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: Childrens Services

About the team

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.

About the role

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.

About you

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 to meet deadlines.
• Proficient in ICT.
• Ability to work independently and contribute as part of the wider team within the service.
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion and continued professional development.
• Full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle, or ability to travel independently.
• If you do not hold the mandatory qualification - a willingness to undertake and attain the qualification - Specialist Qualification in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (Children and Young People) Graduate Diploma.

Desirable:

• You will hold either a BSc (Hons) Habilitation Work (with CYP) or Graduate Diploma in Habilitation and Disabilities of Sight (with CYP) or be in the final year of working towards one of these qualifications.
• If qualified, you will hold and maintain registration with Habilitation VI UK and/or RWPN and be able to evidence continued professional development (CPD) relevant to vision impairment and habilitation.
• Experience in delivering habilitation training to CYPVI.
• Experience of delivering training to adults.
• Skilled in assessing needs, planning, and delivering mobility and Independent Living Skills programmes.
• Confident conducting environmental audits and risk assessments.

This is a rewarding role that requires patience, creativity, and adaptability. The successful postholder will be adept at tailoring training and building trust.

This position builds transferable skills in assessment, planning, and multi-agency collaboration and has a direct impact upon a CYPVI’s confidence and community inclusion.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC10 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Health and social care

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Rebecca.Payne@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Dates:

28th January, in person at our Farnham House, Stevenage offices, or

30th January, in person at our Apsley, Hemel Hempstead offices

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.