Sight Loss Advisor

Job description

**This is not a North Somerset Council vacancy, please contact Vision North Somerset for further detail**.

**Purpose of role**:
Work within a small team to deliver our Information, Advice and Guidance Service for people with sight loss across North Somerset. You will assess the needs of people with sight loss and prepare appropriate action plans to ensure that they are accessing support, equipment, and training to help them manage their sight loss.

**Hours and place of work**:
23 hours per week. Worked flexibly in agreement with the CEO over Monday to Friday. Role is office-based at 3 Neva Road, Weston-Super-Mare with homeworking by agreement. Regular travel around North Somerset, including home visits to service users in rural areas. Travel can be supported by Access to Work.

**Reporting to**:
Service Manager

**Salary**:
£24,500 pro rata for 23 hours out of a 37-hour full time week.

**Main duties**:
**Information, advice and guidance service delivery**:
Work one-on-one with people with visual impairment and their carers/ families, providing a comprehensive initial assessment in a person-centred, empathetic, and empowering manner.

Provide internal and external referrals and deliver follow-up actions to enable maximum wellbeing for service users.

Manage incoming and outgoing referrals internally and with a wide range of external providers, communicating to manage cases effectively and safely.

Work with the Administrator and volunteers to collate and send Information Packs and other necessary communications such as appointment letters in accessible formats.

Assess risks as needed and report any safeguarding concerns to the Safeguarding Lead.

**Equipment service**:
Demonstrate and advise on equipment for people with visual impairment, either in their home, a local hub or at the Resource centre. Managing ordering or purchases if necessary or supporting clients to make their own purchases.

If needed during home/ care home visits, provide minor adaptations such as high visibility tape on steps or tactile markings on appliances.

**Data management**:
Ensure that all service delivery to individuals and service user data is appropriately recorded and managed on the Vision North Somerset database, in accordance with procedures.

Work with Administrator and volunteers to maintain accuracy of the Vision North Somerset service user database, including correct data permissions and equality monitoring information.

**Local networking and knowledge**:
Develop and maintain knowledge and resources on relevant services offered by organisations to people in North Somerset. Work with the Administrator to maintain records on online files and paper files (for example service leaflets).

Occasionally attend local meetings, arrange meetings with staff from key local organisations or represent Vision North Somerset to develop mutual knowledge of local services.

**Working as part of a team (common to all Vision North Somerset job descriptions)**:

- Maintain effective communication and positive working relationships with Vision North Somerset staff (and volunteers if appropriate).
- Ensure that other staff understand your role and that you work cooperatively with good communication.
- Maintain awareness of and follow our policies and processes.
- Undertake regular supervision meetings and training in topics such as: accessible information, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Assist in the planning and improving of the delivery of service improvement and participate positively in the implementation of new working methods and practices as required.
- Be an excellent ambassador for the charity.
- Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in line with your main duties.

**Role Requirements**:
This is a great opportunity to make a difference to people every day, working an effective local charity with considerable autonomy. The role could suit someone with experience providing support, advice, and referrals to clients, managing cases, assessing risk and any safeguarding concerns.

Prior experience working with people with visual impairment or other disabilities would be helpful but full induction and training will be given.

More important than experience is the ability to empathise and connect with people in different circumstances, gently working with them to progress towards their goals, while maintaining professional boundaries and a focus on empowerment.

The Sight Loss Advisors work as part of a supportive small team but also work independently and manage their own workloads.

The role requires someone with excellent organisational skills, good attention to detail and the ability to manage a busy workload, prioritising effectively and managing competing demands.

Intermediate skills on Microsoft Office programmes such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams. Ability to learn to effectively use the Maximiser database for case management.

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