Habilitation Specialist

**Salary**:£34,722 - £38, 295

**Hours**:37 Hours per week

**Contract**:Permanent

**Portsmouth City Council**

Portsmouth is a vibrant university city, with a rich maritime history on the South coast enjoying excellent transport links to the rest of the country.

Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is also committed to promoting quality childcare across the city that works to improve outcomes for children.

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

**The Service**:
The Vison and Hearing Team is based in the Civic Offices and is a highly regarded Team within the Inclusion Service which is an integral part of the Education Department. The team comprises of Specialist Teacher Advisers, Communication Support Workers, Trainee Communicator Support Workers, Higher Level Teaching Assistant and a Habilitation Specialist.

**The Role**:
The post holder will report to the Team Leader of the Vision and Hearing Team.

The post will require you to:

- Co-ordinate all aspects of the provision of habilitation (mobility and independent living) training for Children and Young People(CYP) who are blind or partially sighted (within Portsmouth)
- Assess and monitor training needs.
- Undertake environmental audits and Risk Assessments
- Develop and deliver individual training programmes on the basis of needs identified.
- Undertake home visits and, on occasions, work in the evenings and when it is dark to assess and train CYP with night blindness.
- Provide guidance and support to parents/carers in order to ensure training in the school and home settings is complementary and consistent.
- Provide support for CYP with VI at times of transition to and between educational settings.
- Liaise with parents, teachers, teaching assistants, ancillary workers and other professionals as required.
- Work collaboratively with the young person in monitoring and recording progress in the development of their habilitation skills.
- Plan and deliver training in habilitation to staff working with CYP with VI, and for peer groups of such pupils / students.
- Please read the job profile for the full details of this role _

**What you'll need to succeed**

Qualifications:
Qualified or working towards a specialist Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification which specifically meets all the learning outcomes arising from the ‘Quality Standards - Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with Visual Impairment (2011)’: Qualification Participant Learning Outcomes.

Applications from qualified Rehabilitation Workers who are willing to undertake the necessary additional recognised qualifications in Habilitation will also be considered.

**You will have/be**:
Possess a sound base of current issues around orientation and mobility and independent living skills.

Good personal presentation and credibility with a range of potential client groups. Have an insight into your own behaviour and the ability to reflect on practice (in individual and group situations with clients and colleagues).

The ability to work individually and as part of a team (these are equally important in this role). Demonstrate good and effective oral and written communication skills. Possess effective consultation and negotiation skills. Have the ability to deliver training to a variety of audiences. Advise on and teach the use of specialist software and equipment.

Familiar with the Quality Standards Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with Visual Impairment
- Please read the job profile for the full details of this role _

**What you'll get in return**

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potentials with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

- Generous annual leave (27 days per year rising to 31, pro rata for part time hours) with the potential to purchase additional leave.
- A fantastic pension which allows you the opportunity to pay in more for that greater return.
- Flexible working hours.
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships.
- Extensive wellbeing support through the Employee Assistance Programme
- Discount on travel, travel loans and the bike loan scheme
- Discounts on a wide range of goods and services - access a range of discounts and offers from thousands of restaurants, shops and more.

**Additional Information**:
The full job profile is attached here

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:
**App