Job title: Habilitation Officer

Salary: SO1 £34,434 - £36,363 pro rata

Hours: 37 per week, term time + 10 days

Contract: Permanent

Location: Tech North, Chappell Allerton, Leeds

There is a fantastic opportunity to join the Visual Impairment Team as a Habilitation Officer. You’ll be part of a great team delivering high quality support to Children and Young People across the city in their homes, early years settings, mainstream schools and SILC provision.

We are looking to appoint a Habilitation Specialist who has a thorough understanding of the impact of visual impairment (VI), and who has high expectations of CYP with VI, including those with additional needs. You will work with CYP to promote and develop their independent travel and life skills and prepare them for adulthood, and you need to have substantial relevant work experience in this field. You will also work closely with families and settings in order to build their capacity to support CYP by developing and reinforcing essential independence skills. Work will be carried out in a range of environments, including homes, settings and the wider community, so the ability to travel around the authority as required is essential, as is the ability to work independently and manage time effectively. Excellent teamwork skills are essential and you will be required to work collaboratively with visual impairment team colleagues and with other professionals.

You will hold the Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification

have substantial experience in supporting the development of mobility and independence skills in CYP with VI, together with a commitment to undertake the Graduate Diploma (above).Unqualified applicants should ensure that they meet the entry requirements for the Graduate Diploma course ie First degree or a minimum qualification equivalent to QCF Level 4 plus extensive relevant work experience.

be a qualified Rehabilitation Worker with experience of working with CYP and willing to undertake the ‘Habilitation Work – Working with Children and Young People’ Top Up Degree - BSc (Hons)

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Habilitation Officer you will bring to the role:

Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification, or a commitment to undertake this qualification at the earliest opportunity
Ability to provide effective habilitation assessment and training to children and young people with VI, including those with additional needs; and to do so to a high level of professional competence
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as to work independently and show initiative to an appropriate level
Experience of providing mobility and habilitation assessment and training to CYPP with visual impairment

About the role

As our next Habilitation Officer you’ll be part of building the team’s capacity to meet the needs of learners with and visual impairment and be keen to further develop effective habilitation provision within the authority.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Ellen Maher, City Lead Teacher of the Visually Impaired Tel. 07891 270446, email ellen.maher@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: To promote the independent travel and life skills of children and young people with visual impairment

All staff are required to support the services main purpose of encouraging and enabling children to develop, behaviourally, educationally and emotionally. To create and maintain a customer focused attitude and approach at all times that promotes positive relationships and generates a culture of openness and trust. To deliver efficient, effective and quality services by way of flexible working. To work together with colleagues from other service areas and organisations to provide and maintain a safe secure and learning environment that promotes the safety and welfare of children in which they can prosper, develop and achieve. To foster, maintain and support pro-social behaviour, a restorative and solution focussed approach with, children, and colleagues.

Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Assess and monitor the habilitation (Mobility and Independent Living) training needs of Children and Young People (CYP) who are blind or partially sighted (0-25 years), including those with additional needs.
Undertake environmental audits in the home, school or public areas as required, for specific habilitation programmes.
Undertake appropriate risk assessments and put in place appropriate risk management strategies.
Develop individual habilitation (mobility and independence) training programmes on the basis of needs identified, in agreement with the Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (QTVI), CYP, carers and appropriate professionals.
Deliver appropriate individual habilitation training to CYP with Visual Impairment (VI) in a range of settings (e.g. homes and home area, nurseries, schools, colleges and public places of relevance to the CYP and their needs).
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 habilitation (mobility and independence) training in the school and home settings is complementary and consistent.
Provide support in habilitation (mobility and independence) for CYP with VI at times of transition to and between educational settings.
Liaise with parents, teachers, teaching assistants, ancillary workers and other professionals within educational settings regarding the habilitation (mobility and independence) needs of CYP with VI.
Maintain detailed records of habilitation (mobility and independence) provision for CYP on caseload, and write reports showing progress against targets as appropriate.
Plan and deliver training in habilitation and provide on-going advice to staff working with CYP in a variety of settings as well as for colleagues within the Sensory Service.
Provide training and awareness raising for peer groups of CYP with VI
Develop and maintain links with other professionals involved with the education and support of CYP with VI (e.g. QTVI, Mobility Officers for Adults, Specialist Social Workers etc.)
Develop and provide advice to relevant authorities regarding the habilitation (mobility and independence) needs of CYP with VI from the area.
Attend reviews and other meetings regarding CYP with VI where the sharing of habilitation (mobility and independence) information would be helpful.
Participate in and organise extra-curricular activities for CYP with VI to meet identified habilitation needs.
Periodically evaluate, monitor and report on the habilitation provision, using published quality standards, and use the results to inform future planning.
Maintain an awareness of current thinking, research and relevant developments in the area of habilitation (mobility and independence) and Habilitation Training, in order to improve and further develop service provision.
To promote the influence of pupil/CYP voice
To take appropriate steps to promote and ensure the safeguarding of children while following agreed policies and practice
To participate in training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
To undertake other duties appropriate to the post as required by the City Lead Teacher of the VI
To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
To actively promote and support Leeds City Council's Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.

Qualifications Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification

Substantial experience in supporting the development of mobility and independence skills in CYP with VI, together with a commitment to undertake the Graduate Diploma (above).

Unqualified applicants should ensure that they meet the entry requirements for the Graduate Diploma course ie First degree or a minimum qualification equivalent to QCF Level 4 plus extensive relevant work experience

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Skills required

Ability to provide effective habilitation assessment and training to children and young people with VI, including those with additional needs; and to do so to a high level of professional competence
Good planning and assessment skills
Ability to monitor and assess progress of CYP against targets and maintain clear and accurate records of work undertaken and progress made.
Skills in working in partnership with and influencing parents, carers and professionals
Skills in effective risk assessment
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as to work independently and show initiative to an appropriate level

Knowledge required

Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) or equivalent qualification, or a commitment to undertake this qualification at the earliest opportunity
The implications of a visual impairment on independence, emotional and social development, and the strategies to overcome barriers
The principle of assessing functional vision for the purpose of habilitation
Appropriate strategies to enhance functional vision including the use of low vision devices
A working knowledge of legislation and national policy in relation to SEN and CYP with VI
An understanding of the continuum of educational provision available to CYP with VI and the role of support services within this
Know how to promote knowledge and skills related to personal, social and health education, and sex and relationship education in the context of developing independence and accessing advice
An understanding of the implications of cultural differences when planning individual habilitation programmes
Knowledge and understanding of effective ways to keep own professional knowledge updated

Experience required

Of providing mobility and habilitation assessment and training to CYPP with visual impairment
Of working in partnership with educational settings and families
Of providing advice and training to families and professionals
Of conducting and implementing risk assessments and environmental audits

Behavioural & Other Related Characteristics required

have high expectations of children with VI/MSI
Committed to working in partnership with all relevant agencies, children and young people and their families
Committed to the full inclusion of children with SEN in educational settings

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Skills required

Proficiency in the use of contracted Braille or a willingness to learn this.
Understand how voluntary and advocacy agencies can help children and young people with VI and their parents/carers to make a full contribution to decisions about education and care