ORG08 NEXT STEPS – What Happens Now?
Identifying a sensory barrier is not enough. The organisation needs a clear next step so useful observations do not disappear into records.
Five things to consider
Decide what can change now
Some barriers can be reduced immediately through communication or environmental adjustments.
Name responsibility
Make clear who will take the next action.
Know when to refer
Some needs require specialist, clinical or other professional input.
Communicate the plan
Relevant people should know what is changing and why.
Set a review point
Decide when the organisation will check whether the next step helped.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Record one clear next action.
✓ Name the person or role responsible.
✓ Explain any referral or escalation to the person where appropriate.
✓ Set a realistic review point rather than leaving the issue open-ended.
What this can look like in practice
Staff identify that written appointment information is inaccessible. The immediate next step is to agree an accessible format, update the communication preference and ensure future correspondence follows it.
Question for your organisation
Does every identified sensory need have a named next action, responsible person and review point?
Important boundary
Urgent health, safeguarding or safety concerns should follow the organisation’s established escalation procedures.
Want to take this further?
Clear next steps turn recognition into accountable practice. If this resource has highlighted gaps in your organisation’s sensory practice, Sensory Visionaries can help, from reviewing what you currently have in place to providing a structured approach through the Sensory Compliance System.