in a particular format and/or support to communicate because of a disability or sensory loss receive: 

  • information in a form that they can access and understand,  and  

  • any support that they need to communicate with adult social care/NHS staff 

1.4    The AIS is of particular relevance to people who: 

  • are blind or have some visual loss

  • are deaf or Deaf, have some hearing loss, or are  deafblind

  • have a learning disability

  • have aphasia

  • have autism 

  • have a mental health condition which affects their ability to communicate

1.5    There are five mandatory AIS requirements for meeting the information and/or communication needs of people with a disability or sensory loss: 

  • to identify needs  

  • to record needs  

  • to flag needs so that they are highly visible within the record 

  • to share information about needs  

  • to take steps to meet needs 
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