Specialist Deafblind Worker

**Specialist Deafblind Worker - Newcastle/surrounding areas**

To provide specialist services in the local region and to act as point of contact/information for DBE’s Director Debbie James.

**Reporting to: Debbie James, Director**

**Primary Duties**
- Referrals / New service user assessments
- Communicator-guide / Deafblind Interpreter bookings
- Contract reviews
- Recruitment and supervision of local Communicator-Guides
- Specialist Assessments
- Primary point of contact for the service user and professionals/care staff/family members/other agencies
- Recording and adhering to all admin procedures
- Training: assisting with training documents and facilitating deafblind awareness sessions
- Marketing

**Primary Duties**

**1. Referrals/New Service User assessments**

Provide referrals/new service users with an initial assessment of their needs, including Risk Assessments and completing all new service user documentation.

**2. Communicator-guide bookings and Deafblind Interpreter Bookings**

To undertake regular and ad hoc communicator guide/deafblind interpreter bookings and provide cover for workers in your region, enabling continuity of provision.

To devise rotas for service users: liaising with communicator-guides, services users and professionals. Ensure communication between all parties and amend if necessary.

**3. Contract Reviews**

Undertake annual reviews of Service Contracts (SLA’s) and update risk assessments and Service User Information documents.

**4. Recruitment and Supervision of Local Communicator-Guides**

To actively promote Deafblind Enablement as an employer to the local workforce, undertaking recruitment activity.

To undertake quarterly supervision meetings with Communicator-Guides to ensure support is being provided to personnel where needed and any issues are picked up. Agree actions and timescales and document for follow up, keeping the Director fully aware. Supervision notes and timesheets to be returned within 1 week.

**5. Specialist Assessments**

To undertake an assessment role with people who have sight and hearing loss to meet the Care Act, 2014 and Support Policy Guidance for Deafblind Children and Adults, 2014, when commissioned and mentored by the Director.

Conduct a visit to assess deafblind adult’s immediate needs and future aspirations, followed by a comprehensive written recommendation report, to identify needs in the areas of:
Social interaction

Communication

Movement, orientation and mobility

Emotional wellbeing

Human contact

Assistive technology

Rehabilitation

Working closely with the Director.

**6. Primary point of contact and liaison with professionals/care staff/family members/other agencies**

To undertake negotiations via contact calls or meetings to discuss service user issues or contracts.

**7. Recording and adhering to all admin procedures**

All paperwork to be submitted in a timely manner to the Director/administrator.

**8. Specialist Training**: assisting with training documents and facilitating local deafblind awareness sessions

**9. Marketing**:
Along with team members, actively promote DBE as THE Specialist service provider for the local area. Distribute leaflets and other marketing materials, building up local knowledge, identifying supply and demand requirements in your locality and liaise with DBE’s Director to implement a growth strategy.

Assist with DBE’s events, gathering information from your region, working closely with the HO Administrators.

**Secondary duties**:
1. **To liaise with Specialist Deafblind Workers** - to co-work with the Specialist Deafblind Worker in Newcastle and in other areas as DBE develops, attending quarterly meetings.

Car driver essential

Signature Level 2 Communicator-Guide Training to be provided

BSL Level 1, 2, 3 desirable

Care knowledge and skills essential

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent, Freelance

Pay: £12.50-£15.00 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 37 per week

**Benefits**:

- Language training provided

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Holidays
- Monday to Friday
- Overtime
- Weekend availability

Application question(s):

- Do you have experience working with people with a sensory loss
- Are you a car driver?

**Education**:

- GCSE or equivalent (required)

**Experience**:

- Care: 1 year (required)

**Language**:

- Clear English (required)

Licence/Certification:

- Signature British Sign Language qualification? (preferred)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (required)

Willingness to travel:

- 25% (preferred)

Work Location: On the road