Habilitation Specialist

Job Title: Habilitation Specialist
Starting Salary: £38,220 progressing to £41,771 pa pro rata (actual £32,691 - £35,729)
Hours: 37.0 Term Time Only (39 weeks)
Location: Based in either Hemel Hempstead or Stevenage, with travel countywide
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Children's Services

The Vision Impairment Team provides specialist support to Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CYPVI), promoting access to education, supporting the development of essential skills for independence and as part of preparation for adulthood.

The Vision Impairment Team work closely with families, educators, and other professionals to ensure consistent, person-centred support that enables each CYPVI to thrive both educationally and socially.

The role of the Qualified Habilitation Specialist is to provide expert habilitation work of an excellent standard. This includes delivering tailored habilitation training - orientation, mobility, and independent living skills - across home, school, and settings.

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision and line management of a Lead Teacher for Vision Impairment, you will:

• Co-ordinate all aspects of the provision of habilitation (orientation, mobility and independent daily living skills) training for CYPVI.
• Assess, develop, deliver and monitor the habilitation (orientation, mobility and independent/daily living skills) needs of individual CYPVI, in agreement with the CYPVI and/or, where appropriate, Parents/Carers and others.
• Undertake environmental audits in the setting/school, as required.
• Undertake appropriate risk assessments and advise schools/education settings on specific risk management strategies e.g. for school trips/activities.
• Deliver appropriate individual habilitation training for CYPVI in a range of settings (e.g. homes, Early Years settings, schools, colleges and public places, including public transport, of relevance to the CYPVI and their needs).
• Undertake home visits and when appropriate, work in the evenings according to individual needs of CYPVI.
• Provide guidance and support to Parents/Carers, and other professionals in order to ensure habilitation training and independent/daily living skills in the school and home settings is complementary and consistent.
• Provide support in habilitation for CYPVI at times of transition to and between educational settings.
• Liaise with Parents/Carers, Teachers, support staff and other professionals within educational settings regarding the habilitation needs of CYPVI.
• Maintain detailed records of habilitation provision for CYPVI on caseload and write reports as appropriate.
• Contribute to the EHC Plan assessment process and annual EHC Plan Review, as appropriate.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of countywide training for Staff working with CYPVI and for peer groups.
• Support multi‑agency working by developing and maintaining links with other professionals involved with the education and support of CYPVI (e.g. QTVI, Rehabilitation Officers for Adults, Sensory Services).
• Work collaboratively with colleagues both within and outside SEND SAS, including the Delivering Special Provision Locally Partnerships, to promote early intervention and assessment.
• Participate in and, on occasions, organise extra‑curricular activities for CYPVI as part of their habilitation training.
• Review the Aims and Objectives for the delivery of Habilitation Training, taking account of the outcomes specified in the ‘Quality Standards –Delivery of Habilitation Training (Mobility and Independent Living Skills) for Children and Young People with Visual Impairment (2nd edition - 2022)’.
• Maintain an awareness of current thinking, research and relevant developments in the area of habilitation and habilitation training, in order to improve and further develop service provision.

Essential:

• Experience of working with children and young people with SEND in an educational, health or social care setting.
• Strong communication skills with children, families and professionals.
• Knowledge of SEND legislation and Education Health Care Plans.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and write professional reports.
• Well‑organised and able…