Essex Cares Sensory Team

David Johnston

I am the Senior Rehabilitation Officer/Team Leader for Essex Cares Sensory Service. I started working with the team in August 2009 and have been able to provide specialist training for service users across the county whilst also providing direction and focus for the team as a whole. I have also met with many local voluntary organisations and undertaken key training for example a two day Section 7 deafblind guidance course.

Leslie Wilkie

I have worked for Essex’s Sensory Team for 12 years and I’m one of Essex Cares Sensory Services Social Work Assistants for people with visual impairment and dual sensory loss. I have completed much training over the years and most recently a two day Section 7 deafblind guidance training course.

Sonia Collen

I recently joined the team as a social work assistant working with people with both visual and hearing impairments. Before that I worked for Essex Social Care Direct (ESCD) for five years dealing with visual registration and sensory assessments after spending four weeks training with the sensory team.

Carly Waters

I am the Technical Officer for Deaf People and I also work with people with dual sensory loss. My job is to visit service users to assess their sensory needs, to ensure they have the correct equipment to meet their needs to maintain their independence in their own home and provide information and advice. I am profoundly deaf and have a Hearing Dog for Deaf People, called Beth. I have completed BSL level 1, 2 and 3.

Kayleigh McDonald

I am the Business Administrator for the Essex Cares Sensory Service Team. I work full time, and will most likely be your first point of contact for team. And I am more than happy to help you with any query you have about our Service.

Faye Gatenby

I work for both Essex Cares and Deafblind UK managing the existing services and the development of new services for deafblind people in Essex. I have been in post full time for 11 years and feel I know Essex reasonably well and I have an intricate knowledge of the A12! I manage the deafblind database on which key data is kept regarding the deafblind population of Essex and I’m happy to be contacted for any general queries about services for deafblind people in Essex.

Jayne Bethell

I am a Social Work Assistant working with adults with a hearing impairment and dual sensory loss. I have been working with the Sensory Services in Essex for the past 5 years. I formally worked at Foley House, Residential Home for the Deaf, in High Garrett, near Braintree. I have a family member who was born with a profound hearing loss and so I have an understanding and empathy but also BSL communication skills as well as a stage 1 certificate. I have completed Deafblind Awareness, Deafblind Communicator Guide and Section 7 Training.

Peter Nutland

I am a Rehab Worker for Visually Impaired People and have been with the Essex Sensory Team since1997. I trained at the Guide Dogs for the Blind School of Vision and Rehabilitation in Burghfield from 1995-1996. I have quite a bit of experience of visually impaired people having been a member of the Merton Sports and Social Club in South London for about 25 years before moving to Essex in 2004. My role is to undertake assessments and provide rehabilitative training in daily living skills, indoor and outdoor mobility and general advice about coping with sight loss.